Harry Taylor (12 Jul 1932 - 3 Mar 2017)

Harry Taylor was born to Elizabeth and Lewis Taylor in 1932, the youngest of seven children and their fourth boy. His three brothers were Tom, Lewis and Fred. His sisters were Marjorie, Ethel and Ruth. Harry and his sister Ruth were born when his mother was in her 40s and the other brothers and sisters were much older so some of Harry’s nieces and nephews were more like brothers and sisters. Harry’s sister Ruth lives in Middlesbrough. Harry’s other brothers and sisters have died. Harry was particularly close to Lewis. Harry’s three brothers fought in the Second World War, and Harry often thought about that. Harry stayed at home with his parents during the war, when many children were evacuated. Middlesbrough was an important industrial centre so a major bombing target so there were often bombing raids. Harry’s family home was a refuge/welcoming place for his brothers and their friends from the army and airforce. Harry’s mother was active in helping Jewish refugees from Europe settle in Yorkshire. Harry’s father was a warden and helped rescue people from bombed out buildings. Being a ‘war baby’ had a big impact on Harry’s life.

Lewis was an Alderman and became Mayor in Middlesbrough’s centenary year. Elizabeth was President of the Cooperative Women’s Guild in Middlesbrough.

Lewis took pride in growing fruit and vegetables all his adult life and helped to supply his family with produce. During the war he kept chickens until a bomb killed them all. His boys helped him and learned how to run a small business through this experience. Harry still liked to grow vegetables in the back garden into his 80s, in Lincoln.

Harry was educated at Beechwood Primary School and Acklam Hall Boys Grammar School. Harry was apprenticed civil engineer to Mr Pallister, Manager of Middlesbrough Gas Works. He took his professional exams at Constantine College in Middlesbrough and passed his Gas Finals in 1957.

Harry was junior tennis champion of Middlesbrough at 16 years. He played rugby for his school in the first team at 15 years. He played football for Great Broughton when Brian Clough and 3 members of his family were in the team. They were invincible in their league.

As soon as he could afford it he bought a motorbike, which he maintained himself. The motorbike was freedom for Harry – to go to and from work and college, but also to explore, to have adventures, to travel across the UK and to Europe. He had many strong memories from his adventures in the 1950s with his friend Ray Worthy, and with his girlfriend, fiancée then wife, Erica Fiddes, and their friends.

Harry was brought up as a Methodist. The church has been an important part of his life. One of the trips he went on with Erica was to a Billy Graham (Christian Evangelist) rally in the south of England. This was an important step for Harry in confirming his belief in God.

Harry met Erica, a teacher, in 1955, they were married on October 26th 1957 and made the huge decision to move to Rio De Janeiro in Brazil for Harry to take up a job offer as Technical Officer with the Canadian – Brazilian Company in their Gas Works. This meant moving away from Middlesbrough where they lived, where all their family and friends were and start a new life. They stayed till 1961, their two sons Mark and Andrew were born there, and they had a happy life there, making great friends with people through the Union Church and through a childhood friend, Ruth McLeod, who had gone to the Amazon basin as a missionary to work with the Chevante people. Ruth worked with her companion and friend Valerie and others, documenting the Chevante language and then translating the bible. This took their entire working life. Harry and Erica supported them and their work in many ways over the years. Harry and Erica went back to Brazil twice after they had retired to help the missionary group – assisting with teaching the children of the missionaries. Whilst in Rio, Harry played rugby at Nicteroi Cricket Club. He played for Brazil in a tour to Argentina and Uruguay. On the trip he was able to visit a Chevante tribe taking vaccine to Ruth McLeod.

Harry and his family flew home after three and a half years intending to return but after a holiday in Redcar, they decided to stay in the UK and Harry took a post in Burton on Trent Gas Works. After six months, Harry was promoted to Lincoln and they lived in North Hykham. Their third child, Joy, was born in Lincoln and christened in North Hykeham Methodist Church. All the family were involved in Church life. Harry was Sunday School Superintendent and Scout Leader. Rev Marjorie Maltby was in pastoral charge during this time and she became a firm family friend. Harry became assistant to Mr Ault, taught in Boston College and Lincoln College and later was promoted to Under Manager of the Gas Works.

In 1965, Harry moved to Killingholme Gas Works, the most modern works in Europe at the time, where he took the job as Safety and Training Manager. The family moved to Laceby and all 3 children attended Stanfords’ School. Erica resumed teaching at this school when Joy was five years old. They lived in Laceby from 1964 to 1971. During that time Harry went to Zambia to work. This was because the discovery of North Sea Gas meant the end of gas manufacture, and there was an opportunity of interesting work in Zambia. The plan was for all the family to move there but Harry and Erica decided in the end that he would return and look for work in the UK. Harry took a post at Laporte Industries on the Humber Bank where he stayed for the next 15 years as Maintenance Manager.

