Obituaries (Page updated to 7 August 2008 ) to In Memoriam list
P.A.G. Michie (NW 6236)
Peter Allan George Michie died on 4 February, 2008, at the age of 60. He was born in Timperley on 29 June, 1947 and lived in the Altrincham area throughout his life.
He worked for British Rail mainly as a booking clerk and was a life-long railway enthusiast. He travelled widely throughout the world and gave many talks and slide shows to the Society about his travels.
We extend our sympathy to his sister and family
Malcolm Dickin
Derrick Mason (NE8134)
Members of the Newcastle upon Tyne Centre were shocked by the sudden death of Derrick Mason while waiting for a train at Kings Cross station on 25 February 2008. He was returning home from an eight-day farewell-to-steam tour of the Ukraine.
He was a former headmaster of Atkinson Road School in Newcastle who greatly enjoyed his interests in transport during his retirement.
Derrick was 76 and was born in Soho Street, Shildon, Co. Durham, famous for the wagon works. As his grandfather had worked on the railway perhaps it was inevitable that he should have a life long interest in railways. After attending Timothy Hackworth Primary School and Consett Grammar School he completed his National Service as a clerk with the Royal Air Force in germany. On his return to the North east he studied at Bede Teacher Training College in Durham where he met fellow trainee teacher Eileen whom he married in 1955 and moved to Newcastle, establishing the family home of fifty years in Fenham. Daughters Glenys and Roz completed the family. Very much a family man, he was proud of their achievements and loved his job and his hobbies.
He was a much valued member of the Newcastle Centre where he had been persuaded to join the committee on which he served for many years wit particular responsibility for speakers hospitality. Although ill health forced his retirement from the committee he continued to be an active member. His frequent travels and excellent photography meant he was a frequent winner of the centre’s John Morris Transparency Competition and subsequently arranged the following year’s event with his quiet and skilled efficiency. Indeed Derrick had arranged the competition in December 2007. As a regular proposer of votes of thanks to visiting speakers Derrick was in his usual thoughtful and eloquent self at the last meeting he attended on 1 February in his tribute to Dr Paul Salveson from Northern Rail. He was a member of the Friends of the National Railway Museum and was also a member of the Treble One Preservation Group of Newcastle upon Tyne where he was much involved in the restoration and operation of ex Tyne & Wear PTE 1981 built
Leyland Atlantean AN68 with Alexander bodywork, a vehicle much admired on the rally scene.
A large group of Newcastle Centre members attended Derrick’s funeral at the West Road Crematorium and in a fitting tribute the Treble One Group attended with the bus which some traveled aboard with members of the family to holy Cross Church Hall for tea afterwards.
We send our deepest sympathy to his wife Eileen, daughters Glenys and Roz and their husbands Nick and Ian and grand children David, Julia and Helena.
Les Paul
T.H. Richardson (H7431)
We are saddened to report the death of Tom Richardson on 27 April 2008 at the age of 63.
Tom was very well known in the London & Southern Area being Area Secretary and Representative on Council for many years. An engineer by profession he spent much of his career working on radar systems and he gave the same care and thought to all his work for the Society. His contributions to discussion on Society matters were always listened to with great interest. He regularly supported the Barnet Centre and frequently attended meetings at the Bromley and Guildford Centres. He enjoyed hill walking and after early retirement made
extended visits to South Africa and Australia which he enjoyed very much.
Shortly after retirement however he had the misfortune to develop an aggressive form of Parkinson’s Disease which very seriously affected his speech and mobility. He responded to his disability with great courage and continued to take part in Society activities until a fall at home in 2006 followed by a long stay in hospital led to a decision to live in a care centre. He continued to take great interest in the Society but unfortunately he developed bronchopneumonia and died on 27 April 2008.
The funeral was attended by many of his friends, some of whom had travelled long distances. The Society was represented by Past President Richard Hardy, Vice President Ian Johnson, Chairman Brian Lewis and Area Chairman John Manners. His closest relatives are his cousin Keith Richardson and his wife to whom we offer our condolences.
John Manners
We are also sorry to learn of the deaths of D.E. Collins (H 2619) of New Romney and R.M.B. Crombie (S 2262) of Glasgow.
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