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Barris "Jim" Wainwright
Tributes have
been paid to the last surviving son of the founder of popular shoe
shop, Wainwright’s.
Jim (Barris) Wainwright passed away peacefully at High Wycombe
Hospital on February 28, following a sudden stroke.
The 83-year-old was the last surviving son of Albert Wainwright, who
set up Wainwright’s in Princes Risborough in 1919.
Jim was the last of four children and the family moved to Risborough
in 1936, when his father Albert opened a footwear repair and shoe
making shop in Summerleys Road which later moved to larger premises
in Station Road.
At the age of 14 Jim joined the business. In 1949 the Risborough
shop was opened which Jim went on to manage, becoming known in those
early days as 'the young dynamic man in the High Street'.
In 1962 Jim and brothers Derek and Ken took the firm over from their
father and made the shops into family outlets selling ladies', men's
and children's footwear.
He spent the rest of his working life in the Risborough shop always
on or near the shop floor with a loyal staff supporting him.
His family said: "His quick wit and dry sense of humour was a style
of his own, there was nothing more he enjoyed than a good chat with
his customers. He was good at selling and it was not unusual for
customers to remark, ‘I went into Wainwright’s for a tin of polish
and came out with a new pair of shoes’."
A customer told the family: "I first met Jim Wainwright when I was
five and was taken in to Wainwright's for my school shoes twice a
year for the following ten years. That was not unusual. Jim made
shoe shopping fun and always spent time making sure the shoes were
absolutely right."
Agents and representatives of manufacturers in the trade have talked
of their respect for his business acumen, enthusiasm, kindness and
generosity.
He continued working in the shop, mainly on repairs, up until he was
80.
Princes Risborough now continues as the main company shop, warehouse
and head office managed by Jim's youngest son David.
Jim married his wife Audrey in 1954 and spent 53 happy years
together until Audrey passed away in 2009.
They have four children, Chris, Steve, Sandy and David, and eight
grandchildren who have been the central part of his life.
His family said they are left with many happy memories and an
outstanding example of how to lead a good life.
His funeral took place on Friday, March 15 at 11.30am at St Mary’s
Parish Church, Princes Risborough. Donations in memory of Jim to
www.justgiving.com/Barris-Wainwright
Bucks Free Press Obituary of Jim Wainwright 13th March 2013
