| 2017 |
| Alan Gipson Alan passed away on 2nd November 2017 at 82 years. Alan’s final two posts were as Head Postmaster in Romford and then Dartford. He worked for the GPO and Post Office all his life, being one of the fathers of the postcode.Alan leaves a widow, Lillian to whom he was married for nearly 62 years, three sons, two granddaughters, and one great grandson. Alan’s funeral took place on Thursday 30th November 2017 at Eltham Crematorium. After the service was a buffet reception sharing our happy memories of Alan was held at Dartford Masonic Hall attended by many ex colleagues. |
| Dave Roberts Dave sadly passed away on 13 October 2017. Typical of Dave, he was still working and in good humour before he died. He was chairing a meeting of the Conference of Commonwealth Postal Administrations (CCPA) in Windsor on what was supposed to be his retirement from the role before handing over to a newly-elected Chairman the following day. Dave had a long and illustrious career in the postal industry. He was born in North Wales into a postal family. His father; John, was Head Postmaster Bangor having previously undertaken a similar role in Aberystwyth. It was no surprise therefore when Dave – fresh from university – joined the Post Office – initially as a Treasury grade in LPR HQ. He worked mainly in Operations and was eventually appointed as Deputy Postmaster at WDO. This coincided with a turbulent time at WDO where Dave faced significant industrial relations issues with the trade unions. He managed the interface with his usual pragmatism and was fond of relating, in his inimitable, fashion a fund of anecdotes about the events. His well known trade mark. Following one of the numerous Royal Mail reorganisations, Dave was appointed as Assistant HP Operations at Cardiff and moved to Sigginstone near Cowbridge with his wife Linda. Following another reorganisation he was appointed District Manager Parcelforce for South Wales & South West England. A proud Welshman, Dave had come home – albeit to the south rather than the north. A keen Wales rugby fan and a Wrexham football club supporter – he managed to see both play – albeit the Wrexham game was at Newport. Another reorganization saw Dave move jobs again – this time as Head of BPCS in London. Here he developed the business, setting up, in his early days, projects in Kuwait, Argentina and South Africa, to name but a few; and he competed quietly and competently on the world stage against the New Zealanders who were keen to take a major chunk of the global consultancy business. He also developed excellent contacts with the UPU and was well- regarded in the international postal world, which in later years meant that he was the ideal candidate to become the Chairman of the CCPA. On leaving Royal Mail in 2000, Dave established his own postal consultancy service in partnership with Richard Adams, Keith Webb, Joe Domican and Neil Brewer. That company – Postal & Logistics consulting worldwide (PLCWW) – is still operating profitably today, a legacy to Dave’s foresight and hard work. Dave also served as a non-executive director of Guernsey Post for a number of years, including a brief spell as Managing Director. Dave will be sadly missed by his sister Anne as well as his many friends and colleagues. He was a larger than life character with a wide circle of friends. Despite the loss of his mother and his wife Linda in recent years and a number of health issues he always maintained his sense of humour and sense of fellowship. We are grateful to Steve Hannon, Keith Webb, Peter Walters and Karl Ahlborn for this tribute. Bernard England Bernard England has sadly passed away at the age of 92 years on 28th August 2017 after a short illness. The funeral was held on Friday 8th September at the Glynn Valley Crematorium,. Bodmin. |
| Tom Ford Tom Barrett who had been ill in hospital for some time, sadly passed away on Wednesday 30th August 2017. |
| Walter Simpson Walter Simpson our former Chief Statistician and Morag’s husband died on 5th August 2017. A cremation took place at Glasgow Crematorium, Maryhill on Thursday 17th August 2017, followed by a service of thanksgiving in the University Memorial Chapel, University of Glasgow. |
