Obituaries (Page updated to 26 January 2012) to In Memoriam list
A. (Tony) H.J. Cornwell MBE (NE 7987)
The Teesside Centre was represented at the funeral of Tony Cornwell at both the service at St Mary the Virgin, Norton and at Acklam Crematorium on Tuesday 6 December 2011.
Tony was born in Cambridge (22 December 1928), after leaving school aged 14 he started work as a telegraph boy before serving an apprenticeship as an instrument maker. In December 1945 he joined the Royal Navy serving for 22 years and attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He served on board the aircraft carriers Eagle and Ark Royal around the world before being seconded to the Australian Navy while they were developing their own Naval Air Force. This was followed by a career in the Diplomatic Service in Ghana, Paris, Nigeria and Canada and while as consul in Australia was ‘mentioned in despatches’ and awarded the MBE.
Tony retired at 60 organised and astute and after much thought chose to move north to Eaglescliffe on Teesside – his inherent love of railways led him to the birthplace of railways on the route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. From being a child he was fond of the railway – his grandfather being a ‘horse doctor’ for the railway on the local Cambridge system! Where ever he travelled he was keen on the railway operations. Tony had a wide range of rail interests – timetables, sound recording, visiting model railway exhibitions, model making and layouts – with layouts in loft and garden. He was also a good walker and navigator with a wealth of information on a broad range of subjects .
Following diagnoses of his final illness Tony travelled extensively – across Australia, Canada and USA. His dream trip was secretly organised by family and a close friend to have a cab ride in ‘125’; this was achieved with assistance and agreement of his doctor in June, from Darlington to Leuchars, and he was still able to take photographs of the ‘speedo’ and on the Forth Bridge etc.
On the model railway hobby he always made sure he was able to attend the Falkirk Model Railway Exhibition where he donated the Tony Cornwell annual cup for the best steam layout in the show. A close friend from North of the Border has agreed to continue to present the renamed Tony Cornwell Memorial Cup for the best steam layout. Tony was renowned for his cheerful outlook making perceptive and constructive comments that would benefit individuals and the centre alike.
A final fitting touch as his casket was carried down the aisle to leave the church was the sound and whistle of GWR 56XX 6619 0-6-2T moving off on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and a final sound of a Valenta engined ‘125’.
Our condolences were conveyed to his caring family.
R.B. Henderson
From the November/December Journal 2011
D.R. Parker (H 5855) Members of the Barnet centre attended, on 25 August 2011, at Hendon crematorium, the funeral of Derrick Parker. A Yorkshireman by birth Derrick moved from Harrogate to London and following national service built a career as an engineer with British Telecom. Derrick was a very capable, practical person and willingly provided advice and practical assistance on a variety of subjects. He had a wide range of interests, including clock restoration in addition to railway locomotives and provided a number of items to the Tornado project either for fund raising or items of equipment to assist with the locomotives construction
Derrick joined the Society in the mid 1960s. His office location near Nine Elms shed provided the opportunity to witness the final years of steam out of Waterloo and made for easy attendance at the Bromley centre and central London meetings then held at Caxton Hall. For the years that I was Barnet Centre Secretary Derrick provided a sterling service as our refreshments steward. He regularly contributed the ‘profits’ earned towards the cost of the meeting room hire.
Regrettably, for the past couple of years he did not enjoy the best of health and was very frustrated by his physical incapacity, he nevertheless achieved his 80th birthday shortly before his death. Our condolences are sent to his daughter Malita and grandsons.
K. Greenwood.
The Society is also sorry to learn of the deaths of Richard P.B. Chandler (H 8558) of London and G.E. Little (NW 1043) of Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria.
From the September/October Journal 2011
The Society was very sorry to learn of the sudden death of Tim McGaw (H 1449) on 20 July. He had only recently been in communication with the Journal Editor (and writer of this note) as per p.186 of the July/August ‘Journal’ regarding ‘Horse Transport.
