HEAD OFFICE ACCOUNTS 1952 – 1977
Although he had served a shade under, I think, 25 years Gerry – again I think – never thought ever to claim to be a MV, living far from Essex. This obituary is for those MVA members who do remember him on the third floor of Marconi House. E.g. Don Mott, Roy King, Valerie Cleare and John Shrigley. Although short of the then qualifying service he was presented with the inscribed gold watch on “retiring”, at 49, to marry. He kept it for the “best” and wore it only in more recent years. (Mine stopped!).
Gerry, a qualified accountant, joined Head Office Accounts and mostly being H.O. Accountant, finally occupied the Chief Cashier’s chair (money in and out, salaries). He once went to India, to Delhi office, to sort out some clerk’s errant ways with the local cash (it ain’t arf ‘ot!). He commuted daily by bicycle and train from Holland-on-Sea (Clacton).
After “retirement” and getting a Rover 2000 saloon car, Gerry moved with Doris his wife (ex British Railways HQ, Marylebone), also “retired” – on pension – plus her mother, to be near other relatives (Ross-on-Wye), to a large bungalow at Colwall Green on the Herefordshire flank of the Malvern Hills chain. They holidayed as far as the Isle of Skye, a favourite.
When Gerry could no longer drive (an ear balance problem), he and Doris did their alternate week shopping and lunch trips by the one village taxi for years – to Great Malvern (Waitrose etc.) and in the opposite direction to Ledbury (Bank – most important). Longer distances included Church Stretton, Shropshire.
Gerry also did day-return trips (*another firm) back to collect a Clacton lady friend to give her a ‘country’ holiday!
Poor health, especially ulcerated lower legs, caught up with both, who had ‘zimmer’ frames, which did battle trying to pass through doorways.
Doris died in summer 2015 after fading away, but with four-times-a-day paid for Social Services helpers, Gerry carried on – “Financial Times on Saturdays, supplement to daily “Telegraphs”. Etc. etc.
For his 90th birthday in January 2018 he had a celebratory hotel Sunday lunch party for relatives and local friends – too far to travel to, so missed that.
Gerry sent Xmas card for 2018 (he had missed organising them, some years) but succumbed to a brief illness in Hereford, in the second week of January – again too far to go in winter for a funeral.
R.I.P.