|
|
| Notices |
| Notices and announcements placed by btmrstaff.co.uk members |
|
|
|
|
| From: Mike Green | Posted: 15-7-2021 |
 | | Frank Green - Northwich RSC |
| |  Passed after a short non-covid related illness age 93.
Born March 1928 in Northwich, educated at Davenham Primary School and Winsford Verdin Grammar Frank presented himself for an interview in August 1945.
He obviously impressed someone and he was instructed to report to Mr S A Jones, Inspector, at HPO Northwich on Saturday September 22nd 1945 at 8am to become a Youth-in-training or Y2YC as they were known. Payment to be 23shilings and 6pence plus a war bonus of 9shillings per week. Equating to £1.175 plus £0.45 for those born in new money days
Working his way through, cabling gang, sub app install and repair, a short time at Blackfriars and Ringway ATE, he ended up becoming acquainted with the test desk in HPO Witton Street, especially the cleaning thereof.
Frank eventually found himself working on the new test desk at the new telephone exchange in Middlewich road, later becoming Northwich RSC, dealing with subscribers faults and fault distribution to the faultsmen. He was also much involved in the sports and social club, children’s Christmas parties, annual outing to Blackpool lights, treasure hunts.
As is typical civil service time was moving slowly, much tea and paper sifting, until technology came along with an ever increasing pace, with new styles of management and working. Subscribers became customers, “the service” became a business and many of the elder generations found difficulty in adapting to new ways of working and understanding the new technology and decided it was time to let the younger men take the strain. Luckily early retirement schemes had also arrived.
So with P45 in hand Frank's last day of service was 20th September 1985, ever so slightly short of 40 years.
After retirement he found more time for his interests in railways and travelled around the country, visiting many of the national heritage railways, also assisted at Dapol Railway exhibition centre in Llangollen until it’s closure in 2003. Also became involved with local homewatch and crime prevention groups.
Up until his ill health in Dec 2020, he was still fully independent, of sound mind and body, and still driving.
Those that knew him well will remember, his no fuss no nonsense, straight talking philosophy, something that did not go down well with most of his managers during his time at work. Following from this a simple cremation has been at Vale Royal with thanks to Nagle Bros of Weaverham. |
| |
|  1 comment posted by: Doreen Appleby |  |
|
| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 25-6-2021 |
 | | Farewell Stewart Barker |
| | Harry Batey contacted us about the passing of Stewart.
Stewart Barker passed away on 10th July 2021 at Dr. Kershaw’s Hospice.
He had been suffering from dementia for a number of years.
Stewart was the Manchester North area sign writer prior to retirement.
Stewart's funeral arrangements:
Service:
Friday 2nd July at 11:45am
St Anne’s Church
St Anne's Avenue
Royton
OL2 5AD
Committal after service:
Hollinwood Cemetery
Roman Road
Hollinwood
Oldham
OL8 3LU
Covid restrictions still apply, limited numbers will be allowed inside venues to allow for social distancing. Additional people will be able to pay their respects from outside, up to a maximum of 30. |
| |
| | |
|
| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 15-7-2021 |
 | | Richard Pennington's dustcoat is up for grabs - Updated |
| |  Friday 24th June Richard ‘Pud’ Pennington packed away his 81’s and hung up his dustcoat for the last time before becoming a retiree.
He was due to meet with friends and colleagues, but due to Boris’ ‘data not dates plan’ he’s decided to postpone.
The new plan was to say farewell on Friday 23rd July, but that has now been scuppered. The Arden Arms have changed their minds about hosting parties, and this is probably true of other venues as well who now want to unlock more cautiously.
Rick wrote:-
My daughter has got in touch with the Pub to see if all can go ahead for the 23rd but unfortunately they have changed their position and aren’t taking booking for a while until they see how things pan out. This isn’t what they said to me 2 weeks ago, I suspect they are worried with the infections being so high. So the do is off for the foreseeable future and I cant see things getting better this side of Christmas but we’ll see. If things improve it might be back on but the further we move away from it the less it has to do with me leaving. I’d have to change it to 'Just a piss up for who ever wants to come' which is what it was always going to be anyway. |
| |
| 2 comments posted by: Alan Farrell, Phil Leighton, | |
|
| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 24-6-2021 |
 | | Farewell Eric Woodhouse |
| |  Bernard Naylor got in touch with Mike Ku regarding the sad death of Eric.
I was contacted by Bernard Naylor last week to advise that Eric had passed away in October 2020. He was 88 years old and had just celebrated his Birthday. He had been suffering from Dementia for a number of years. Some of his colleagues has been trying to enquire about his health but had been discouraged as it was thought it was causing him some distress. As a consequence many of his BT Colleagues will be unaware.
Bernie Rowlands knew Eric for many years. He started his career in Liverpool where he was a TO on Transmission Works Orders at Liverpool D Repeater Station. He was a very well liked person and was good at his job. He eventually got promotion to the Regional Service Division on Transmission Duties where he worked until retirement. He was a very likeable person who loved his work and was a BT person through and through. He kept in touch with many of his colleagues after retirement and held an annual BBQ for them. He will be remembered with affection by all and surely missed. |
| |
| | |
|
| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 14-6-2021 |
 | | Farewell Rod Ayre |
| | Kevin Walker contacted us about the sad death of Rod
I have recently received an email from Louise Ayre saying that Rod passed away on Saturday following a short fight against cancer.
Rod started as an apprentice in the sale area eventually working in sale telephone exchange, he then moved onto PABX maintenance in Manchester South based in Mercury ate.When the areas were amalgamated he was based in Ashton under Lyne.
