My father, Jim Stevens, who has died aged 91, led a modest working man’s life, yet his personal qualities and intelligence inspired unfailing respect and affection. He spent most of his time as a highly skilled motor mechanic, but embodied the idea that “a man can do all things if he will” and also fulfilled roles as a classical musician, voluntary fireman, army sergeant, cabinet maker, professional gardener, hospital porter, amateur photographer and naturalist.
Jim was born in the village of Great Maplestead, Essex, to Harry, a gardener, and Amy (nee Saker), who was in service before she married. Jim’s intelligence and ability won him a grammar school scholarship. However, even with a scholarship, attendance at the school was beyond the family’s means. So at the age of 14 he left St Giles Church of England school to work with his father, teaching himself cabinet-making in his spare time. Music was part of Jim’s daily life and the Stevens made up half the village band, in which he played a double bass he had made himself.
In the second world war, Jim’s service with the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards made a lasting impression. In his later years he could still describe in detail the places he had served in Europe, Africa, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, and could also recite in Italian and Greek.
After the war he worked as a motor mechanic in Halstead, Essex, and then Sudbury, Suffolk. He married Ivy (nee Clarry), a factory worker, in 1955 and they had two daughters, Kerry and me. He completed his working life as a porter at Walnut Tree hospital in Sudbury.
After Ivy’s death 16 years ago, Jim’s passion became his expeditions, with Ivy’s brother Freddy, to nature reserves, woods and meadows all over Suffolk and Essex. They went in search of flowers, butterflies and fungi, all endlessly studied, identified, photographed and catalogued. Between them, Jim and Freddy built up a remarkable knowledge of the natural world, especially wild orchids.
Jim had a quiet personality and a strong sense of responsibility and care towards other people. He was a gifted man who embraced new knowledge and developed his capacities as fully as his working life would allow. Aged 91, he had his violin bow rehaired, and one of our enduring memories is of him playing carols to the family last Christmas.
He is survived by Kerry and me.