’Brian Dotson
From the July/Aug Journal 2011
Ian Malcolm Coonie (S 2650)
Ian Malcolm Coonie, a true ‘Paisley Buddie’ was born a little over 80 years ago and was brought up in the Kilnside area of the east end of Paisley where he lived all his life. He was educated at Paisley Grammar School; leaving at 15 to enter employment in the Seedhill finishing works where his father and aunt were already employed. This would have been in one of the mills engaged in the thread industry. He remained with this company until his retirement.
His father was a lay preacher in Northern Ireland and Ian was brought up as a member of the former Ralston Square United Free Church, transferring to Oakshaw East United Free Church when Ralston closed. When this church also failed Ian found a home in St. James’ Church of Scotland which he attended weekly for 50 years. He was a faithful member supporting and taking part in all the church activities, especially its Bible study sessions and being of a strong evangelistic faith he could debate vigorously.
Apart from Church affairs his hobby was transport – railways, ships, buses and tram cars being a long standing member of a number of societies attending their meetings on a regular basis. His membership of the SLS commenced in January 1952. He contributed articles to many publications and wrote, with R.R. Clark the definitive history of ‘The Tramways of Paisley and District 1885-1954’. He also wrote a book on ‘The Glasgow Coronations’. He amassed a large collection of memorabilia and had an extensive library of transport and religious literature which he was always willing to loan to interested parties. He had a keen interest in current affairs and in his retirement was a daily visitor to Paisley Library to read the newspapers.
In recent years Ian did not enjoy good health and he died in hospital on the 20 March 2011. Unfortunately as there were no living relatives the funeral did not take place until 20 April. St James’ Church arranged the service, cremation and internment of ashes in his parents’ grave as he had requested. There was a good attendance with a number of SLS members present.
J.C. Black
From the May/June Journal 2011
Robert Stephenson Roper (NW 8176)
The Society has lost a member who was a direct descendant of George Stephenson’s brother, John. Bob Roper, who died suddenly on the 28 January 2011, aged 86, was proud of his family links and of being named after his illustrious forebear. Born in 1925 in Bedford, his family later moved to Lancashire that became his home for the rest of his life. After army service in India during the war, he became a metallurgical analyst, spending most of his career with the Radcliffe Springs Company near Bury.
Bob’s interest in the Stephenson family led to years of research into its history, and he wrote a number of booklets and papers about its members. The most important were: ‘ The Other Stephensons: The Story of the Family of George and Robert Stephenson’, published in 1990, and his paper ‘Robert Stephenson Senior, 1788-1837’, in M.J.T. Lewis’, ‘ Early Railways 2’, published by the Newcomen Society in 2003. He was a founder-member of the Robert Stephenson Trust and contributed from time to time to its house journal, ‘ Gazette’.
Bob’s research into the Stephensons led to a growing interest in railways and he joined the SLS in 1996, attending meetings of the North West branch in Manchester. He was a good friend, and we often corresponded about the Stephensons and related matters. He was also very active in the affairs of the Rochdale Unitarian Church, where his funeral took place on Friday 18 February 2011. The Society was represented by Malcolm Dickin, North West Area Chairman; Mike Blease, Member of Council; and myself. On behalf of the Society we extended condolences to Bob’s wife, Verna, and his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.
Bob Roper’s extensive archive of research papers and Stephenson family artefacts, including paintings, were passed to the Robert Stephenson Trust, whose collection currently resides in the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Michael R. Bailey
Mike Ward (M 8331)
Members of the Midland Area were greatly saddened by learning of the sudden, unexpected death of Mike Ward on 9 March, at the age of 76. Mike was a Midlander through and through; born in Tile Hill, Coventry. He was apprenticed to the Wickman Machine Co to which he returned, after National Service, later rising to be supervisor of the company’s heavy machinery side.
Having married in 1963, Mike and his wife Gillian bought a plot of land in Shrewley, Warwickshire, where they built a house and raised a family. Mike became a pillar of his community, involved particularly in his local church where he was a sidesman, a parochial church councillor and member of the diocesan synod.
In addition to his well-developed interests in horticulture, music and literature, Mike was a stalwart member of our Kidderminster Centre, a regular attender at meetings, and a source of good-humoured comment and well-reasoned interventions.
