Milestones

Stewart Blencowe wrote to tell me of the death of his father Alan. Stewart wrote:

Born in 1921 in Banbury, the son of a mill worker and lay-preacher, Alan left grammar school without any qualifications and wanted to work on the railway, in which he had a passionate interest. However, he was persuaded to join an insurance company.

He joined the RAF in 1941, first as a ground mechanic and later as a flight mechanic in Coastal Command. His flying took him on missions over home waters and latterly in the Middle East and India. Demobbed and married in 1946 to a local Bloxham girl he resumed his career in insurance until his retirement in 1982.

He continued his lifelong interest in railways, enjoyed classical music, and worked tirelessly for the Methodist Church. He is survived by his second wife Ismay, two sons and five grandchildren.

Peter Blencowe's cousin Judy Lane died on 15 December. She was the last surviving daughter of Charles Blencowe, who sank the German gunboat on Lake Victoria in the First World War.