Members
Derek May (3rd Sept 1941 - 20th June 2025) Aged 83
Sadly Derek May passed away after a fairly long illness on Fri 20th June. He was a former constructive member of our committee and produced our noticeboards for us. His funeral was on Wed 23rd July at 1:45pm at St Peter's Church , Portishead. and afterwards at the Old Mill. The Rev. Tonya Nixon took the service. Derek's presence will be missed by those of us who knew him personally.
Tribute to Derek
Derek was born in Clifton in WW2. He lived in Hotwells with his mum and dad and 3 yrs later his brother was born. Their garden backed onto the Cumberland basin and he and his brother used to sit on the wall to watch the ships coming and going. The sailors used to throw them oranges and bananas, something that people never saw when the war was on. He was in the choir at Holy Trinity church, Hotwells for several years and attained the dizzy height of head choir boy. In contrast he was also ringleader of the Black Hand gang when he was just 10.
When he was 14 the family moved to Lawrence Weston and he attended Long Ashton senior school. He left school aged 15 and took an apprenticeship with A & S Osmond Engineering Ltd in Hotwells Rd (they were manufacturers of abrasive wheel cut-off machines for barstock). He developed a love of motorbikes and was the proud owner of a 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet.
In 1963 the South African Government ran a campaign to attract skilled workers so he paid his £10 passage and joined the popular destination for British citizens seeking better opportunities and a different lifestyle. Whilst there he had several jobs including maintenance of swimming pools but he was missing the UK and didn’t have sufficient funds for his passage home. So he used his initiative, signed on with the Merchant Navy, became a 2nd engineer on a ship bound for the UK. Arriving in the Seychelles the ship terminated there, but the merchant navy ensured he got home.
After getting back his next project was to purchase an old MG TC (1945-9 model) that needed rebuilding. When completed he and his friend Graham decided to take a holiday in Newquay. Whilst at the Blue Lagoon ballroom they met girls, one of whom was Ann. Love blossomed and they were married in 1967 (who says holiday romances never last?). Baby Tom came along in 1974 and sister Alex just two years later.
Derek was an enthusiastic Dad, taking them swimming, camping and making toys for them. Things like sledges, go carts, forts, dolls houses and even a table tennis table constructed from reclaimed wood (he never threw anything away) Derek was competitive at the game playing against Tom and Alex and even his brother, Roger, where each tried to outdo the other. In Derek's garage everything was awaiting a second lease in life. There were tins full of nails, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, plugs, etc. as he knew one day they would come in useful.
Derek was delighted when Tom decided to settle down with Chery and her son Charlie. He loved visiting them and teaching Charlie how to play chess. During Derek's last few weeks he was delighted to hear that Alex would be marrying Steve in May 2026 and he would have loved to be there with them, but he will still be with them in spirit. Derek has always been proud of his children and their achievements.
Derek loved animals, especially cats. Early in married life two kittens arrived and in the 58 years since there have been nine. Derek loved music. He was a piano player and he and Ann regularly attended concerts at the Colston Hall, sometimes with the children. Family holidays were always looked forward to, whether just camping, in Fishguard with Derek’s mum at home, or abroad.
After work Derek enjoyed over 20 years in retirement and as he lived adjacent to the allotments took on a plot building a large shed and greenhouse and constructing their noticeboards. Ann would hear the words “ I am just going over the allotment” as he opened the gate to go to grow his vegetables. One year he grew a giant potato and was persuaded by colleagues to enter it into the local flower show. To his great surprise he was awarded first prize.
Ann and Derek went abroad to many exotic places such as China, Sri Lanka, America and even Jamaica. Whilst swimming well off shore there he was offered weed (not seaweed!) which he politely declined. The sea made happy times for Derek whether by it or on it. He took a Royal Yacht Assn course, acquired a small motor dinghy and later, in his 60’s, a Bayliner that he kept in Portishead marina.
Whenever Tom or Alex visited home and it was time for them to leave he was always anxious that they took care driving with a goodbye that included “don’t forget the Pratt factor!”. Derek was a lovely caring man, wonderful father and husband. He will be sorely missed.
24th May 2021 - Frank Brennan
It is with sadness that we have to report the passing of Frank Brennan ar the age of 68. Frank had had an allotment at Down Road for the last two years. He had become ill over the last few months. The committee would like to pass their condolences to the family.
