Pictured in His Office - April 1969
Roland Charles Scott 22nd February 1910 to 10th May 1999
After a replacement hip operation in September 1997, My Father never really recovered and was convalesced to Bognor Hospital and then to Eversley Nursing Home; The Eversley recently closed and a couple of months ago He was moved to The Cherington, where he received the very best care one could ask for, he passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning, (10th May 1999).
Everyone knew him as Ron. Born in the East End of London during the
reign of King Edward VII, there were four more monarchs in his lifetime, George V, Edward
VIII, George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. There is not a lot known about his early life in
Hackney, but I have "The Hackney Boy Scout Song Book", in which he has written,
Sergt. R C Sc
ott, 15 Horton Road, Hackney E8; the publication date is 1922. His
Parents
eventually moved to Charlton in Hampshire where they lived in a bungalow named
"Ubique", this means "everywhere" and is the motto of the Eighth
Army.
Ron served with the Eighth Army during the second world war, as his Father had in
the first. I have his Army Service book, showing he enlisted in July 1940, joining the TA
at Kingston in the Royal Army OrdinanceCorps; release came from The Army in November
1945, by which time Ron had made many friends, been involved in The North African
Campaign, but spending most of his time on The Italian Campaign, forming a
great love for the country, there is a photograph of The Leaning Tower of Pisa, dated
August 1944, his regiment was seconded to the American (5th?) Army and he was
proud to display 4 medals on the recent D-Day Anniversary; Battle of Britain Star, Italy
Star, Defence Medal and War Medal, Ron was very much involved with trucks at this time and
was one of the few drivers left, who never took a test; he only recently gave up driving a
car.
After returning from Italy in late 1945, Ron met Kathleen Drake, a nurse, at Richmond. In April 1947, Ron married his beloved Kathy and they were glad to be able to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary together in 1997. Kathy and Ron lived on The Tudor Estate in Kingston, in a house which Ron had bought new for around £300, before going to The War; Ron had an allotment where the Fire Station now stands. In 1951 Ron and Kathy moved to Longfield in Ewell, a lovely house with a long garden, that I remember so well during the 15 years we spent there, including our first 12" television, acquired in time to see The 1953 Coronation, "Live", the house was on the route which the Royal Family took when going to The Derby and we often got a quick look and a wave from "The Royals" !
Ron joined Brown Brothers in Shoreditch, 26th January 1926 on 14s (70p), a week, "and glad to get it", he formed great relationships with cycle dealers and accessory manufacturers, moving from a salesman, to General Manager of the Cycle, Electrical and Radio division. I remember imported Russian Hi Fi Systems, the Vindec Cycles and the first small Perdio transistor radio, this was a wonderful thing that I was rarely parted from. Ron was with BBL for all his working life, completing some 45 years service, before taking early retirement on 6th August 1971. There are many well wisher’s letters with Ron’s papers, all from companies which are household names today; Stadium, Servis, Goblin, Halfords, Thorn, Humbrol, Pifco, Birmid Qualcast, Dimplex, Raleigh, GAZ and Burmah.
Kathy remembers Ron taking her to see the great tenor, BENIAMINO GIGLI (1890-1957) at the Royal Albert Hall, in 1946, an incredible experience to see a living legend, Ron’s love of music continued with a vast collection of Records, CD’s and Videos.
After leaving Ewell, we moved to Ashtead and then Leatherhead. In 1971 Ron and Kathy moved down to Buckfastleigh in Devon, where they stayed for some 10 years before moving into a new bungalow at Storrington; after a few years they then moved down to Bognor Regis. During this time there was nearly always a greenhouse and well cared-for garden, Ron loved to relax with his plants and pipe!
Ron played the violin for a while, but when not gardening, his main leisure activity was golf, he belonged to Tyrells Wood Golf Club near Leatherhead for a number of years; after moving back to Sussex, he joined Littlehampton Golf Club, which is a true "Links" course, as I remember well, when trying to play him there !
Ron was a member of The Centenary Club, which had been founded in 1939 by the executives of the cycle industry and he partook in many of their "runs".
There was The Pickwick Bicycle Club and I always remember My Father bringing back from The Dinners, the magnificent clay pipes, (which were smoked upside down with some dreadful "shag" tobacco !), while wearing a lovely straw boater ! There were always some petite fours in a serviette for me in the morning!
Ron was a life member of BEN (Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund), having joined in 1946, he contributed for many years and we all had to buy the raffle tickets !
There was RIGS too, The Radio Industries Golfing Society, where many a fine day was enjoyed by all at various golf courses around the country.
Ron was an excellent artist, I remember superb pencil and charcoal sketches, he would often paint water colours of the garden or some holiday scene. Following retirement, he finally took up his lifelong ambition of using oils, there are some fine examples around our houses.
From my early days I remember holidays in Cornwall and the many times we went to the beautiful silver sands of Mundesley in Norfolk, I still have a small phial of sand, dated 1956 ! Ron loved the holidays he and Kathy took in Spain, Fornells Bay at Aigua Blava on the Costa del Sol, in particular, and this led to many fine paintings - in his own style.
Following the sudden death of My Mother, Kathy Scott, there will now be a combined service at Chichester Crematorium, at 3:30pm Thursday 20th May 1999 - Westhampnett Road Chichester (01243 787755), there are no plans for a separate Church Service, but we hope the Minister, Rev. Frank Jones (01243 863012) from St Ninians, will conduct The Crematorium Service. There will be a short (about an hour or so), reception afterwards at The Jarvis Hotel Chichester, which is almost adjacent to the Crematorium, where I will be pleased to share a drink and refreshments with all who can come. Should anyone wish to to stay the night, The Jarvis is very pleasant and arrangements can be made direct on 01243 786351
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Dillistone Funeral Service, 3a Arundel Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 7BY (01903 726324)
We would request that there are only Family Flowers and would prefer that any donations be made to Mrs Sue Whitehead, Secretary to The Friends of King Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 0BL (01730 817572). It was due to the wonderful care that Ron received at King Edward VII, that he lived more than 15 years after being treated for lung cancer. Donations, in his memory, will be gratefully received.
Please do not hesitate to call me, (Hugh), if you need any further information.
Follow this link to some interesting Scott/Drake Family Photos
Hugh
Scott
01403 791891 (DAY) 01403
791892 (FAX) Mobile 0797 060
0068 (24 hour answerphone)
Internet site http://www.hugh.co.uk email: hugh@hugh.co.uk