Captain Sir John Luke Lowther KCVO, CBE Johnny Lowther, late KRRC, died peacefully at his home in Northamptonshire on Monday 11 April 2011, aged 87 years. Funeral for family and friends at St Etheldredas Church, Guilsborough, Northamptonshire on Thursday 21st of April 2011 at 2.00pm.

Memorial Service

A Memorial Service will be held for Capt Sir John Lowther KCVO CBE (Late KRRC) at All Saints Church, George Row, Northampton NN1 1DF on Monday 20^th of June 2011 at 2pm

Regimental Service:

6 Mar 1943- Commissioned into the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC)

27 Apr 1943- posted to 1st Motor Training Battalion (later 10 KRRC)

18 Sep 1943- posted to 8th Battalion The Kings Royal Rifle Corps (8 KRRC)

12 Aug 1944- posted to 2nd Bn The Kings Royal Rifle Corps (2nd 60th) on disbandment of 8 KRRC

27 Oct 1944- Wounded in Action in Goirle in the southern Netherlands, where he lost a foot, whilst leading a foot patrol of B Coy 2nd 60th (KRRC Swift & Bold page 268) Click HERE for details.

1944- 10 KRRC in Yorkshire (MTB Trg Bn). 16 Oct 1945- Demobilized

After demobilization Johnny Lowther worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company in the USA for several years. On return to the UK he subsequently farmed in Northamptonshire. Johnny Lowther was Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire from 5 March 1984 18 November 1998.

Johnny Lowther was a loyal and interested supporter of the regiment through its various mergers and amalgamations. He is survived by his wife Jenny and his son Hugh and two daughters Sarah and Lucy. The address for letters of condolence is:

Lady Lowther
Nortoft Grange
Guilsborough
Northamptonshire
NN6 8QB

From the Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Published on Wednesday 13 April 2011 12:42

Tributes as former Lord Lieutenant Sir John dies

AN EXTRAORDINARY man who devoted more than three decades of his life to service of the county has died, aged 87.

Sir John Lowther passed away on Monday night at his home in Guilsborough.

Leader of Northamptonshire County Council for many years and former Lord Lieutenant of the county, the father-of-three devoted years of his life to serving the people of the area.

Born on November 17, 1923, in London, Sir John was brought up in Guilsborough before being educated at Eton and at Trinity College in Oxford, where he gained a masters degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

He served as Captain in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps during World War Two, where he lost a leg after stepping on a landmine.

After the war he completed his degree, before moving to America to work for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, selling sewing machines and vacuum cleaners door-to-door in New York.

Returning to England, he married Jennifer, a former lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, in 1952 and took up farming in Guilsborough in 1960.

After two unsuccessful attempts to be elected MP for Belper in Derbyshire, he turned to local politics and was elected to Northamptonshire County Council in 1970. In 14 years at the council he became leader of the Conservative group and served as leader of the council from 1977.

In 1984 he left to become Lord Lieutenant of the county, a role he undertook for a further 14 years until retirement in 1998 at the age of 75.

His many other achievements include being knighted in 1997.

Sir John leaves Jennifer, his three children, Sarah, Hugh and Lucy, and seven grandchildren.

Hugh Lowther said: All of us feel incredibly lucky to have known him. He really was such an extraordinary man and its the end of an era. He was proper old guard. He loved Northamptonshire and he loved people and was really interested in everybody and everything. He produced happiness and people loved him. He was great fun and had a lovely sense of humour. He loved to party and wherever he went there was laughter around him.

Members of Northamptonshire County Councils cabinet held a minutes silence for Sir John yesterday.

-- Edited by administrator on Wednesday 20th of April 2011 05:15:37 PM