Bernard Lewis (entrepreneur)
English businessman (1926–2026)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
10 February 1926
Bernard Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bernard Pokrasse 10 February 1926 |
| Died | 28 February 2026 (aged 100) |
| Education | Jewish Free School |
| Alma mater | Northern Polytechnic Institute |
| Occupations | Founder and owner, River Island |
| Spouse | Vanessa Bracey (second wife) |
| Children | 5 |
Early life
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
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 £1,030 million (€1,484 million).[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
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]