Kevin
Funeral arrangements:-
Friday 25th June at 11:30am
Altrincham Crematorium
Whitehouse Lane
Dunham Massey
Altrincham
WA14 5RH
Due to covid restrictions only 20 people are allowed inside the Chapel. Further people will be able to pay their respects from outside, subject to social distancing and groups up to 30. |
| |
| | |
|
| From: Dave Jefferson | Posted: 2-6-2021 |
| | Farewell Sam Lord |
| | Sam died on Monday 17 May after a short stay in hospital. He may be remembered for Manchester north area construction and later at Bury ATE. He was 90.
Dave Jefferson.
Dave has come back to us with Sam's funeral arrangements:-
Thursday June 10th 13:30pm
East Lancashire Crematorium
Cemetery Road - access from Greenbank Road
Radcliffe
M26 4EU
Covid restrictions still apply, currently inside the chapel numbers depend on the space allowing for social distancing. Outdoors up to 30 people can meet as a group. Don't forget to bring a mask. |
| |
| 2 comments posted by: Alan Farrell, David Richardson, | |
|
| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 12-5-2021 |
| | Farewell Ron Glenn |
| |  Paul Banks contacted us with the sad news of Ron's death after receiving an email from Dave Timperley.
Paul wrote:
Absolutely staggering to hear about Ron, he always seemed so young and active. So sad but thanks for the news. I'll forward this to Mike Ku to put on the BTMRstaff website as they have a couple of pictures of Ron from the last reunion.
Regards Paul and June
Post by Sylvia, Ron's daughter:
My dad, Ron, sadly died on 23rd April after a short 10 days in hospital. He had had a spontaneous spleen rupture and then they discovered Leukaemia, which sadly rapidly progressed.
Funeral arrangements:
Ron requested that people do not wear black and celebrate his life.
Wednesday May 19th 2021
A service will be held at Blacon Crematorium at 1:20pm
Blacon Avenue
Chester
CH1 5BB
Due to restrictions only 30 can attend, but others are welcome to pay respects outside.
A Thanksgiving Service will be held at 2:00pm
All Saints Church
Hoole Road
Chester
CH2 3HZ
Due to venue capacity for social distancing, please call the Church Office to reserve seats on 01244 322056 open Monday to Friday 9am-3pm
If you prefer to watch the live stream it will be available on Youtube:
www.youtube.com/c/AllsaintsChurchHoole/
And possibly on Facebook as well:
www.facebook.com/allsaintshoole/ |
| |
| 4 comments posted by: Geoff Whalley, Geoff Whalley, Sylvia Ron's daughter, Pete Wright, | |
|
| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 29-4-2021 |
| | Farewell Cliff Maher |
| | Cliff actually passed away in November 2019. It only came to light When Martin Smith bumped into Cliff's wife recently.
Mike Ku added.
Cliff used to be a TO on Rutherford Trunk Auto many years ago before getting promotion into management. I believe he went into Planning in region and retired as a Tier 2. In Rutherford he was on the old rota team. I have asked Ron Roberts if he has any pictures but he did not. He also used to work with Bernie Foy in planning and when I spoke to Bernie last week he had nothing.
It's sad when a colleague death goes unnoticed, his funeral would have pre-dated the current Covid restrictions as well.
If anyone has a photo of Cliff we can add it to the notice and our Roll of Honour. Just email it back to us or upload it on our photo page |
| |
| | |
|
| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 15-4-2021 |
 | | Farewell Pete Hogan |
| |  Harry Bannister contacted us about the sad death of his friend Pete.
My old pal, Pete Hogan sadly passed away on the 14th April from cancer. Like me, he joined the GPO, as was, in September 1963 as a Y3YC and we eventually ended up working together from the mid sixties onwards in Dial House, firstly in Pioneer and then Rampart, until Pete left the company in about 1973 to work for XCEL installing comms equipment in bookmakers and similar.
After he left, we still continued to meet up, both as a twosome to play squash or to go pubbing or clubbing, or as a foursome with our wives.
This was all brought to a halt when I was promoted and moved to Oswestry but after we both retired I got in touch and we'd meet up as a sixsome, with Al Jones and his wife or as a foursome, when Al moved to Yorkshire.
Pete's wife passed away in December, 2017 but we continued to meet up for lunch until he was diagnosed with cancer in mid 2020.
I've no idea as to the funeral arrangements but given the current covid restrictions I'm certain it will be just be family and close friends but I'll let you know the details as soon as they become available.
This is the last photo I have of the three of us from July, 2016 with from left to right: Al Jones died Dec. 2019, Pete Hogan, Harry Bannister.
Check back for the funeral details in case the current restrictions are eased. |
| |
| | |
|
| From: Mike Norris | Posted: 12-3-2021 |
| | Farewell Harry Prowe |
| |  It is with Great Sadness we can report the passing of Harry Prowe.
Harry would have been 90 next week and had been in poor health for a number of years suffering from Dementia and later Covid.
Harry was a colourful character who spent most of his working life on Transmission 1st Floor Dial House.
The photo of Harry was taken just a few years ago whilst on walkabout in Sale.
Funeral to take place at Altrincham Crem Friday 26th March at 11:30.
Attendees are limited to invited family and close friends only and it has been requested there be no waiting or mingling in the grounds of the Crem.
Sad times indeed. |
| |
| 1 comment posted by: Paul G Shaw | |
|
|
|
|
|