Mike Ward’s extremely well-attended funeral took place at Oakley Wood crematorium on 22 March 2011. The Society was represented by Vice-President Derek Cobby, and Mike’s fellow Midlanders - Brian Haggar, Peter Whitehead and Ivor Jones. We extend our sympathy to his wife, his two daughters, his grandchildren and wider family.
Ivor Jones
The Society is also sorry to learn of the death of Alan Tall (H 2897) of Colne, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
From the March/April Journal 2011
E.W.J. Elliott (H 3922)
We are sorry to hear of the death of Edward ‘Ted’ Elliott of Knebworth on 8 November 2010 at the age of 76. Although he had been fit and alert until recently, never having registered with a doctor, he was suffering from abdominal pains and took himself by bus to the A&E Department of the Lister Hospital, Stevenage where his ‘pains’ were diagnosed as inoperable and advanced forms of bowel and liver cancer. His stay at the hospital was short and he passed away in peace. Ted regularly came on the London and Southern Area ‘Walk and Ride’ visits and would express to us many of his views on railways and other matters which led to a lively discussion. But while the rest of the party were relaxing over a pub lunch, Ted would take himself off for some bus spotting – one of his other interests.
Apart from railways and buses he was interested in local history and philately and was a member of a number of different societies. He was able to combine his railway and stamp collecting interests as he could often be tracked down to the Princess Royal Mail Centre in Wembley where he regularly posted new issues from its first day in service. He had been posting into Travelling Post Offices before the RMC opened but unlike most collectors, he did not stop these nocturnal visits after the TPO services finished.
A life-long bachelor, his only surviving relatives were his niece and nephew. The funeral was at St Marys, Knebworth on 25 November and Ted was buried in his parent’s grave at nearby Codicote. We are grateful to the Journal of Railway Philatelic Group and to Ted’s nephew, James Bridges, for some of the material contained in this obituary. We express our sincere condolences to James and his sister.
Bruce I. Nathan
Christopher David Rodway (NW 4481)
The Society was shocked to learn of the sudden death of Chris Rodway on 18 November, 2010, at the age of 69. Chris had suffered from Motor Neurone disease for some time but had remained very active until the end, particularly with both the National Trust and the Royal Geographic Society. Chris retired as a BR fleet manager when he was 55. He was an intrepid traveller, having visited over 70 countries during his life. He and his wife had visited Dubai and the United States earlier last year. Chris had been a member of the SLS for 50 years and was the last Secretary of our Liverpool Centre. He was still willing to arrange meetings in Liverpool even when we no longer had enough members on Merseyside to justify their continuance. He also regularly contributed articles to the ‘Journal’, the most recent appearing in July/August issue last year.
The funeral took place in Crewe on 2 December was well attended. The SLS was represented by John Ryan, Alasdair Renfrew, Mike Blease and Malcolm Dickin. The burial took place within sight and sound of the West Coast Main Line, and trains passed in each direction as the coffin was being lowered into the grave. We extend our sympathy to Chris’s widow Lynette and son, Mark.
Malcolm Dickin
The Society is also sorry to learn of the deaths of the following members – Kenneth F.M. Farrance (H 8602) of Petersfield; Vivian G. Leyshon (H 8022) of Milton Keynes; Edward C. Step (H 3640) of Godalming and Brian G. Tweed (H 1457) of Harpenden.
As the march/April Journal went to press news was also received of the death of Robert Stephenson Roper (NW 8176). He was a direct descendant of one of George Stephenson’s brothers and lived in Rochdale. A full obituary will be published in the May/June 2011 ‘Journal’.
From the January/February Journal 2011
Dr M.J. Andrews (H 3043)
As briefly noted in the November/December ‘Journal’, Michael John Andrews, MRCP, LRCP, LRCS, FFOM died on 15 September 2010, age 78.
A native of Barrow, his interest in signalling was sparked when towards the end of the Second World War, with a friend he visited a little signal box called Walney Ferry. Even though it dealt with nothing more than local shunting, the ability to command the movements of trains appealed to them both. Soon they had several acquaintances among friendly local signalmen and learnt much more about this fascinating subject. They became expert amateur signalmen, or thought they were.