Michael Lockett (24th November 1937 - 27th February 2021)
Sadly we have to report the passing of Mike Lockett after a short illness involving hospitalisation. Mike was only 83, but was active on the Probus committee as well as in the community. He was born in Crewe the only son of a chiropodist and shoe shop proprietor. He was educated at Nantwich and Acton Grammar School where his interest in drama, theatre and Shakespeare fired his interest in amateur dramatics. After a spell in Teacher training he became a Primary school teacher before being conscripted into National Service as a medical orderly. It was there that he met Dorothy and they married in 1961. May 2021 would have been their Diamond wedding celebration. On being demobbed he was offered a 1 year secondment into Manchester Uni to study teaching for the deaf. He took several posts before being offered the Headship of Elmfield school for the Deaf in Bristol in 1976, precipitating a home move to Portishead.. There he took on transforming the wider education of children aged from 3-16 by pioneering many types of activities to concentrate on what children could do, as opposed to being limited by their disabilities. New activities of theatre and pantomime, making costumes and scenery, an active PTA, fundraising for a minibus and outside activities, Fetes and BBQs to name but some. Mike being the only man on staff even became the BBQ chef. Whilst all this was going on he and Dorothy were raising their own children Richard, Rachel and Kate and little Tim who unfortunately died aged just 2. Mike retired in 1995 after nearly 20 years at Elmfield, but was encouraged by Swansea Uni to pass on his experience to new candidates following on in his discipline. Mike's activities did not stop there. A keen bowler in the Portishead Bowling Club he had held most positions from President, Chairman, Treasurer, to Coach and Team Captain and was awarded a Life Membership. He was very active in our Gordano Probus Club having been a founder member in 2003 and its Chairman and Committee member with an involvement going back 20 years. He was also active in the NHS Retirement Fellowship (Gordano branch) and was its current Chairman having presided over a membership growing from 30 to 100. For recreation he enjoyed his gardening and adjacent allotment, his mobile caravaning and an occasional game of golf, which he defined as a good walk ruined. He sought advice from a Pro once, to try to improve his game. The advice was that he should have 18in shorter clubs and Mike, being over 6 feet tall, asked, “Will that improve my swing?” to which the reply was, “No, but it will enable you to get them more easily into the bin”
Mike’s funeral was held on Friday March 26th at Clevedon Christadelphian Church where he was a longtime active member and trustee. Attendance was restricted to the family, because of the Covid restrictions, but the service was made available to over 100 others by Zoom. Lovely tributes to Mike were made by his children and grandchildren.
To anyone who has known Mike, he will be missed not just for his cheerful disposition, bright personality and wise counsel but for his once heard, but never forgotten, loud infectious laugh.
18 October 2020 - Hannah Harris, A service was held on 18th Oct 2020 at St Nicholas Church to remember Hannah Harris (16th Nov 1939 - 23 Sep 2020). Hannah had an allotment at Down Road for around 20 years and was a valued member of our committee for several of those. In 2006 Hannah was awarded the Presidents Cup. She was a keen gardener with many different garden interests apart from the allotment. At the beginning of her illness, her husband Peter, tried hard to maintain Hannah’s high standards, but reluctantly had to give up the allotment. Hannah will be sadly missed by many of us. The service card can be seen by following the link below.
29 June 2020 - Brian Hobson, former member of Down Road allotments, has passed away aged 78. He was a member for several years but had been ill with cancer for 3 years. Information about his funeral is likely to be restricted to family because of Covid-19 restrictions, but any further information will be posted here.
3 Sept 2019 - One of our members from Down Road allotments fell ill whilst working there. Fortunately another member was able to care for him and drive him home. Pleased to report that he is now back at home. Please make sure if you are suffering with a health problem that could result in a fall, or your being taken ill unexpectedly, that a) one or more of your allotment colleagues is present and knows of your condition and b) that you have your mobile with you to call for help. If you have to direct help to Down Road allotment it is suggested that you direct access via the bottom of The Deans.
8 April 2019 - Sad News - Ben Simper our former Treasurer for many years passed away this morning. Ben's funeral is on Wed 1st May at 12 noon at St Peter's Church, Portishead. 1 May - Ben's funeral was well supported and the church was packed out. Numerous allotment members were present.
