The sad news that Janet died on 1 October 2019, just two years after her husband Keith, appeared in the Norwich Evening News on 16 October. Janet joined HMSO as Personal Secretary in 1971 following employment with the Ministry of Defence. She was born in Arbroath, and married Keith on 10 October 1977. They spent…
Author: Robert Stutely
Iris Elizabeth Durkin 1946–2019
Iris sadly died on 17 September 2019 following a short illness. Funeral details can be seen here. Iris joined her husband Rod at HMSO Norwich upon dispersal, and worked as Personal Secretary to Derek Dashfield and George Macaulay. This photograph shows Iris (third from left) in happier times, with Rod and friends out for a…
Brian Wilson 1931–2019
The sad news that Brian died, in August 2019, following a long illness came from Brian Cockram after a casual meeting with relatives of the family. Brian joined HMSO in 1966 from another Government Department, as EO in Supplies Machinery – S5, working to Margaret Crawley. He moved to Norwich upon dispersal, and retired as…
31 August 2019 – From English Jack [Keating]
Saturday 31 August, it’s 1.30 in the afternoon my time and I’m watching Liverpool beating Burnley. Outside there is a clear blue sky and the temperature is a balmy 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I’m having a bite to eat and quaffing a cold Stella Artois beer. Everything looks great except for a small square in the…
Ernest Herbert Downs 1936–2019
The sad news that Ernie has died, at the Royal British Legion Home at Halsey House, Cromer, on 17 August 2019, came from Pat Tate who has since confirmed his funeral as taking place at 2.45pm on Monday 2 September at St Faith’s, Norwich – afterwards at the Royal Norwich Golf Club. Full details here.…
Christine Amanda Stiven 1964–2018
A chance sighting of a Facebook page in August 2019 informed us of the sad news that Chris Stiven had died on 22 January 2018, since confirmed by her daughter Sascha. Chris attended St Albans School of Art, and following other postings, joined HMSO Supplies Marketing in Norwich in April 1994, where she proved to…
HJD ‘Bert’ Magee 1929–2019
The Eastern Daily Press carries the news that Bert died on 4 August 2019. Funeral details can be found here. Bert joined HMSO Central Computer Branch in Norvic House, Norwich, in the late 1960s – the days of Emily Beech and many more early-adopters, as remembered by Doug Kerry. He subsequently moved to CCTA, Gildengate…
3 Aug 2019 – From Alex Mackie
Reg, I phoned Marjorie [Bannister] planning to visit her, she doesn’t drive now, but she has booked herself in to a Sunrise Home for a rest break. Alas she fell there and broke her hip and is now in Stepping Hill Hospital. I visited her this week and found her quite cheery other than a…
29 July 2019 – Sovereign House in the Early Days, from Rory Quinn
A couple of nice reminders of late 1968, just after the dispersal of Supplies Division from Atlantic House to Sovereign House. Rory worked in the S6 (office machinery) area at the time. Apart from the fresh-faced (and well-dressed) subjects of the photos, it is interesting to see how desk equipment has changed over the years.…
Jean Fox 1931–2019
– We received the following sad news from John Fox (ex-HMSO Print Procurement) on 8 July 2019: ‘My Mum, Jean Fox, passed away this morning in hospital, due to CPD and pneumonia. She worked in Gateshead Press from around 1968 till a few years after its sale to Ben Johnson of York, having previously worked…