OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 43, 14 November 1940, Page 11

OBITUARY

Mr. James Pears

The death occurred, suddenly on Tuesday of Mr. James Pears, Wellington, a partner in the firm of Whitehead and Pears. He was playing bowls at Kelburn when be collapsed and died. Air. Pears was born In AA'arwiekshire in’lB76. His early business life was spent, 'in London : he worked in Harrods and Marshal and Snelgroves. AVhile in London he met Mr. A. I . Whitehead and a lifelong friendship was established. They came to New Zealand together in 1905. In 1908. Mr. Pears married Jessie, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. R Ceruttv, Melbourne, and in the same year, with Mr. AVhiteheud, founded the business in Cuba Street that bears their names. Air. Pears took no part in public affairs, but was for many years a member of the executive of the AA ellington Drapers’ Association. He was also a keen supporter of the AVellington Shakespeare Society. Mr. Pears was always keenly interested in sport and in his younger days had some success in England at running and tennis. After coming to New Zealand! he look up bowls and at the time of his death was well known in bowling circles. He had been president of both the Lyall Bay and the Kelburn Bowling Clubs and was a member of the Kelburn club at the time of his death. He is survived by his wile, a son (Frank) and a daughter (Kathleen) : also by his two brothers. Frank and AVilliam. and a sister, Minnie, living in Warwickshire. Reference to Mr. Pears’s death was matte at a meeting of the executive of the Wellington Bowling Centre, a motion expressing sympathy with his relatives being carried in silence.