| Ray Hassell Raymond Percy Hassell (Ray to his friends) was born on 7th July 1928 in Winchester and attended Andover Grammar School, where a lifelong love of history was born. He left school in 1946 and went to do his National Service in the Royal Army Service Corps followed by the Education Corps, during which time he was promoted to Sergeant and then Warrant Officer. This position led to a posting to Vienna where he was fortunate enough to attend the 1948 Music Festival. This enhanced his burgeoning love of opera and classical music and began a collection of ephemera from his travels. After National Service he went up to QMC (University of London) where an interest in politics and current affairs was sparked. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Modern History. Success in Civil Service exams led to a position as APC 2 Bristol, his first Post Office role, which was followed by to Belfast in 1953. lt was on a holiday to Denmark in 1954 that he met Penny and they married on 4th June l955. Their son David was born in 1956 and the family of 3 moved to Leeds in 1960 on Ray’s promotion to APC1. His new post involved a great deal of travel and he developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of the UK rail network. His collection of memorabilia grew with the addition of maps and timetables. Ray and Penny’s son Chris was born in 1962 and the family enjoyed many holidays together travelling in their Morris Minor. The North of England provided a great bounty of interesting places to visit. In 1969 Ray was promoted to Controller of Planning for the Midlands, based in Birmingham. The family moved to Solihull. Four years later they were London-bound as Ray took on the role of Head of Recruitment and Manpower Planning, followed by promotion to Asst. Director in 1975. During this time the family lived in Harpenden which meant he could go to London regularly to visit the opera. 1980 saw Ray promoted to Director of South West Region and a move to Bristol, a return to where he had started his Post Office career. ln 1986, with Post Office reorganisation, Ray became Director for Buildings for the entire letters business, finally retiring from the Post Office in 1988 with a great send off. Ray was always sociable and enjoyed good French wine and a traditional glass of English beer with a wide range of friends and colleagues from school-days to all stages of his PO career. He was involved in the PO Ambulance Centre of St John’ Ambulance and in 1987 was admitted to The Most Venerable Order of St John. He and Penny were involved with the Twinning Associations of Bristol/ Hanover and Bristol/ Bordeaux. Ray had also been PO nominated Director for POFR between 1-981- and 1986 and he continued this involvement until 1998, holding roles of Vice Chair and Chairman. He was elected as an honorary life member in 1999. Between 2006 and 2011 Penny and Ray developed a love of taking cruises. Sadly, he suffered a stroke in 2014 and his health declined to such an extent that in 2015 he moved to Stokeleigh Residential Home, just a few minutes walk from the house he had shared with Penny. She was able to visit regularly. He passed away on 19th August 2017. Ray’s colleagues remember him as a sincere man of integrity with a phenomenal memory. We are grateful to Brian Raftery for this tribute. |
| Bill Harding Bill, who passed away on 4th June 2017 aged 91 years, was a Shropshire lad, and proud of it. He had a Iong line of Post Office forbears, including his father who was Head Postmaster Welshpool, and his grandfather Head Postmaster Ludlow. Bill continued the family trend by becoming SC&T at Ludlow in 1939, prior to volunteering for the the RAF. He served throughout the war as a pilot, having trained in Canada with a number of other Post Office friends including Alf Barlow (ex Birmingham), and then served as a Flight Lieutenant in Coastal Command flying Liberators until 1947 when he returned to Ludlow as a P&TO. Shortly afterwards he was selected to be an APC 2. His Regional career began in NEPR at Leeds, then SWPR at Bristol where he met and married Pamela, and NWPR at Manchester, when their first daughter Amanda was born, before he embarked on his Head Office career by becoming AHP Stockport, when their second daughter Gemma arrived. ln 1965 he became Head Postmaster Warwick & Leamington, where he, his wife Pam and their two delightful daughters spent eight very happy years and put down roots in the area that lasted for the rest of his and Pam’s lives, although from a career viewpoint he moved on to become Head Postmaster Oxford, and finally Head Postmaster Exeter. Bill was a very sociable and hospitable person. He always had a joke ready, a wide range of anecdotes, or even more likely a long and funny story, and he loved a bit of office gossip which he would thoroughly enjoy adding to and passing on. Many were the Regional Travelling Staff visiting his offices who were taken to his home for lunch, and certainly in his Midland Region days invitations to the families frequent and spectacular house parties were much sought after. At the end of the war Bill also flew