A keen gardener, just celebrating his 100th birthday, has recalled the war work he and his wife did at the Woodley aircraft factory.
Roy Brown celebrated on Tuesday with family members and Hurst Parish Council chairman Wayne Smith who gave him a birthday cake and a card from the village. King Charles and Queen Camilla also sent him a card.
Roy and his late wife Kath who lived in Hurst all her life, met working in the aircraft factory in Woodley.
“When I left school at the age of 14 the [Second World] War was coming on. I started as an engineer apprentice at the Phillips and Powis aircraft factory, later Miles Aircraft. They manufactured aircraft used for training pilots,” said Roy, as he prefers to be known. His first name is Ernest.
“Kath was a seamstress. The planes had wooden frames covered by special canvas treated with something they called dope. She worked in the fabric shop, cutting the pieces to shape to fit the wings and other parts. She was very good with the sewing machine.
“I served as an apprentice to a tool maker producing specialist tools.”
Roy and his wife married at St Nicholas Church, Hurst on Christmas Eve during the war. Roy has lived in Hurst for about 70 years.
His love of golf led to him meeting the famous Second World War pilot Douglas Bader who lost both his legs in a plane crash. Bader was given artificial legs – and played golf wearing them.
“I was a spectator at a local golf course and followed Douglas Bader as he played,” said Roy. “I was amazed how he could play. I told him I would find it a special favour if he would shake me by the hand, and he did. I told him I thought he was wonderful.”
Douglas Bader became a much-decorated fighter pilot, despite his disability.
Roy’s two years of national service in the Royal Air Force as ground staff were a special period for him. He also worked at Vandervells factory in Maidenhead, setting and running automatic machinery for producing parts for the car industry in the UK and all over the world.
Roy and Kath loved dancing. “They went dancing all over the place at Hurst Village Hall, Twyford, Woodley and one of the ballrooms in Reading,” said their daughter Janet Zaremba who lives in Cheshire.
The couple’s son David Brown lives at Tokers Green near Caversham. Roy has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
“Dad loves gardening, it is one of his passions,” added Janet. “He is a very independent man, it’s only recently that he has had more help. He looked after Mum for a long time.
“He loved driving. They liked going to Windsor Great Park which was one of their favourite places for walking.” Roy says the secret of a long life is exercise and a healthy diet – plus having long-life genes in the family.
