By Press Release
A former mayor of Yarmouth, Tim Higginbotham, has died peacefully at home, aged 74.
Tim was born in Victoria Road and played a prominent part in the town over many years. As well as being mayor from 1980-83, he was a harbour commissioner and member of the Carnival Committee.
He attended Yarmouth Primary School and Freshwater Secondary School. His parents, Harold and Connie, ran a grocery, where Tim initially worked before joining Plessey Radar in Cowes, working as a process chaser until 1983.
He then became a community services volunteer, working in London’s East End and Kent. He attended the University of Southampton gaining social worker qualifications, returning to the Island to work for the former County Council’s mental health team. He taught social worker students, gaining a degree at Portsmouth University after graduating in 1998.
In 2000, he moved to the IW NHS, working at Newcroft and Sevenacres before retiring in 2017.
Among Tim’s many achievements in the town, he was part of the committee that saved Yarmouth Pier when there was a real possibility of it being scrapped.
During the carnival, he was well-known for towing decorated dinghies around the Harbour in his motorboat, Tenacity. He was a member of the town’s former Methodist Church and latterly St James’ Church, where he was keeper of the clock.
He also ran the Cowes Week launch service for 40 years and attended this year’s event.
Tim travelled extensively in the UK, Europe and across the world including the USA, America, Antarctica, Russia, Austrailia, New Zealand and China.
He is survived by his partner, Ken, and brother, Colin.
A service of celebration will be held at Christ Church, Totland, on Wednesday, September 14, at 2pm.