Terence Richard Whittington (31 Oct 1935 - 26 Feb 2024)

In loving memory of Terence Richard "Dick" Whittington who sadly passed away on 26th February 2024

Terence was born in London Woolwich on 31st October 1935, he was the younger son of Catherine (née McFall) and William Whittington. As Terence’s father was an army training instructor, the family moved frequently. He spent the first half of his life living in London Bexleyheath, moved to Burslem in Staffordshire during the war , then finally to Watchfield in Oxfordshire after the war when his father worked at the Royal Military College of Science.

Terence went to King Alfred’s Grammar School in Wantage. Afterwards he gained a 5 year apprenticeship at what was known as The Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough, trained as an engineer and gained a national diploma and then a higher national diploma in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.

He failed to escape being called up for National Service. He served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and stationed in Malta and Libya.

He started working at Plessey Semiconductors Ltd in 1962 which was one of the biggest employers in Swindon. The microchip industry was evolving, he worked with industry experts around the world and travelled regularly to Boston, Silicon Valley, Switzerland and Germany to collaborate, he stayed in this innovative industry until his retirement.

Terence met his wife Gabriela at Plessey while she worked as a bookkeeper at the company. They had two sons, Mark and Johnathan, and enjoyed a happy marriage together for 46 years until he was sadly widowed.

Terence was always strong, pragmatic and calm. He had an ironic sense of humour, making his close ones laugh, even in the last year of his life while in and out of hospital. He loved his family and cared for them diligently. He will be greatly missed by the whole family, especially Mark, Johnathan, Ada and his granddaughter Emily.