BIOGRAPHY: Went to school first to Troy Town then Fort Pitt.
BIRTH: Born at Shakespeare Road, Gillingham
BIOGRAPHY: Sang in the church choir with his father. Top student and graduated to Chatham Technical College at 16. Achieved a scholarship to Royal Naval College, Greenwich, studying as an electrical engineer. Moved to Portsmouth dockyard at end of war. Moved to Malta in 1950. Returned to UK in 1953 to Admiralty Engineering Laboratory , West Drayton. Moved to Chatham Dockyard in 1956 as Assistant Personnel Manager. 1965/6 moved to Plymouth Dockyard involved in rebuilding of Ark Royal. 1973 moved to Bath as Director of Dockyards. Retired in 1898. Died after long illness of alzeimer's and prostate cancer.
MARRIAGE: Second marriage to Joan in 1986.
14. Vera Irene Rolfe
ADDRESS: First lived at 2 James Street, Rochester (1921-9). Lived at 245 Maidstone Road, Rochester (1929-43). When first married lived at 71 St Margaret's Street. When married, spent time in Weymouth (1945), and Dovercourt (Harwich) in 1949 when Dad was serving in Navy. Living in Englefield Green around 1951. Bought first house at 10 Pattens Lane, Rochester (before 1952). 1959 - moved to 42 Collinwood Road, Headington, Oxford. 1965 - moved to Maytree Cottage, Appleton.
BIOGRAPHY: Went to school first at Troy Town 1926-32, then Fort Pitt Grammar School for Girls 1932-8. Played piano under Professor Sharp in 1931. Passed Pitmans & RSA in shorthand (120wpm), and typing (60wpm). From 1938-45 joined Medway Choir and performed amongst others Merrie England, and Rebel Maid at the Central Hall. Choir apparently disbanded during War.
OCCUPATION: From 1938, joined Kent County Council at Springfield, Maidstone, as a Junior Receptionist and clerk in the Elementary Section. From 1939-45, joined the Building Department as a Shorthand Typist, then personal secretary to Mr G White (Sights & Buildings), and Mr Knight in Accounts. From 1968-85 worked for Local Examination Schools, Oxford as a leader of section dealing with certificates.
ADDRESS: Born at 10 Horsley Road, Rochester.
BIOGRAPHY: Went to school at the Sir Joseph Williamson Mathematical School, Rochester from 1929-33. Took part in G&S operas, and was a second in the Second Math Scout Group. Developed interest in woodwork. Pumped the organ at The Vines Church for Len Halls.
After school worked for Featherstones in men's outfitters from 1933-8. Was asked to become Assistant Manager in Sheerness but decided to sign up for 12 years in Navy.
In 1939 joined the Cumberland as a Supplies Assistant spending time in South Atlantic looking for surface raiders of which one of the most infamous was the German warship Graff Spee. The Cumberland then moved to the North Atlantic escorting convoys.
Left Navy and went to Oakley Training College, Cheltenham 1950-1 for teacher training, then in 1951-2 did craft teacher training at Shoreditch Training College, Englefield Green. Teaching experience started at Troy Town School, followed by Harry Gosling Woodwork Centre and St John Cass School (both in London). In 1958, appointed metalwork teacher at Matthew Arnold, for £72 p/a, promoted to Head of Department.
Took early retirement in 1977 and went to work for the University as a technician for the Department of Educational Studies. On leaving the University in 1985, did voluntary work for Pain Relief unit (Churchill Hospital) and the Wildlife Trust in Cowley.MARRIAGE: St Nicholas Church, Rochester
DEATH: 23 Oct 2009: After a short illness. Dad was getting increasly out of breath in latter years. After 2006 he had knee and hip replacements and became less mobile. He moved back to Maytree in Easter 2009, Following a stroke in September his speech deteriorated, and the JR changed his medication, lost his appetite etc. He ended up in the Blenheim ward on oxygen. Had good & bad days, but died suddenly on the Friday morning. His ashes were taken to Medway Crematorium.