Ron was born and lived in Wiltshire until he was six years old when the family moved to Farleigh Wallop, Basingstoke where his father took up employment on the Portsmouth Estate.
After attending school in Cliddesden until he was 14, he took employment with J.T. Thorneycroft prior to beginning an apprenticeship in engineering and studying at Basingstoke Technical College for the National Certificate of Mechanical Engineering. This was interrupted by two years in the Royal Corps of Signals as a radio and telecommunications technician serving in the Middle East, Egypt and Palestine. After demobilisation he returned to Thorneycroft and completed his apprenticeship.
In 1952 he moved on to work for A.W.R.E., Aldermaston as a Technical Officer and retired from that establishment in 1991 as Senior Professional and Technical Officer. His work there included planning and attending atomic weapons tests on Christmas Island.
Ron was a devoted family man who married twice and had his six children with his first wife, subsequently marrying Doreen. He was a keen Freemason holding several high offices. He tried his hand at golf and lawn bowls and took pleasure in driving particularly to Scotland where he and Doreen enjoyed hill walking. Both were also keen gardeners and he was also involved with the local squadron of the Air Training Corps and the Conservative Club – demonstrating his energy, drive, initiative and determination to make a contribution to the community .
Ron joined Probus in 2001 and found several friends he had known for many years. He was a popular and active member of the club and both he and Doreen regularly enjoyed the outings organised by the club. Unfortunately the illness from which he suffered meant that for many months recently he had been unable to take part in any of the club’s lunches, meetings or activities.
A gentleman whose company one could not help but enjoy, Ron will be greatly missed by those fortunate to have known him.
Probus Club of Basingstoke 
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