Spitfires, and later he bought a share in a Tiger Moth to continue with his love of flying. His outside interests were many, Rugby, Trout Fishing, Golf, Bowls to mention just a few. Also, a keen Rotarian and in much demand as an After-Dinner Speaker, he was proud to be made an Hereditary Freeman of the Borough of Ludlow, alongside such a notable as the Earl of Plymouth. Bill and Pam were loyal and regular supporters of the Fellowship, and could be relied on to attend the Midland Group luncheon gatherings at Coton House and later the Holiday Inn at Kenilworth. Bill was devastated when Pam died three years ago, but even into his nineties, accompanied by a friend, he would still be there for lunch and with the inevitable story to recount. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, but especially by daughters Amanda and Gemma, son-in-law Peter, and grandchildren James, Victoria and Edward, to whom we send our sincere condolences Bill was devastated when Pam died three years ago, but even into his nineties, accompanied by a friend, he would still be there for lunch and with the inevitable story to recount. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, but especially by daughters Amanda and Gemma, son-in-law Peter, and grandchildren James, Victoria and Edward, to whom we send our sincere condolences. Our thanks to Len Clifford and Amanda, Bill’s daughter for this tribute. |
| Don Saunders Don Saunders was born 16th April 1932, and died on 9th August 2017. At the age of 10 he spent 9 months at a Sanatorium with the threat of TB. He bounced back afterwards making good progress at Palmers Boys Grammar School in Grays. He left school at 17 years of age to join the GPO. He soon had to be employed in the RAF as an Air Raid Fitter, and therefore maintained an interest in flying and aviation in general. He was delighted to have flown in his early years, and to have reached the pilot’s cockpit. He married Kathy Hope, a service school leaver, in December 1960. They had two children, a boy now an Actuary, and a girl who is now Marketing Director of a large firm of House Builders. Don was a keen singer. He was a valued member of a Male Octet singing in various church and choral societies. ln that role he met Kathy, and together they played in many roles, until February of this year when illness forced him to quit. Until recently he and Kathy enjoyed the Theatre and were very much a part of that scene. Don was a good member of the old General Post Office. He started as a Labour Assistant at the Post Office Research Station in Dollis Hill London. ln 1953 he became an Assistant Engineer, a job he much enjoyed. He applied and got promotion in 1958 at the Post Office board as an Assistant Postal Controller Class 2 when in 1963 and 1964 he was responsible for liaison with LPR, HCR, and Midland Region, in planning the Eastern Region Mail Railway. ln 1971 he became Manager Transport for LPR, and in 1980 Regional Controller Finance in London. He then became Head of PO Policy Division at PHQ, and in 1986 the Organisation Team that Headed the Senior Management Job Evaluation Scheme. On retiring from the Post Office, he worked at the heart of charity, and was rewarded by an invite to a Queen’s Garden Party. ln retirement Don continued to enjoy a very friendly position which belayed a life-threatening illness. He had a great deal of concern for the lack of knowledge he possessed and was always honourable in his treatment of others. We are grateful to Kathy, Don’s daughter, and Ivor Bryant for this tribute. |
| Jim Hall Jim was born in Edinburgh on 8th February 1925 and attended the local primary school and George Heriots. ln early summer 1939 he joined a school group to Germany where there was great unrest and war broke out a few months later. He joined the Post Office Telephones as a “boy-in-training”. Although he wished to enlist later, he was considered to be in a reserved occupation however he did join the Home Guard. Remaining in Telephones he qualified as an Engineer and, gaining more experience, he was promoted to Assistant Traffic Superintendent in Aberdeen before returning to Edinburgh where he was involved in the introduction of the modern Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) system. In 1955 he was transferred to The Post Office and promoted to the rank of Assistant Postal Controller 2 at PO Headquarters, Scotland. A need arose for an experienced APC to strengthen the team in Belfast and Jim moved to Ulster in 1950. Two years later he was promoted with responsibility for the operation of a reliable postal and counter service throughout the Province. Having met his remit, he returned to Edinburgh