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Bernard Lewis (entrepreneur)

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For other people named Bernard Lewis, see Bernard Lewis (disambiguation).

Bernard Lewis
Born
Bernard Pokrasse

(1926-02-10)10 February 1926
Died28 February 2026(2026-02-28) (aged 100)
EducationJewish Free School
Alma materNorthern Polytechnic Institute
OccupationsFounder and owner, River Island
SpouseVanessa Bracey (second wife)
Children5

Bernard Lewis (born Bernard Pokrasse,[1] 10 February 1926 – 28 February 2026) was an English businessman, who was the founder and owner of the River Island fashion brand and clothing chain.

Early life

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Bernard Lewis was born on 10 February 1926, and educated at the Jewish Free School, and Northern Polytechnic Institute. He helped in his parents' greengrocer's as a child and acquired valuable skills such as learning how to price stock, understand customers' preferences and reduce waste.[2] He served in the RAF from 1944 to 1945.[3]

Career

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Lewis opened his first fruit and vegetable shop in the North London area (on Holloway Road) at the age of 20[4] and began selling clothing, primarily blouses and skirts, then dresses, in the 1940s.[2] His first clothes shop was in Mare Street, Hackney.[3]

During the 1970s, he launched a chain of clothing stores, later called Chelsea Girl.[5]

Lewis also founded Lewis Separates.[3]

He founded the Lewis Trust Group with his elder brother David and younger brother Geoffrey, but the latter two left in 1977.[3]

Lewis was estimated to be worth £1,030m (€1,484m).[6] In 2015, he was at position 83 on the Sunday Times Rich List.[7]

River Island is now run by his nephew, Ben Lewis.[8]

Personal life and death

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His "right-hand man in the 1970s" was Leonard, his elder son from his first marriage.[3] In 1968, he married Jennifer Oldham, née Johnston, who modeled and acted under the name Jenny Meredith.[9] She died in 1975.

In 1981, he married Vanessa Bracey, a buyer for Chelsea Girl since 1970, and with whom he had been in a relationship since 1972. They have two sons, Sam and Jacob.[3]

Lewis turned 100 on 10 February 2026, and died 18 days later, on 28 February.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Shah, Oliver (7 January 2018). "River Island boss Bernard Lewis is still a dedicated follower of fashion at 91". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b McGregor, Kirsty (4 January 2018). "The family history of River Island: Bernard Lewis and Ben Lewis". Drapersonline.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Musgrave, Eric (2 November 2015). "From the archive: The Drapers Interview with River Island founder Bernard Lewis | The Drapers Interview | Drapers". Drapersonline.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Times Online Special Report". The Times. London. 26 February 2006. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  5. ^ Robinson, James (19 August 2007). "Rags mean riches for the River Island family". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  6. ^ European Jewish Press: "Jewish businessmen prominent in British 'Rich List'" Archived April 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine April 24, 2006
  7. ^ "Sunday Times Rich List". Sunday Times. No. 24. 18 May 2014.
  8. ^ Hall, James (20 March 2011). "Ben Lewis interview: River Island chief on reviving 80s-style Chelsea Girl". Telegraph. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  9. ^ . General Records Office. p. 5c 1417. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ Chelsea Girl and River Island founder Bernard Lewis who has died at the age of 100
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