Music 'luminary' one of two men drowned in Thames capsize

A RENOWNED music industry figure was one of two men who drowned when a tiny boat carrying six people capsized after a New Year party.

Keith Lowde was at the tiller of the 8ft motorboat crossing a 50-yard stretch of the River Thames from his island home when it suddenly overturned, tossing all six elderly friends into the freezing water.

The 66-year-old former manager of the Academy of Contemporary Music and a 70-year-old friend were believed to have drowned after disappearing beneath the surface.

Last night police divers found one of the bodies and were searching for the other man.

A family day spent together by three couples at Keith and Jennifer Lowde's home on Pharaoh's Island in the Thames at Shepperton, Surrey, turned to tragedy as Mr Lowde set off with them in his small fibreglass boat on Sunday evening.

Neighbours told how vicious currents ran around the island, which can only be reached by boat, and it was believed that the two men's bodies had been swept away downstream.

The three women and a third man all managed to scramble to the river bank and get out of the icy water before raising the alarm.

Yesterday police commandeered a barge to lift the stricken motor boat out of the water for forensic examination.

Mrs Lowde and the other three survivors were taken by ambulance to St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, for treatment to minor injuries, mild hypothermia and shock. A spokesman confirmed that Mrs Lowde and the others had gone home after treatment.

It was understood that Mr Lowde and his wife had been entertaining two other couples at their 500,000 family home on Pharaoh's Island.

The other missing man was said by police to be a 70-year-old from Cambridge. An investigation into the tragedy was launched by police yesterday although a spokesman said that it was being treated as a tragic accident. A report will be given to the Surrey coroner so that inquests can be held on both victims.

A resident of the island, which has fewer than 20 homes, said: "The water is absolutely freezing and the other four were lucky to have survived. Hypothermia would have set in extremely quickly because of all the snow and ice which has melted and flowed into the river."

Mr Lowde was a former dep-uty chairman of the Music Copyright Protection Society.

Renowned songwriter Guy Fletcher, a friend of Mr Lowde and the new chairman of the Performing Rights Society, said that he was a world authority on international copyright management.

"Keith was a one-off, a lovely guy. He was such a charming man.I was with him just ten days ago and this news has shocked me.

"He was a real luminary of the music industry and had been for a very long time."

The Academy of Contemporary Music describes Mr Lowde on its website as holding for 11 years the post of company secretary to the managing director of the MCPS. He also worked with "esteemed publishers", record labels, artists and television companies.

It continues: "Keith went on to direct the National Music Festival for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport." He was latterly a tutor on the academy's music business courses.

Police said their search was hampered by the dark and cold weather.