Son pays tribute to 'loving dad' killed in freak accident after Edinburgh Fringe

The son of a man who died in a “freak accident” after a tree fell through his car window has paid tribute to his father.

James Douglas Lowe was driving back from the Edinburgh Fringe festival with his son, Will Lowe, on August 20, when the accident happened.

The 57-year-old is said to have died instantly while Will, 22, sustained minor injuries.

“It does bring me some solace knowing that he didn’t suffer, it was such a freak accident even police on the scene couldn’t believe it,” Will told STV News.

Mr Lowe had familial connections to Scotland and went on to study at Dundee University where he discovered a deep love of Scottish rugby. Facebook

Paying tribute, Will said the two were “inseparable” and more like “best friends” than father and son.

“He was a really loving man, he never said it so many words but always showed it.

“He was overwhelmingly supportive as a father, he had a ridiculous amount of pride in every single thing that I did”.

Mr Lowe had familial connections to Scotland and studied at Dundee University where he discovered a deep love of Scottish rugby.

“Dad loved all sports, but we really bonded over rugby, we’d rarely miss a match and Scotland became a second home to us,” he said.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Will also attended Dundee University and graduated in June 2024.

“It was nice that one of the Lowe’s graduated from Dundee University,” he added.

Mr Lowe, from Warrington, Cheshire, was also known for running the Winedown bar in Preston which he founded in 2015.

James Douglas Lowe was driving back from the Edinburgh Fringe festival with his son, Will Lowe, on August 20, when the accident happened. Facebook

“He had his own business for years and one day a customer told him about an empty premise he had he said ‘do you want to open up a wine bar?’ and the rest was history,” he said.

Will had a “very active role” at the bar and began helping his father at the age of 14.

“He wanted it to feel more like a home for people, which I think he has achieved given the support from the community”, Will said.

The Lancaster Road bar, which offers visitors hundreds of varieties of wines along with matching cheese boards, won Bar of The Year in 2023 at Preston’s High Street Heroes, organised by Preston Business Improvement District.

While the family is still devastated by the loss, Will told STV News his dad was “fond of attention at the best of times he really would be feeling like a celebrity” after the outpouring of love and support.

James leaves behind his wife of 23 years, Louise Weaver-Lowe, step son, Conor, 33 and his 11-year-old Border Collie, Boosh.