Dad who died in 'freak' tree-fall accident was 'loved by all'

James Douglas Lowe was driving back from the Edinburgh Fringe festival with his son, Will Lowe, when it happened on 20 August.

The 57-year-old, known as Doogie or Doug, died instantly while Will, 22, escaped with only minor injuries.

Paying tribute, Will said he and his father "did everything together" and were more "best friends" than father and son.

"He was a tremendously loving man," he added.

"He never really said it, he always showed it.

"He was overwhelmingly supportive as a father, he had a ridiculous amount of pride in every single thing that I did".

Mr Lowe, from Warrington, Cheshire, was known for his devotion in running Winedown bar in Preston, Lancashire, which he founded in 2015.

Mr Lowe was said to have a "wine face" which was loved by many

Will said his father opened the cellar bar by "complete accident" after being in the wine business all his life.

"He had his own business for years and one day a customer told him about an empty premise he had he said 'do you want to open up a wine bar?' and the rest was history," he said.

Will had a "very active role" in the day-to-day operations and began helping his father at the age of 14.

The Lancaster Road bar, which offers visitors hundreds of varieties of wines along with matching cheese boards, won Bar of The Year in 2023 at Preston’s High Street Heroes, organised by Preston Business Improvement District.

Family handout A young man wears sunglasses to the left, holding a drink next to another young man wearing a Scotland scarf and then to the right an older man wearing a cap, holding a drinkFamily handout

Pictured left to right: Will, Conor and Mr Lowe at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh at the Six Nations supporting his "beloved" Scotland

Mr Lowe, who had a passion for whisky, walking and running, was married to his wife, Louise Weaver-Lowe, for 23 years and also leaves behind stepson, Conor, 33 and his 11-year-old border collie, Boosh.

The family said his loss had "shaken us all but knowing such praise has appeared would have made him feel like a real celebrity".

"I always knew he was loved, anyone he'd meet he became friends with. He would find an instant connection with someone," said Will.

"He would have been absolutely overjoyed with all these messages of love. He would be loving the attention".

Will, who hopes to take over the business after the family have had time to grieve, said his father was also a big rugby fan and supported the Scotland Six Nations Rugby team due to his "ancestral" Scottish connections.

Mr Lowe was known for his welcoming presence

Mr Lowe's funeral will take place on 10 September at Howe Bridge Crematorium in Atherton.

A celebration of his life will also take place at Golborne Sports and Social Club in Warrington.

The family said it "would be fitting" to see people wearing sports shirts of teams special to their hearts or navy blue.

-BBC