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Obituary - Jarrow and Hepburn Gazette Published on 04/10/2012 08:00 LOVED ones and colleagues have paid tribute to a stalwart of the South Tyneside community. Harold Tavroges was a well-respected family man and solicitor, who spent more than 30 years working as director of legal services at South Shields clothing firm J Barbour and Sons . Sadly the 89–year–old died peacefully in hospital on August 27. Today, Dame Margaret, chairwoman of the world-famous clothing firm, remembered Mr Tavroges with fondness. She said: “To me, Harold was an enormous support for 40 years. “I relied so much on his great guidance to help me develop the business. Harold was a was a huge character, and very popular with all shareholders managers and staff. “He will be sorely missed by everyone.” The exact date of Mr Tavroges’s arrival into the world in August 1923, to parents Sam and Florrie, proved to be a matter of debate. Due to births having to be registered within six weeks, by the time his father got round to declaring his, Mr Tavroges’s birthday was registered as the 16th, but, according to family legend, it was in the 15th. After leaving South Shields High School at the age of 13, Mr Tavroges – father of Helen and Andrew – joined Newcastle Royal Grammar School, and stayed there until he was 18. In 1942 he signed up with the Royal Signals, but previous to this, his dad had paid for him to start as an articled clerk at solicitors Saul and Lightfoot in Carlisle. Daughter Helen, who is mum to Rachel Tavroges-Hunter, said: “Amazingly, the notes dad wrote some years before his death say he qualified as a solicitor in 1948 – one year after returning from the army. “Surprisingly his notes gloss over his time as a solicitor other than to say that until 2004, he had 56 consecutive practising certificates, something which he was very proud of.” For many years, Mr Tavroges, who was married to wife Anne for 56 years, practised as a solicitor for Marshall, Hall and Levy in South Shields – with his first partner being Monty Levy. His biggest case was in 1968, when he represented a former scientologist who pleaded not guilty to a summons brought on behalf of the Church of Scientology of California alleging he’d stolen a blazer, and two pairs of trousers. After a four-hour hearing, the case was dismissed. The story hit the national papers including the News of The World. Mr Tavroges, who later moved to Jesmond in Newcastle, also became part-time chairman of the National Insurance Tribunals, Social Security Appeal Tribunals, Disability Appeal Tribunals and the Industrial Tribunals until he was obliged to retire in 1995 aged 72. However, his family believe it was the four decades which he spent at Barbour, that Mr Tavroges enjoyed the most. He was director of legal services at the company, and regarded as a trusted advisor to the Barbour family, as well as being a trustee of the Barbour Charitable Foundation. Ms Tavroges said: “He was affectionately known as ‘HT’. “I’m sure Dame Margaret wouldn’t mind me saying that she called him ‘her rock’, and his wonderful secretary Nichola Bellaby referred to him as a legend. “I know dad loved life at Barbour and despite retiring on a number of occasions, he only really left the company in March this year.” Despite having a successful career, Mr Tavroges was a keen amateur actor, and chairman of the Westovian Theatre in South Shields, plus a member of the Newcastle Jewish Players and People’s Theatre. He also carried out lots of charitable work as chairman of St Clare’s Hospice, and was delighted it later became a hospice in Jarrow under his chairmanship. Plus he was a presenter and committee member of Tyne Sound News, Newcastle Talking News, and Northumbrian Sound –where he spent many happy Sunday mornings making news recordings for the blind. Ms Tavroges added: “In addition to everything, dad enjoyed watching cricket and football. “He was an avid reader, and loved spending time with mum in her allotment and looking at her wonderful garden. “As for me and Andrew, dad was a truly devoted father, giving both of us hours and hours of his time. “Without him, I would certainly not be the solicitor I am today.” http://www.jarrowandhebburngazette.com/news/tributes-to-retired-south-shields-solicitor-1-4989947