Herald - Issue 403

Page 16 • The HERALD • 11th March 2021 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v DECORATING Interior and Exterior Established 1985 07867 528307 mark.blake.decorating@gmail.com P olar P lastics PVC-U SPECIALIST IN: l WINDOWS l DOORS l CONSERVATORIES l FASCIAS l CLADDING l GUTTERING l GLASS UNITS l WINDOW REPAIRS l FENCING & GATES www.polarplastics.co.uk Email:  sales@polarplastics.co.uk l Open 6 Days a Week l No Hard Sale Family Business l 10 Year Insurance Backed Guarantee Registered Company 10 HOLBURY PRECINCT, HOLBURY DROVE, HOLBURY TEL: (023) 8089 9611 TRU-FLOW PLUMBING SERVICES For all your Domestic Plumbing, Tiling, Painting and Decorating Requirements • Fully Insured • Discounts for Senior Citizens Please Contact Andy Tel: 023 8087 0145 • Mobile: 07962 590089 FREE ESTIMATES Call Richard on 07554 421544 or 023 8178 8299 PEST CONTROL Domestic, Commercial & Agricultural • WASPS • MOLES • RABBITS • RATS • BEES • MICE • SQUIRRELS • PIGEONS • INSECTS Local Friendly Family Run Business Fully Trained & Insured Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH or email editor@herald-publishing.co.uk In Fond Memory of David was born in Eltham, London, youngest of 3 brothers with a younger sister joining them some years later. David’s mother died when he was six, which a ected him greatly, eventually in uencing his choice of hymns for his funeral. During WW2, the boys went to live with grandparents in Knockholt, Kent. is placed them under the ight path of the raiding bombers and David reported much excitement as the boys watched Hurricanes and Spit res attacking German planes overhead and collected shrapnel and shell casings that fell to the ground around them. When asked about these times, his eyes would twinkle, and the stories would ow. ey were later moved further from the danger to Padstow, Cornwall. Eventual ly they returned to Surrey and he attended Purley Grammar School, where David excelled at sport. Leavaing school at eighteen David went straight into National Service with the Military Police, serving in Benghazi, Libya. He was the only person in his unit to be shot at during his deployment to Libya - unfortunately, it was his own side that shot at him. ankfully, they missed. Af ter Nat ional Service David started teacher training at Westminster Methodist College London and Reading University. He taught brie y in B u c k i n g h a m s h i r e , Ockenden Venture in Haslemere then at Vernon Holme, Canterbury (Prep school to Kent College). In 1964 David took his uncle, Maurice Hart, to a Methodist Guild Holidays directors’ meeting in Eastbourne. Whilst there he was introduced to Phyl, the Resident Secretary, and they discovered a mutual love of hockey. He proposed to his future wife on New Year’s Eve 1964 and they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary shortly before he died. Phyl and David relocated to her native New Forest and David became a teacher at Lyndhurst (then Junior) School in 1965. ey set up home in Pennington and, with the addition of sons Adam and Graeme, moved to Barton on Sea in 1972. David rose to Deputy Head at Lyndhurst and was then appointed Head Teacher until his retirement in 1996. For many years David was an active and dedicated member of the Hampshire branch of the National Association of Head Teachers, serving as Treasurer. For services to early years education, David was made an Hon. Life Member by the British Association for Early Childhood Education. David was also a ‘New Forest Mummer’- A communityminded band who continued a centuries old tradition of performing a short ancient play in the pubs around the New Forest, raising money for local charities. e costumes were rooted in tradition and concealed their identities, so no-one knew who was entertaining them. David was appointed as Justice of the Peace in 1971, serving at Lymington and later at Totton until 1999. During much of this time he followed strong family traditions and was a Methodist Lay Preacher, inspired by his Grandfather who had been a Missionary in India. David was an active member of New Milton Liberal Democrats and served on the Town Council. Election time was usually accompanied by an explosion of artworks on the garden fence promoting their work. David shared his talent and humour through his art, becoming well known for displaying many of his paintings and cartoons on the garden fence. He took much pleasure from seeing the reaction of passers-by and regularly accepted donations for Médecins Sans Frontières. David played Hockey for Hairy Goats, Maidenhead, Sussex Martlets, Esso Fawley, New Milton, and Continued on page 17