Information Circular —
June 2009
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Items listed in chronological sequence
Peter JC Shannon 1923-2009
Dear Reg, Below is an extract from an email which we have just received from Sid Brooks reporting the death of Peter Shannon who died on 17 June 2009. I'm not sure that many people will remember him but as Sid says he was the Accommodation Officer at Atlantic House, though it would be more correct to say he worked in the Accommodation Section on F floor with Alf Giles and Percy Thorpe they were the two EOs in the Section. From memory Peter left HMSO sometime in the 1960s when he managed to get a transfer (a rare achievement in those days) to the then National Assistance Board in Brighton. I guess he was about Sid's age 86/87 years.
Regards, Bob Barnard
. . . Sadly I have just heard that Peter Shannon died on the 17th; I do not know the circumstances. There was a nice piece in the paper which read, in part . . . a kind man who spent his life helping others. Retired civil servant (DHSS). Former Chairman CPSA. Member of Lions International for 40 years Founder and former President Rottingdean Lions Club. Former Chairman and active member Rottingdean Royal British Legion.
As I recall he was Accommodation Officer at Atlantic House when he left to join the NAB in Brighton when the daily commute got too much for him, especially on Saturdays. He was a great organiser of the Christmas parties there and played netball in Lincoln's Inn Fields as the photo we gave to HMSOldies shows.
He was a pilot with the Fleet Air Arm during the war and on release came to Keysign House in Oxford Street. He had no children and lost Eileen at a very early age. Two of his three brothers survive him and I shall be going to the funeral on Friday week.
I bumped into him very briefly two weeks ago in Rottingdean and he appeared to be in good health. He lived in the heart of Rottingdean in The Old Forge (opposite Whipping Post Lane!) which has been converted into mini-flats for ex-RAF and FAA air and ground crew. There was a flag pole in his front garden which proudly flew all the relevant flags on the appropriate days as well as a big notice board about all the events, etc.
Sid Brooks
Hello Bob, Thank you for your message. I did not know Peter, but remember Percy Thorpe as Accommodation Officer. The 1952 Staff List shows PJC Shannon as Clerical Officer in Publications. He was Established in 1946 and joined HMSO in 1950. Coincidentally, the three next names on the list are EG Uren, BH Benton and a certain RC Barnard, employed in D Division . . . . If you are in contact with Sid, please thank him on behalf of HMSOldies. Best wishes, Reg
Sid Brooks adds: Dear Reg, I suspect Bob Barnard was right to say that there are very few of us left who knew him. Those of us who do remember him do so with affection.
I attended his Celebration Service cum Funeral on Friday 3 July 2009 along with well over 300 others (including the Mayor) conducted by Peter's golfing friend Fr. Morgan. After a both humorous and moving service we gathered by the Lych Gate (opposite the village green and pond) for the Committal to the sound of the Royal Air Force March Past. As the British Legion Standard was lowered, over the Downs there appeared a Fairey Albacore, the type flown by Peter in the Far East during the War, which circled us at a low level three times and then headed out to sea, dipping its wings as a Salute and a Farewell.
Thanks, Sid Brooks
Many thanks. A fine postscript to a man who was obviously well-regarded during his life, and well remembered at the end. A nice reminder that one does not need to be among the Great and the Good to be both great and good. Best wishes, Reg
23 June 2009 – Keith Batchelor re Pat Kennedy
Hi Reg, Just been catching up with the Oldies. I see that Pat Kennedy entered the St Albans Rotary Cycle ride — so that's who stopped me from getting home early! I belong to an organisation called Raynet (Radio Amateur Emergency Network) and each year we provide the radio safety cover for the course. Yes it was wet and windy. I had to erect a mast and antenna on the northern part of the course so the operators could talk to those at the southern end where it started and finished. It was a bit of a struggle this year. Let’s hope that for 2010 Pat pedals a bit faster! Regards to all at The Eagle.
Excellent! Good to see you are remaining a useful member of Society. Reg
Quite correct — we just want faster pedals! Mind you if it was not Pat it would be someone else we would be waiting for. It is usually lost children on their bikes that we have to chase up. They start out on the 20-mile route and then decide to tackle the 40-mile one and mum gets worried because they are not home in time for dinner! It does show however that us HMSOldies are still out there fund-raising to look after the unfortunates of the world and not just sitting in The Eagle supporting the landlord! Keep up the good work. Regards, Keith
Thanks Keith — as you say, we are all heart! Reg
Survival of the Fattest
I was walking home from The Nelson pub where our meeting of the Pipe Club of Norfolk had been treated to a lecture by an electronics engineer on how to track down bats (relevance to pipesmoking available by personal contact only) when passing, for a change, The Fat Cat I experienced something very unusual. An attractive young woman was shouting my name, and not in a bad way. Turns out to be Louise Chapman, who worked in Supplies some years ago and left to become a teacher.
