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November 2021 November 2021
OBITUARIES
Normandy (It Could Have I try not to remember but I cannot
Been Me) forget.
go, including my Mum, and being the noble young gentleman he
The sky was dark when we left home, My best mate was blown apart, and was, he refused. So they were both sacked! Certainly that’s the
as we went to fight the hun. that still haunts me yet. story I was told, anyway!
Our orders were to put an end to It chills me to the bone. In a place On April 7 1980 they were married at Affpuddle, and a couple of years later
th
what he had begun. where life should be, I came along. They set up home in Elder Road, Bere Regis, where they lived
I did not know what to expect, as I Now, I stand and look at the rows of for the next 19 years before moving down to Bitchams Mead after my
sat with my rifle against my knee. graves and think it could have been Grandparents passed away.
Now, I stand and look at the rows of me.
graves and think it could have been I have had no desire to return to this During the summer of 1984, Dad received the shocking news that he had
me. place, since nineteen forty-four. Hodgkin’s Disease and spent a lot of time in hospital receiving
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy under the amazing care of the Royal
I didn’t think of myself as a hero, as I Then, I was simply doing my job, when Marsden Hospital in Sutton, finally getting the all clear only to be told 6 years
fought my way onto dry land. this country was at war. later in 1990 that it had returned and going through the same process. I know
Over tank traps and barbed wire, I As I look back over my shoulder, as far those events gave Dad a real sense that every day he had after that was an
clawed my way up the sand, as my eye can see, unexpected bonus, making sure he made the most of his opportunities.
When the ramp of the landing craft Now, I stand and look at the rows of
lowered, and we waded through the graves and think it could have been Becoming ill meant that he was unable to continue working as a bricklayer
bloody sea. me. for Dick Percy, and not being one to sit around doing nothing, he decided he
Now, I stand and look at the rows of Paul J Openshaw (2014) would study for the degree that he missed out on first time around, with the
graves and think it could have been Open University. Looking back now, his dedication and commitment to
me. achieving that whilst at home with a family was amazing, and we were all
immensely proud when he graduated!
We made our way south through
Normandy, to where we dug I certainly benefited when I was younger from him being at home more, and
ourselves in. he was always happy getting down on the floor with me to build Lego
We were under constant shell fire. I models and Scalextric tracks or take me up to the Old Surgery at my
Grandparents house where he had turned the old waiting room into a huge
did not think that we could win. model railway track, although I think I saw it as more of a toy than he did!
There was no glory in the stench of
carnage and debris. In 1989, whilst still studying for his degree, Dad got a job working at Milton
Now, I stand and look at the rows of Abbey School, and after working at first as a Physics Technician, then a DT
graves and think it could have been Technician, he took the job he’d always wanted and became a fully fledged
me. Design Technology teacher. Personally I know he loved nothing more than
being in the classroom, getting a chance to impart his wisdom onto the next
generation, and sharing his genuine passion for
crafting things. Popularly known as “Mr B” to the
boys, I know his enthusiasm and patience led to the
workshop being a favoured place for students and
he was always happy to stay on a little later or open
up on a Sunday in order to help them finish a project.
It’s been comforting for us to read many of the
tributes left on facebook by students and colleagues
alike recently, and we’re proud knowing he’s left

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