in 1969 and subsequently became Postal Controller in 1971. He had already developed an interest in the Postbus possibilities. The ‘Beeching Axe’ had virtually wiped out rail services in rural Scotland and many small communities were left without services. Jim identified the need and the opportunity. Postbuses could transport people from isolated farms and hamlets and ”deliver’ them into neighbouring towns, while completing the delivery of mail. Even tourists could enjoy a leisurely trip through glorious countryside. For two or three decades the Postbuses filled the gap until the rising use of cars developed in these areas and the buses had served their purpose. Only one service remains in Scotland. Jim developed a mission; aided and abetted by his Director, Henry Tilling, he became an expert at irritating beyond measure some Directors and Controllers in PHQ. Naturally he did not win all his disputations, but sufficient to ensure that the views of West Port House were always handled with care! Jim made sure that when he retired in 1985, he handed over a skilled and effective team to his successor and in recognition of his dedication, he was awarded the MBE. Jim was a man of many parts and pursued them all with great relish’ Rugby was his sport. He played for Heriots, Musselburgh and Aberdeenshire and finally Selkirk. He particularly enjoyed playing beside “Basher lnglis” – a Border rugby legend. He took up refereeing after an ankle injury stopped him playing. He enjoyed this through the 1950s, 1950s and into the 1970s. ln lreland he was nicknamed Jumping Jimmy as he had the odd habit of standing behind the thrower at a line-out so that he could see that there was no cheating! Back in Scotland in 1969 he refereed Border League matches at Hawick, Selkirk and Gala’. He then became a Referee Assessor and was a founding member of the Referees’ society. He was President of the North Berwick Rugby Football club in the 1980s. His interest in rugby never diminished and, when two of his sons played in a successful Boroughmuir 15, he became a regular supporter and continued to attend home matches until quite recently. Despite their fluctuations in recent years, Jim was a life-long supporter of Hibs and rejoiced in their Scottish cup victory in 2016. Jim had always enjoyed being an amateur thespian and performed at a high standard. He was a member of the Bell Players, a group of Telephone staff, later joining Theatre One formed by the playwright W Gordon Smith. Smith took his group to the lsle of Man Festival in 1957 where Jim hit the jackpot not on the stage but off, when he met Christine Murden! They married in 1958 at Liberton Kirk in Edinburgh. Richard, their first son, was born just before they went to Belfast and Michael, Stephen and Jonathan arrived while the family were in Ulster. Despite the heavy family commitment their parents still found time to be part of the Clarence Players. On the return of the family to Edinburgh in 1969 Jim was proud to see all his boys settled at George Heriots. ln 1976 the family moved to North Berwick and Jim and Chris quickly became involved in local activities. They founded the St Andrew’s Drama Circle and produced and performed in many shows. After his retirement in 1985 Jim became involved in several charities. They were very active in fundraising for the Guide Dogs for the Blind and enjoyed “breaking in” puppies before handing them over to be trained. He was Secretary of Bield Housing Association, and the local Rotary Club and had a role with the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. He travelled widely with his wife Chris from whom he got tremendous support and they both watched proudly as their boys matured and revelled in the arrival of their daughter-in-laws and their seven grandchildren. Jim was successful in several fields but remained a kind and generous man who will be missed greatly by his family and many friends. And this was reflected in the large attendance at the Crematorium including Henry Tilling, John Mackay, Ewart Shields and Drew Wightman. We are grateful to Drew Wightman for this fulsome tribute. |
| Trevar Harris Trevar formerly of RM Anglia sadly passed away earlier in 2017 after a long illness. He was aged 81 years. Trevor Cambridge Trevor sadly passed away on 7th July 2017 aged 85. He had recently been moved from hospital into a nursing home. Trevor’s last job was as a National Account Manager, Royal Mail Sales. He retired from Royal Mail in 1992. The funeral took place on 24th July at Gloucester Cemetery & Crematorium followed by a gathering and at The Gala Club, Fairmile Gardens Longford, Gloucester. |
