John Gregg

A WELL-KNOWN retired Hexham solicitor has died suddenly at the age of 78. John Gregg was one of the principals in the partnership of Nicholson, Wood and Gregg which for many years was one of the leading solicitors’ practices in the town. A native of Haltwhistle, Mr Gregg attended the former Featherstone Preparatory School, before going on to Oundle School. He did his National Service immediately after leaving school, serving with the Royal Artillery, spending some time in post-war Germany. On returning to Civvy Street, he became an articled clerk in a legal practice which had been set up in Hexham by Geoff Nicholson. Although he did stints in the magistrates’ courts and some matrimonial work, his primary sphere of operation was property conveyancing. He was a commissioner for oaths, and a tax commissioner with the former Hexham Urban District Council. Mr Gregg was eventually made a partner in the business, along with Drew Wood, and Nicholson’s changed its name to Nicholson, Wood and Gregg. Mr Gregg retired from the practice in the early 1990s. It has since merged with another Hexham firm, Portnell, Ward and Rose to become Nicholson Portnell. He and his wife, Clare, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2007. They have a family of six – sons Jonathan and Theo, and daughters Betsy, Annabel, Kate and Emma. They also have 12 grandchildren. Away from legal circles, Mr Gregg was a member of the Rotary Club of Hexham, as well as Hexham Music Society. As a member of the Tynedale Arts Council, he was also one of the key figures in the establishment of Hexham’s Queen’s Hall as an arts centre, when the building was in danger of being condemned. The funeral was at St Mary’s Church in Hexham on Tuesday, March 3.