Roy Leonard Harvey (29 Sep 1926 - 1 Jun 2016)

In loving memory of Roy Leonard Harvey who sadly passed away on 1st June 2016

Roy was born on 29th September 1926, which he would tell you is Michealmas Day, at number 9 Green Avenue in Netherfield. He was one of nine children.

As a boy Roy had a lot of freedom. He loved roaming fields barefoot and often got up to no good scrumping apples and exploring people’s garden sheds! He attended Priory Road Infants School and later Ashwell Street Junior School, where he claims to have been in the same class as his wife Pat though she always denied! Roy went to Sunday school at All Hallows Church in Gedling where he won prizes for his attendance.

He left school aged 14 and later followed his Dad and brother, George, into Gedling Pit where he worked mainly in the lamp shed and sometimes underground. He disliked the pit so much that he somehow managed to get himself fired!

During the war years Roy was in the home guard and often described himself as Pike, the young boy in Dad’s Army. He was later billeted in the army and put in charge of the radio shack. Things didn’t always go smoothly – whilst asleep in the barracks one night he sat up at the wrong moment and got punched by another soldier who was in a fight, leaving him with a broken and misshapen nose he called the Harvey conk!

It was soon after that Roy met Pat. They enjoyed cycling and rode out together a lot. Sometimes Roy chased Pat on his bike while she was on the bus. They got engaged on Platform 6 at Victoria Railway Station and were married in 1951 in this very church. They recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and on their 60th received a telegram from the Queen.

After leaving the army Roy began his work on the railways as an engine cleaner at Colwick Loco. He worked his way up to the position of fireman then on to driver. As a fireman he spent his days shovelling coal into the engine. He recounted many happy stories of lunches cooked over the engine fire and of freedom and countryside as he travelled up and down the country.

Roy’s work involved shunting engines at Colwick Loco to taking coal from the pits to the power stations and up to Immingham docks. As steam was phased out and Colwick Loco was closed, he was based at Nottingham Midland Station and drove diesel powered Deltics and later Intercity 125s down to London.

After 42 years he left the railways early aged 64, suffering problems with his back after years of shovelling coal. This gave Roy much more time to pursue more of his many hobbies. But he did drive Pat crackers being around the house again!

Roy became a CB radio enthusiast spending many hours chatting over the waves. He joined a local club, attending regularly with Pat where they were affectionately known as Firebox and Damper. Roy had his own CB equipment at home and even built a huge radio mast in the back garden, never one to do things by halves.

He joined Pat in the WRVS canteen at the Nottingham City Hospital where they volunteered serving tea coffee and cake in the Physiotherapy Department. Roy was very proud to be the only male member allowed to work for the WRVS and wore his pinny with pride!

Roy and Pat tended a family allotment for ten years when many delicious home cooked meals were prepared using the fruits of their labour. They also tended to their pride and joy, the beautiful garden at Shelford Road which was the home they lived in for 45 years. They used to enjoy long walks to Lambley and around the local golf course and attended the Ark in Gedling and the Shunters Café in Netherfield.

Roy could build or fix anything. He had many hobbies and interests including fishing, bowls, tennis, badminton, and golf where he won several tournaments. He played at Bulwell Hall Golf Course and Mapperley Golf Course where he became a member. Roy also played dominoes and crib for which he won trophies. He loved to play cards and could win almost any game just like his brother George.

Roy was a keen collector of coins, stamps, first day covers, postcards and famous autographs. He enjoyed metal detecting which took him all over the county along with his pal Roland.

He was also a prolific writer and poet having many of his poems published and won the evening post award in 1993. His poems were often displayed on the walls of hospitals, churches, local cafes and even care homes.

Roy and Pat enjoyed many holidays to Yugoslavia, Croatia, Russia, Spain, Greece, Italy and America to name a few and they always had plenty of photos and slides to look at. Roy was a keen photographer and their home was brimming with photographic memories. He took his camera everywhere recording important events, communities and the local area.

In addition to his many hobbies and talents, Roy was a father to two daughters, Catherine and Joy, and had one granddaughter Maria, whom he was like a father to.

Roy had time for everyone, was always helping people and had many friends everywhere he went. It’s fair to say that he was loved by everyone. He was a fighter for good causes and single-handedly got many things changed – like keeping part of the old Arnold & Carlton College playing field protected for the local community. He was instrumental in a large replica of a miners lamp being erected in Gedling village as a memorial to the local mining community.

He was active up to the age of about 82 when his health started to deteriorate. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and then vascular dementia and eventually lived at Forest Manor Care Home in Sutton in Ashfield where he went on lots of trips to the pub and further afield to Crich, Matlock and Skegness. They involved him in daily activities but he always denied having done any of it when asked!

As a man with a wonderful mind and sense of humour, the last five years that robbed him of his independence were difficult for him. He fought his condition to the end, still wandering the corridors at Forest Manor, confounding everyone with his grit and steely determination. He was never one to give in.

If you asked him he would tell you that he’s had a good life, that he can’t complain and that no-one lives forever.

Roy will be greatly missed. He was a uniquely talented, intelligent, kind, patient, generous and creative individual. He must now be spending his time tinkering in heaven and helping the angels take care of business!