Page 5. SD Enthusiasts' Club Magazine - Summer 2008.
Of Special Interest to Former Employees of S&D.
We were sorry to hear of the death of Russel Spinks on 27th April. Russell had been unwell for the past year. Russell was one of that large group of people who worked for S&D for many many years. Russsell was a buyer and worked within the Purchasing Department under Cliff Hackett who also completed over 40 years service at S&D. We offer our condolences to those who will be most affected by Russell's death.
One former SD employee described Russel as: "A really lovely man who was always ready to do whatever he could to be helpful." Whilst another has written:- "Sad news, I was a great pal of Russell; I shall miss our long chats, when I used to return to Letchworth."
With sadness we record the death of Tony Bottomley on 27th March after a short illness. Tony was born in 1933 and moved into the Baldock area when he was about ten years old. He went to a local school and joined S&D as an apprentice at the age of 16. He remained with the Company until the SPV Division was closed in 1986. At that time Tony was the Chief Engineer of the SPV Division.
On completing his apprenticeship and following National Service Tony joined the Drawing Office staff. He worked on the design of the Defiant range of forklift trucks, and had particularly fond memories of that time.
Throughout his life he was involved with local football teams, playing for Arlesey and Baldock Town. When he had more 'free' time he was always at the football club, working as the groundsman getting the pitch ready for each game. He was also a director of the club for some years until it folded.
Tony & his daughter Karen pictured in December 2007.
He was also enthusiastic about aircraft, particularly the American units based at Bassingbourne. It became a family joke that every roll of film (remember them?) sent to be developed always had at least one picture of an aircraft on it. He used to go with Mavis, his wife, to lots of the big air shows; Finningley, Duxford, Lakenheath and Mildenhall were regularly visited. He devised a metal box which sat in the boot of the car into which he could put the camping gas stove to boil water for cups of tea; his engineering skills came into play there!
Baldock Parish Church was packed for Tony's funeral, a mark of the esteem in which he was held.
On your behalf I have offered our condolences to Marc and Karen his son & daughter.
Our Next 'Get Together.'
I'm sorry to report that my request for former employees to volunteer to organise our next 'Get Together' failed to produce a result. I am grateful for the suggestion I received for a suitable venue for such an event. I appreciate that many of you are suffering the handicaps that increasing age brings, but I feel it would be good for us to meet up again before too long.