THE FOUNDER of popular tourist attraction Arreton Country Craft Workshops, Cephas Howard, has died.

Described as a 'a character' by his family, he spent more than 30 years as an Island resident, and made his mark.

In the early 1970s, together with his wife Jennifer, he ran a studio pottery on Shanklin seafront.

The couple went on to open a quirky cafe/bistro, Punch’s Bistro, in 1973.

In 1976 they created the popular tourist attraction, the forerunner to today's Arreton Barns, where Cephas also opened his own pub, The Barn.

His family said he will be remembered by many as a 'bon viveur' who enjoyed music, jokes, darts, dominoes and of course beer.

Many may not know that before arriving on the Island, he had a career as a talented musician, playing lead trumpet and euphonium as a member of The Temperance Seven jazz band.

The band produced a large number of record albums and had a number of hit songs in the early 1960s, including Pasadena and You're Driving Me Crazy, which reached Number One in the charts.

Mr Howard was also a very gifted artist and designer and had graduated from the Royal College of Art with a distinction in 1959.

After selling the craft centre in 1999, the couple moved to Seaview, where Mr Howard opened his own art gallery.

The couple retired to France in 2005 and Mr Howard had an ‘Atelier des Art’ in one of France’s Plus Beaux villages.

Rediscovering his love of the countryside and the beautiful chateaux, he painted a great many landscapes as well as portraits.

He took part in 15 ‘Rencontre des Artistes’ exhibitions held each year in the village of Saint Céneri-le-Gérei and in 2020 the village paid tribute to their well-loved artist by hosting an individual exhibition of his work, both in music, media and painting.

Mr Howard died at home in France on September 26 and his ashes will be buried at the Springwood Woodland Cemetery in Newchurch on October 27. An oak tree planted in his memory by his family.

He leaves his wife Jennifer and their three sons, Cephas, Jacob and Rufus, as well as his two children from his first marriage, Cephas Alexander and Zophanie.