Roy Thompson

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose, all that we love becomes deeply a part of us”

Roy passed away at Newtons Court on 6th January aged 91 years.  Beloved husband of the late Kathleen (Kath).  Much loved Dad of Noel and Glynis.  A cherished Grandad to Claire, Lee and Paul and Great Grandad to Abbey, Lily and Zack.  Roy will be very sadly missed by his family and friends.

It’s 3 years since Roy lost Kath his  loving wife of 68 years. On that occasion we celebrated that loving relationship – that enduring love affair – and commented that Kath would be looking forward to Roy coming to join her. Well, now he has, and we can imagine a bit of a hubbub going on up there. Roy’s and Kath’s ashes will soon be reunited as a symbol of that joyous reunion.

Their marriage  had a  bumpy start. There was a ridiculously short honeymoon to begin with. Roy was at the time a regular soldier. His Commanding Officer would only allow him to be absent from lunchtime on the Friday till Sunday evening.

And married life was interrupted  shortly afterwards when Roy was posted to Egypt for 18 months. Not quite what he had been expecting or hoping for!  To be based at Chester was not too bad as he could get back to be with Kath and family in Crewe on his cycle without too much difficulty.  Being in Egypt, and incidently occasionally under fire by nationalist insurgents, was a different proposition.   Anyway, the marriage survived – for, yes, 68 years!

Roy had lovingly supported Kath in the latter years of her life when her health was suffering, and it is much to the credit of Noel and Glynis, their son and daughter, that they had contributed to her care, and now these past 3 years have massively been there for Roy, enabling him to live more-or-less independently in his home in Lime Tree until about 8 months ago. So big thanks to them and to Newton Court Middlewich where Roy has been resident these past few months.

Roy was Crewe born and bred, an only child, and spent most of his years in Coppenhall.  For most of his earlier years his family lived on Remer Street and Maw Green Lane, from where he spent many happy hours duck shooting across the fields. In contrast perhaps to that he joined the choir at St Michael’s Church – which was an aid to joining the local Boy Scout Troop.

After attending  Broad Street and Brierley Street schools Roy started work as a trainee Coach painter with Frank Lowe, whose workshop lay at the rear of Nantwich Road. He suspended his apprentice training part way through to join the army in the early 1950’s. (There was mention of Roy’s army service earlier.)  This was not National Service. He joined as a regular in the Cheshire Regiment hoping to fulfil his dream to transfer to the Parachute Regiment.  His hopes here were thwarted by his commanding officer who refused to let him transfer because he was a regular soldier. So after completing the 3 years he had signed up for he returned to Crewe  to complete his apprenticeship with Frank Lowe. Thereafter he was working in Rolls Royce for 36 years, acquiring a high reputation for his coach spraying, before taking early retirement. He continued to carry out numerous spraying jobs with his great friend Dave Wilkinson.

Roy was proud of his military service. It hadn’t quite worked out as he had hoped, but he had a commendable record as an instructor and left with the rank of Corporal.  His service speaks of his sense of duty and commitment. There is some evidence that his courage and  service  continues to offer inspiration to his family – Lee, a grandson, was a corporal in the Royal Signals for 6 years, and Daryl, married to Claire, a granddaughter,  served as a navy seal in Singapore.

Some of you will know that Roy suffered an injury to his back while he was on exercise in Cheshire in the Bickerton Hills, which has caused him back problems and pain ever since.  But Roy has soldiered on, despite the back-breaking work of spraying. This perseverence tells you something about the kind of man he was.

The happy family life they enjoyed can be seen in various ways:

The support Roy gave to Kath as a wife and mother and as a wonderful neighbour to many on Lime Tree.

The way Roy embodied traditional  family values and standards.

The way he loved and nurtured children and grandchildren – now great-grandchildren.

The great family events and family holidays – when the children were younger in places like Cornwall, or Tenerife, holidays often with the Wilkinson family, previously mentioned, and their two children Stephen and Michael.

In later life, the numerous touring caravan holidays in England, Scotland and Wales they enjoyed right up until Roy was in his eighties.
And then there have been the many days out – a picnic somewhere in Wales, a trip to Altrincham, or wherever.

Think of the dogs Roy loved to take for walks – Ben, Blackie, Scoob.

These are just some of the priceless happy family memories family are now left with.  They are all worth holding on to.

Roy’s funeral will take place at Crewe Crematorium Chapel on Tuesday 24th January at 10am.

Donations in memory of Roy will be gladly accepted for Macmillan.

For further enquiries please call 01270 584447