| Len Plant Len worked for the Post office for his whole career, starting as a telegraph boy in Folkestone during the war, aged 14. He became an instructor at Bletchley and then took his wife, Joan, and toddler son, Cris across the world to the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati ) in the Pacific where he was postmaster of the atoll of Tarawa for two years in the 1960’s. On his return he spent most of the rest of his career in the Portsmouth area. His last two posts were Head Postmaster of another island, the Isle of Wight, and then finally Assistant Head Postmaster Portsmouth. He was a county table tennis player (Kent and Hampshire) and a very able [low single figures handicap) golfer, regularly having success in post office competitions around the country. He was intelligent, dedicated, and kind man, well respected by his friends and colleagues and loved dearly by his family. Thank you to Len’s son Chris for this tribute. Frank Taylor Frank was born in 1932 in Eggbuckland, Plymouth. He left school when he was 15 and became a messenger boy. He did his national service with the RAF in Iraq, where he ran the camp postal service. On returning to the Post Office he moved to Barnstaple as a Counter Clerk. He was later Postmaster of Eastleigh and then St Austell before returning to Plymouth, where he ended his career as Head of Personnel. Frank met Maureen when she joined the Post Office in 1959 as the Barnstaple Postmaster’s secretary and Frank was a P&T0. Frank already knew Maureen’s parents as they were members of the Conservative Club and played in the skittles team. They were married in 1961. They had 3 children who produced 7 grandchildren, and this took Frank and Mo to foreign parts. Clare has lived in Madrid for 20plus years, Nick was married in Moscow and lived for 10 years in Qatar before moving to Tenerife. Simon says ‘and I live in Basingstoke. There was a fair amount of sport in Frank’s life. He was an enthusiastic participant and organiser; tennis in his earlier years, squash and skittles. He was a Plymouth Argyle supporter and attended many England rugby matches, memorably in recent years in Paris with Simon and Clare. Post retirement golf became his main interest and Wrangaton Golf Club became the focus of Mo and his social life. I got to know Frank more closely during the 1997 election when I was parliamentary candidate and Frank loyally offered to be my driver. We drove miles back and forth across South West Devon, conversing a lot of the time. We admired his ability to complete crosswords, including the one in the Fellowship Newsletter. He frequently appeared among the successful entries. ln our working life I greatly valued his advice and support. He was a person of integrity and loyalty. I greatly valued his friendship. Fellowship members at the funeral were Graham Mc Alpine, Ray Bedson, Keith Luker, Philip loin! Trevor Dicks, and Keith Baldry. We are grateful to Keith Baldry and Simon and Maureen Taylor for this tribute. |
| Dan Downing Dan who worked in PHQ sadly died in April 2017 aged 74 years. |
| Dave Clements Dave was born in Oxford in 1947 and after school at the age of 18 he joined what was then GPO as a Counter Clerk in Oxford Head Post Office. He was promoted to overseer in 1968 and to Assistant Superintendant in 1972 both posts being in Oxford. ln 1974 he was appointed Assistant Postal Controller Class 2 in the South East Postal Region with headquarters in Brighton. After spells in the Operations and Finance Divisions of SEPR he was promoted to Assistant Head Postmaster Slough in 1979. Further promotion followed in 1983 when he became AHP Portsmouth having acted as temporary HPMr at Slough for a lengthy period. In 1986 he had another couple of years as temporary HPMr but this time in Guildford overseeing the changes consequent upon the major Business reorganisation. Back again to Portsmouth in 1988 this time on promotion to Head of Operations and Planning. His last move was to Redhill as District HPMr in 1990 and he was destined to be the last HPMr of Redhill upon the transfer of the role and operations to the Gatwick MLO. He retired from Redhill in 1992 at the young age of 51. He may have retired from Royal Mail, but he was very soon involved in a variety of undertakings to keep him busy. He and Jane his wife became active in Royal Mail Group events enjoying many happy times with old colleagues and friends, and in 1995 he was elected to the Executive Council. Shortly after retirement he was appointed as a Magistrate and served 18 years on the Southampton Bench often chairing both Adult and Youth Courts. Dave’s son Mark and his daughter Mandy both gained catering qualifications soon after