As well as railways, Michael had medical interests and with the completion of schooling in 1950 he left Barrow for London to do his medical training at St Mary’s Hospital. After training he held several Registrar and Senior Registrar posts and at the same time attended an evening course on railway history. In 1956-7 he was Registrar at Barnet General Hospital from where he was able to spend many hours in Greenwood Box. As Registrar posts were all short-term appointments, he felt that prospects in the hospital line were not good, so after a Senior Registrar post at the Seamen’s Hospital, Greenwich, he went to the Port of London Authority and the Shipping Federation. About this time he married and moved to Bexleyheath, which was to be his permanent residence.
Michael then became a Railway Medical Officer, first on what was then the Southern Region
of British Railways and later moving to the London Midland Region with his office in a corner of the station buildings at Euston. Finally he achieved the top railway job in medicine, that of Chief Medical Officer, with an office at the British Railways Board HQ, 222 Marylebone Road, also known to the lower ranks as ‘The Kremlin’, where he was well liked by his colleagues.
Throughout all this period Michael continued his special interest in railway signalling, begun all those years ago at Walney Ferry; writing a paper on signalmen’s working conditions and the design of signalling panels, and, on the side, accumulating a notable collection of signalling equipment which he donated to Kidderminster Railway Museum where it is one of their most valued items. He had been a keen photographer and started taking photographs on holiday in Holland in 1947 with a Box Brownie. Later he went on to 127 and 120 cameras before changing to 35mm in the 1960s. He also published several works on the railway history of Barrow and district, the first an article in the ‘Railway Magazine’ in March 1959. Michael was a long-time member of the Cumbrian Railways Association and enjoyed their meetings and contributing to the on-line chat group. He had written an extensive history of the Furness Railway, which he spent so much time researching, which is to be published by the CRA, and it is sad that he has not lived to see it in print.
Michael joined the SLS in 1955. Many of his negatives, other than those of Cumbrian subjects, with a strong emphasis on stations, structures and signalling were donated to the Society in the 1990s. Some of these are listed in Stephenson Photograph Collection List No.30 and more are assimilated into other SPC lists.
The funeral was at Thorncliffe Crematorium, Barrow on 4 October followed by interment of his ashes in the family plot. We express our sincere condolences to his widow Anne and family.
I am grateful to his friend Brian Whitehouse on whose funeral oration this obituary is based and to Keith Greenwood for supplying information on his photographic interests.
‘Bill’ Fallon died on the 30 July 2010 following a massive stroke. There was a large attendance at his funeral on the 6 August which included a number of SLS members.
Bill spent some twenty years in the African copper mining industry as a site mechanical engineer before returning to the UK. Having a life long interest in rail transport, particularly steam trains, he visited many locomotive graveyards in various African countries – Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. Joy, his widow, remembers some fun journeys where she hardly saw him as he spent most of the time leaning out of the window. Bill was a member of the Strathspey Railway Association from 1970 and the SLS for the last ten years. That he enjoyed the company of the SLS Ayrshire members was shown by his regular attendance at meetings, travelling from Bridge of Allan to Ayrshire even in the bleakest of winter weather. His contributions at meetings and the running of the centre were much appreciated. His other interests were golf, hill walking, theatre and brass bands.
Unfortunately Bill was not to be privileged to escort his daughter Louise down the aisle to marry Tommy on the 16 October. A friend gave Joy and Louise some sun flowers as she said they reminded her of Bill – big, smiling and happy, a sentiment we can all agree with.
The condolences of the Society go out to Joy, Louise and Tommy.
Late news: The Society is very sorry to learn that Chris Rodway of Crewe, formerly Liverpool Centre Secretary, unexpectedly passed away on 18 November 2010. Full obituary in March/April 2011 ‘Journal’.
