Tim Joss obituary

My husband, Tim Joss, who died in a bicycle accident at age 68, was a social entrepreneur and CEO and founder of Arts Enterprise With a Social Purpose (Aesop). He was a visionary and founded several other national organizations.

Tim founded Aesop in 2014. The charity has continued to pioneer art solutions to society’s problems, particularly with Dance to healtha fall prevention program for the elderly.

As a gifted pianist, Tim was deeply influenced by his godmother and piano teacher Pearl, who never criticized, but only encouraged. That became Tim’s way too. He studied piano at the Royal Academy of Music, then worked as a dance officer at North West Arts and as a manager for Bournemouth Orchestras. In 1995 he joined the Bath International Music Festival as Artistic Director. Enthusiastic and innovative, he performed a wide range of music, from a gold mine choir to flamenco artists. In the same year Tim also founded the Bath Literature Festival.

He subsequently served as CEO of the Rayne Foundationan important subsidy provider, who develops themes such as bridge building, introduces choreographers to new disciplines and is the founder of the National Numeracy organization. He also founded the Arts Impact Fund, the first arts-specific social investment fund.

Tim was born in Streatham, South London, and was adopted as an infant by Sheila (née Bowen) and Dennis Joss, a company director from Switzerland. He grew up in Radlett, Hertfordshire, and was sent to Harrow school, where he excelled and won a scholarship to study mathematics at Queen’s College, Oxford. After the death of his adoptive parents, Tim found his birth mother, Olivia Jones. He was very pleased with their relationship, before her death several years ago, and the discovery of a half-brother, David.

Tim’s extensive networks in the arts and health, his encouragement and vision, his humility and determination to do good in the world, made him a truly remarkable man. In 2005 he was appointed knight of the French Légion d’honneur for his services to French music.

Tim and I were introduced to London by a friend in 2006. After moving to Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, in 2010, we married in 2012.

He is survived by me and his daughter, Hannah, from his first marriage to Morag Wallace, which ended in divorce, two stepsons, Owen and Ellis, from my first marriage, a granddaughter, Clemency, and his half-brother, David.