Richard Skene Bickersteth

“I carry your heart with me”

At Clarenden Court, Nantwich, Richard passed away on the 9th December, aged 95 years. Dearest husband of the late Queenie, much loved dad to Gaynor and Wendy. Also a cherished grandad, great grandad and great great grandad. Richard’s funeral will take place on Wednesday 20th December at the Crematorium Chapel, Crewe, at 3.20pm, followed by cremation. Donations are welcome to the R.N.L.I.

Richard was born at Ashleigh, Delamere Street in Crewe on 12th February 1922. His father Edward was Chief Civil Engineer with the LMR and his mother Rhalou was the daughter of George William Skene, the rector of Barthomley for 43 years.

He attended Summer Fields prep school from the age of 7 and Bloxham college at Banbury, near Oxford, until the age of 16.

When he was 17, war broke out and he volunteered for the auxiliary fire service in Crewe and became chauffeur to the Chief Fire Officer. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Queenie.

In May 1941 he joined the army and did his basic training with the Royal Highland Command. The following year in September he and Queenie were married. Soon after he was posted abroad for nearly 5 years with the Royal Ordanance Army Corps.

After the war Richard and Queenie settled in Rope Lane, Wistaston and in 1947 Queenie gave birth to twin girls, Gaynor and Wendy.

Richard had and assortment of jobs, including owning his own private hire company, sales rep for Kraft foods, a driving instructor, sales manager, personnel manager for Goodwin’s Dairy in Whitchurch and finally a taxi driver with County Cars in Crewe until he was 72 years of age.

He and Queenie lived in Salcombe in south Devon, a place they dearly loved, for a number of years before finally settling in Shavington where Queenie sadly passed away in 1995.

Richard loved being with his family, his six grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. He had a passion for driving and will always be remembered for his talent in travelling anywhere, any distance, without a map!

Richard will be sadly missed by all who knew him.