Valerie Lewis RIP

BrianH

BrianH

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Valerie Lewis, wife of Jim Lewis, Best Mate's owner, died this afternoon after a seven-month battle with cancer. valerie was a lovely person, as si Jim, and those of you who work in the industry will know that that is not always the case with big owners (nor some small ones come to that). Valerie and Jim were a really close couple and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

The Sporting Life online reports that Henrietta Knight spoke to the press:

"She had been ill since May and tragically passed away at lunchtime," said Best Mate's trainer Henrietta Knight.

"She was incredibly brave all of the way through and had a lot of chemotherapy and treatment and outwardly showed to nobody that anything was wrong.

"She was present at the Peterborough Chase and at Aintree when Impek won and was always very cheerful.

"Jim and Valerie have been great friends of ours and wherever Jim went Valerie went they were an inseparable pair. They were made for each other and were together as children.

"Valerie was always smiling and had a wonderful sense of humour. She was so supportive to Jim in everything he did and everybody in the yard loved her.

"She was a really buoyant, loveable person who never had a bad word to say about anybody and was a mother-like figure who looked after everybody.

"She wasn't particularly a horse person, but she really entered into the spirit of it and got really excited by everything and she was always there - you could always depend on her."

Knight added that Lewis still intends to attend Cheltenham on Saturday to scatter Best Mate's ashes behind the winning post in a short ceremony at 11am.
 
I'd been wondering often how she was doing, now we know. I've no doubt hers was a life fully enjoyed, even if it would've been nice to have gone on for several more years (in good health). Poor Jim Lewis - he loses both his best mates in a short space of time, so let's hope his chums keep his spirits going through what will be a difficult time.
 
Poor Jim Lewis - he loses both his best mates in a short space of time, so let's hope his chums keep his spirits going through what will be a difficult time.
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Well said, Kri.
 
What awful, awful news. Hard to know what to say - I was not even aware of Mrs. Lewis' illness.

Further to earlier postings, I hope Jim Lewis can find the strength to get through this awful time.

Sincere condolences.
 
Just turned my music collection on randomly through the MP3 player - first song out of around 5,000 or so was "Beloved Wife" by Natalie Merchant.

Coincidence or not, just thought I would share that.

R.I.P.
 
What a very great shame - it sounds like she was a very lovely woman.

As Jon says, a very tough time for Jim Lewis - let's hope that he continues to find pleasure in his racing.
 
I have to admit Songsheet, that now my Mum has passed away (my greatest racing buddy), the thought of going racing, certainly in the immediate future holds absolutely no interest to me at all. I am confident this feeling will change in time.

It will no doubt be an extremely tough time for Jim Lewis right now.
 
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