KINDNESS and thought for others were frequently mentioned when people talked about Jimmy Powell who died earlier this year.

A service to celebrate his life was held at Lapford Congregational Church on May 31, taken by the Revs David Bulley and David Cole.

For more than 50 years, Jimmy (James Percival Powell) showed people the curiosities and beauties of this country through his coach tours with Venner’s Tours of Witheridge and then his own company, Powell’s Coaches.

The eldest of seven children, Jimmy was born in July, 1942 at Bacton, Herefordshire, going to the local school and then Fairfield Secondary School at Peterchurch. From there he worked on the family farm and at an ammunitions depot not far away as well as for a local farmer.

David Cole said that Jimmy had made his first decision for Christ in 1957 after hearing a young boy singing. He made a deeper decision in 1963.

Mr Cole said that Jimmy had gone to Cliff College, an arm of the Methodist Church. He was accepted on the Evangelistic Staff where he and others, including his good friend Alec Passmore, went on missions around the country, invited by churches as far away from home as Devon and Cornwall and even Northern Ireland where he met his future wife, Deirdre.

They were married in December 1970, moving to Devon in January, 1971. Jimmy had already gained his PSV licence under the tutelage of Douglas Venner of Venner’s Tours, Witheridge whom he had met during mission in Devon.

Jimmy went to work for Douglas Venner when he came to Devon and in April, 1973, Jimmy and his brother, George, bought Venner’s Tours while Mr Venner wanted to concentrate on his other business in Minehead.

In 1982 Jimmy bought the present garage, one of the buildings that had belonged to the old Ambrosia factory.

Powell’s Coaches did the school runs for Chulmleigh and Crediton for many years and had a very loyal customer base for their day trips and other excursions.

Another memory of Jimmy for a great many people was of him playing the mouth organ. He preached in a number of churches around the area, sometimes twice on a Sunday, sometimes with his own musical accompaniment.

In his last six months, Jimmy had been diagnosed with prostate and bladder cancer. He reacted very badly to the chemo and then contracted sepsis.

Mr Cole read the recollections of Jimmy’s brother and sisters who said one of Jimmy’s heroes had been Dr Billy Graham.

They said his faith clearly defined him, he had a wonderful memory for names and places, had plenty of ideas and opinions but was never opinionated.

He would listen to someone else’s point of view and was very fair. They said he was even tempered and light hearted.

David Bulley said Jimmy was “an extraordinary man who packed so much into his life.”

He said: “Jimmy, the man who had a word or story for almost every situation. Whether he was extolling the wonders of an obscure cottage when driving his coach or faithfully telling the world of his love of his Lord when preaching or just chatting.”

He added that Jimmy’s kindly, cheerful smile would be missed by everyone who had enjoyed their days out with him.

Lapford Congregational Church was packed for the service celebrating his life. It included three wonderful recordings of Welsh Male Voice choirs, music Jimmy loved.

He leaves his wife, a son and a daughter. Donations in Jimmy’s memory were for Cancer Research UK and The Samaritan’s Purse Ukraine Appeal or could be made through A White and Sons, Albert Road, Crediton.

Sue Read