During this time, he was Chairman of the Laporte Sports and Social Club overseeing considerable development and improvement. He was also Group Scout Leader followed by Chairman of the 11th Grimsby St James Scouts. The family worshipped at Weelsby Rd Methodist Church where Harry was a steward with an interest in property matters.

Restructuring of Laporte Industries led to Harry being offered a post at a Uranium mine in northern Australia. He refused on ethical grounds and was made redundant. In 1981 Harry took a post in Zimbabwe as a Crown Agent in the Steel Industry. He enjoyed the time in Zimbabwe, being an active member of the local church and golf club, and travelling around the country when Erica visited, and when Joy stayed with him for some months whilst volunteering with the National Farmers Association of Zimbabwe and a development agency in Zambia.

Harry had a very serious industrial accident at Zisco Steel in 1984 when he nearly died – his breathing equipment failed whilst he was doing some maintenance work inside a sulphur dioxide storage tank. He was brought back to life by one of the work team. His health was not the same after. All records of the accident were lost and the accident and company responsibility was never acknowledged.

Harry was head-­hunted by a businessman on Grimsby Docks offering him work, and he decided to accept and returned to Grimsby, and the family relocated to Grimsby. However the businessman had a heart attack and died shortly after so he had to look for something else. Harry applied for and was appointed as Works Manager for Cleethorpes Council which he quite enjoyed but wasn’t a great fit for his interests and skills. During this time he was approached by a labour hire company to work out of Hull and York. There seemed to be the prospect of becoming a director of the firm so Harry took the post. This work involved a great deal of travel and achieving set targets, and was really hard work. The company did not follow through with their original promises, so Harry reinvented himself again and became a lecturer at Grimsby College, around the corner from where the family was now based.

Eventually Harry’s health caused him to retire when he was 60 years old. Many operations followed. These included an implant in the brain to equalise pressure for the left ear.

Harry fell down stairs in November 2006, and was unconscious for some time. In December 21st that same year he became very suddenly blinded in both eyes. It was a very frightening experience and resulted in many life changes and loss of independence. He became permanently severely sight impaired. After surgery to place telescopic lenses in both eyes, Harry’s vision improved for 4-­5 years but by 2015 he had virtually no vision.

A great delight for Harry and Erica whilst in Grimsby was the years that their grandson Moritz lived with them part­time whilst he was going to boarding school in Grimsby. Harry had fun times with Moritz supporting Grimsby Town Football Club, and encouraging Moritz with his interest in diving.

In 2007, Erica and Harry made the decision to move from the family home in Grimsby to a bungalow in Lincoln, near neighbours of their long-­term friend, Rev Marjorie Maltby. They were both able to provide support and friendship to Marjorie over the next few years until she died in 2012 aged 101 years.

Since moving to Lincoln Harry ad Erica made friends with neighbours in their street, through Bailgate Methodist Church and Burton Road Methodist Church, and also through the groups Harry joined with the support of Erica as his carer: Blind Society, Macular Society and Coeliac Society.

Some highlights of life in Lincoln were the happy gatherings of family and friends for Harry and Erica's 50th Wedding anniversary, Harry’s 80th birthday party and Erica’s 80th birthday party.

Harry was always keen to travel and he and Erica continued to do this as often as they were able, visiting their daughter Joy in Australia, son Mark and his family in France, Belgium and Austria, and son Andrew and his family in the UK, and also going on many trips in UK and overseas. They were able to travel regularly until 2012.

It has been a great source of pride and love for Harry and Erica to see their three children develop as children, young people and adults, follow rewarding careers and interesting lives. They were delighted to welcome Verena as Mark’s wife and to see their family grow to include Anna, Moritz and Rebekka. They were also delighted to welcome Kate as Andrew’s wife and to see their family grow to include Rosie, Emily and Carrie. Their grandchildren have been a great inspiration and joy over the years to both. Harry and Erica welcomed Joy's partner Kalika into the family, and on visits to Australia they have been included in Joy and Kalika's great family of friends and colleagues, making time there unforgettable and precious, living as if they were Australians.

Harry's final weeks were spent at Ruckland Court in Lincoln, cared for by a very kind, friendly and capable team of staff.

At the end of January 2017, Erica, Mark, Andy and Joy shared an inside picnic with Harry at Ruckland Court - enjoying two of his favourite homemade dishes - fish pie made with Grimsby Fish and Lincolnshire potatoes, followed by egg custard with fruit. It was the first time for many years that just the five gathered together (without partners and kids) and it was a special time all will treasure.

Rest in Peace, Harry.