This was obviously not exciting enough for her, so she has set up Swardeston Adventure Survival . . .‘Outdoor, Wilderness, Bushcraft and Survival Adventure Specialists.’ Have a look on www.sas-go.co.uk if you think you’re hard enough.
These young people. Not content to sit at home with a Daily Mail crossword . .
Elsie Cottrell 1925-2009
Marian Fox has passed on the sad news that Elsie died on 20 May 2009. She moved to Norwich from London in 1968 with husband Frank (still with us) and was employed by HMSO as a Messenger.
12 June 2009 – Alex Mackie, alive and kicking
Hi Reg, With all the gloom and doom news that you have sent of late I thought I should make you aware that I am still around. I have little occasion to write because I have really no contacts up here now. The only person we still meet is Marjorie Bannister, ex IR and Manchester, but she relies on me for any news. The Mrs. can’t travel much these days so we limit our travels to Berkshire to visit our daughter and exceptionally this July we intend to go North to Aberdeenshire to see our relations — or at least what's left of them. I do appreciate the missives you send even though they tend to be obituaries but keep them coming all the same. Yours aye, Alex
Hello Alex, Good to hear from you and that you are in good form. Also that Marjorie Bannister is in contact. I haven't been to Manchester for 13 years and we don't get many visitors from the City . . . Ian Smith and his son were in Norwich recently, and I receive occasional notes from Tom McNeill and from those few ex HMSO people still working in the Press (or 3M as we must probably call it now). I will let people know that you are, as you say, alive and kicking (not kicking golf-balls, I hope!). Best wishes, Reg
3 June 2009 - Silver threads among the old
The last mass mailing went somewhat awry as ‘the system’ picked up an old address list. However, most people received notification that there was to be a gathering at The Eagle, Newmarket Road, Norwich on 3 June 2009, to coincide with a return visit of David and Susan Silver, who currently live in Melbourne.
As an aside, it was heartening to receive acknowledgements from several readers. First off the blocks were Dave and Stella Crump, closely followed by Mary Robinson (also sweltering in the Australian heat), Jean Storey, Barry Palmer, Michael Harrington, Alan Pawsey, Peter McAuley, Gordon Robbie, Larry Lewendon, Ian McCall (watch out for him working as a volunteer on the Bure Valley Railway), Adrian Young, Pearl Mortlock, Sue Holden, Sue Ticktum, Ernie Downs, Tony Durier, Helen George, Nodge Carnegie, Sid Brooks, Brian Lambirth, Carol Wardle.
In the event, some likely attendants were unable to make The Eagle due to holidays, Jury Service (don’t get me started on that) and previous arrangements. However, there was a good turnout to greet David and Sue, who had stayed with Peter Macdonald overnight. He was persuaded away from his domestic duties to join them (and it was so long since he had been in a pub that someone had to show him how to buy a round). Then there were Bob and Valerie Barnard, Pat Kennedy (still able to sit down despite his recent cycle marathon), Dave Martin, Larry Lewendon, Gerry Lucioli (whose excellent memoir of his recent visit to Australia is now available), Alan Pawsey spending a rare day in the UK, Pat Tate, Sue Whitaker, Marion Maxwell, Ernie Downs, Alan Cole, Anne Eason, Ian Dougall, Mal Loveridge, Rory and Lady Quinn, Brian and Jean Whitefield, Mike Woodhouse, Alex Smith. [See Picture Gallery or picture 1, 2, 3]
Frank Hallett OBE 1943-2009
Sad news received 9 June 2009 from John Eveson:
'Frank Hallett passed away this morning in a Belfast hospital. He had been hospitalised for some 5/6 weeks and was battling the toxins caused by a bug picked up (probably) in The Dominican Republic on holiday. The nature of Frank's illness has necessitated that a cremation will be held in Belfast at 0930 hours on Saturday 13 June. Frank's son Mark has said that there is likely to be a suitable gathering in his memory in the near future. John Eveson'
Frank joined HMSO in 1970 and spent many years in Printing Works and Parliamentary Liaison before transferring to the House of Commons.
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