From the September/October Journal 2010
Harold Edgar Vickers (NW 4183)
Dr Harold Vickers died on 1 April 2010 at the age of 92. His medical career included serving as a pathologist in the RAF General Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan; consultant pathologist at Liverpool’s Walton Hospital and in the Pathology Department of the University of Umea in Northern Sweden. He was Secretary of the Society’s Liverpool Centre from 1960 to 1967, and gave talks to the Liverpool and Manchester Centres. He also wrote articles for the ‘Journal’, including an eight part series on ‘Memories of Three Years in the North of Sweden’ in 1982 and ‘A Glimpse of Imperial Indian Railways’ in six parts in 2007.
His wife Nancy predeceased him, but we send our sympathies to his sons David, Edward and Jeffrey.
Malcolm Dickin, North Western Area Chairman
Dennis Whitfield The Society was saddened to learn of his death on 8 June 2010. He was 71 years old and had not been well during the winter months. He was Secretary of the Shipley Centre until its demise and had in recent times allowed his membership to lapse.
Neville Fields (NW 1636)
We are sorry to report the death of our member Neville Fields on 29 July 2010 at the age of 93. Neville served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and a posting to South Africa enabled him to become familiar with that country’s railway system. After the war he trained as a teacher and was on the staff of the Peel Hall Primary School in Wythenshawe from 1954 until he retired in 1977. Resident at 24 Etchells Road, Heald Green for over 50 years, he took a keen interest in local affairs, particularly as a member of the Heald Green and Long Lane Ratepayers Association. He represented the ratepayers on Cheadle and Gatley UDC and subsequently on Stockport MBC as an Independent Councillor from 1973 to 1999. He was Mayor of Stockport in 1995/96.
He was the last surviving founder-member of the Manchester Locomotive Society which was formed in 1935. He was member No.2. (Our late member Harold D. Bowtell was member No.1) He was a past Chairman and a Vice-President of the Society. Neville joined the SLS in 1946. He regularly attended our Manchester Meetings and, being an accomplished photographer, gave us many interesting and well-illustrated talks.
Neville was a bachelor who had no brothers or sisters. Consequently only two relatives attended his funeral, but the total attendance was in excess of 100. We offer our sincere condolences to his cousin, Mrs Pat Brazier, and her family.
The Society is also sorry to learn of the death of William (Bill) E. Fallon (S 8183) of Bridge of Allan, Stirling.
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In Memoriam
Dr Michael J Andrews (H3043) Myles Birkett Atkinson (NW 1664 E. Baker G. A. Barlow Dr. A. L. Barnett Roy Bealby (NE 3217) B.C. Bending J.K. (Ken) Brewster Charles Patrick Peter Britton (LNW 3522) James Ian Craig Boyd Henry Arthur Vaughan Bulleid K. J. Carpenter R. Carter M. Challis R L Chambers D. Clayton A. B. 'Bert' Collins D.E. Collins Bernard Cordingley R.M.B. Crombie Richard Ross Cunningham James Douglas Darby J.J. Davis P. G. Douglas J. Dulieu John M. Edgson J. M. Fleming P. J. Garland Dr. I. Gavin John Roland Gill (S 5355) John Charles Gillham B.F. Gilliam C E Greaves Peter T. Handford Dr J.A. Heslop Major J.W.B. Hext MBE Dr John Ramsay Horler (NE 8151) T. J. Holden A. R. House R.H. Hughes R Hughes R. Hutcheson Fergus Robertson Johnson (NW 2500) C.P.A. Judge Ken Lea J. M. Learmont Brian Lewis of Sale ( not the current Society Chairman!) Fred J. Liptrot Dr Arthur James Lowe K. K. Mackay Dr N. A. MacKillop D Mason P.A.G. Michie Bernard Mitchell P. Moore S. C. Nash Ronald I. Nelson Peter Nettleton J. E. Newsome T.E. Norfolk J.W. Parnham N. Pearce R. C. Riley John A. Robinson Peter Robinson (NW 5570 H. D. Rowbotham R.W. Rush Donald Scott W. D. Seddon Rev Cyril A. Selman P.W.B.Semmens E.W. Sisman Reginald Sowler (NE 6620) Richard ‘Dick’ Swarbrick Alan Tall (H 2897) S. W. Thomson W. H. Thompson R. O. Tuck David Whiteside G. N. Wildish Dr K. C. Willson Ken Wilson
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