his retirement. Jane was also a very good cook and Dave recognised the potential which existed. This resulted in the family setting up and running two successful restaurants in the New Forest over many years. Although his life was really busy, he still found time to indulge in a major passion of holidaying especially cruising and he and Jane enjoyed many days at sea and visiting exotic locations throughout the World Dave was a strong but gentle character, a good friend and a devoted family man and he will be sadly missed by his family and his many friends. David’s funeral service was held in St ]ohn’s Church, Locks Heath, on 3rd April and was attended by many family friends and ex work colleagues. The Eulogy had been prepared by Mark and Mandy and was a fitting tribute to a man who will be remembered with respect and affection by all who knew him. The Fellowship was well represented by Ivor and Phyllis Bryant, Don and Nella Burnside, Pat and Caroline Nield, Don Saunders, Les Dean and John and Joan Polglass. We are grateful to John Polglass for this tribute. |
| John Crowle-Groves Sadly John passed away peacefully on 1st February 2017. John’s funeral took place on Thursday 16th February at Canley crematorium Coventry in the Charter chapel. A buffet was available for family friends and colleagues afterwards at Heresall golf club. |
| Bill Penn Bill Penn died on 11th January 2017. He was born in London on 3rd March 1927 and was proud of the fact that his birth was within the sound of Bow Bells. Early in his life Bill’s parents relocated to Portsmouth where, although not a Roman Catholic he went to a Catholic School, and won a prize for religious studies. During his childhood Bill was diagnosed with a hole in his heart but recovered to swim in the Solent. In 1943 Bill joined Post Office Telephones in Portsmouth as a Youth in Training. He volunteered for military service, and joined the Royal Navy serving in HMS Deadalus – a matter he was reluctant to talk about in later life. After returning to Civvy Street Bill was promoted to Assistant Telephone Superintendent in the London Telephone Region. He married Pamela Cooke at All Saints Tooting on 11thJune, and his daughter Diana Macy, was born on 2nd September 1958. By that time Bill was in the Postal Service having been promoted to Assistant Postal Controller 2, and was serving in the Home Counties Region. He was transferred to PHQ (Postal and Mechanisation Branch) in 1953 and was promoted to APC1 at PHQ’s Postal and Mechanisation Branch in 1966. Bill relocated to Fleet (Hampshire) in 1965 and spent many happy holidays with Pamela and Diana visiting Castles, Stately Homes, Museums, and other places of interest. In 1968 his work took him to Bogota (South America) where he spent 9 months advising on the local postal service. He subsequently was promoted Assistant Head Postmaster Slough in 1974. Further promotion followed in 1976 when Bill was appointed Head Postmaster Darlington living in Middleton St George. He served diligently in that capacity, overseeing the construction of Darlington’s new sorting office, until his retirement in 1986. He enjoyed driving and would buy a new car every third year or so. Bill had a special interest in classic cars, which he shared with Diana. They frequently visited a classic car show. In the 1970’s one of his cars had an overheated cam-belt. Whilst trying to fix it Bill lost the tip of a finger. Pamela took it to the hospital where the fingertip was stitched back on, but it did not take and had to be removed. After his retirement Bill and Pamela relocated to Reydon Southwold (Suffolk) to be near Pamela’s mother. Their intention was to travel extensively, but sadly Pamela became ill with Picks Disease. Bill looked after her until her death on 11th October 1994. Bill continued to live at Reydon enjoying long walks by the sea. He also travelled widely visiting Cambodia, India, China, Japan, Vietnam, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos Islands. His last overseas holiday was a return to South America at the age of 89. He always started and ended these overseas trips from Diana’s home in West Sussex. When Bill relocated from Suffolk to Littlehampton (Sussex) in 2013 he quickly contacted South East Group Royal Mail Fellowship and became a regular attendee at the Group’s luncheon meetings until 2016 when a painful hip stopped him from enjoying his walks, made it difficult to use his car, and prevented him being at South East Group lunches. Bill had a good 2016 Christmas with Diana and his Granddaughter, Shelley, before falling ill in January. We are grateful to Diana, Bill’s daughter, and lvor Bryant for this tribute. |