Sidney Victor Skelton (6 Oct 1926 - 9 Jan 2018)

In loving memory of Sidney Victor Skelton who sadly passed away on 9 January 2018 aged 91. Born in Peckham, oldest of 8 Children, Particularly gifted in maths at which he excelled during his school years. Evacuated during the war with his sister Beryl and brother Steve to Worthing and then Rickmansworth and then returning to London before the end of the war to take up an apprenticeship in a tiling company. Helping in his local community of Asylum Road, Peckham, to sound the alarm and report fires during the doodlebug raids over London, before enlisting in the East Surrey's regiment and seeing active service in Palestine. Sid had a great sense of humour and loved to tell jokes, and entertain with the routines he had heard at the variety clubs and music halls in his youth, inspired by comics such as Arthur Askey.
Sid joined London Transport as a bus conductor on the 63 bus route where he met his wife Joan, who had caught his bus to work, and who would then take only his bus having been smitten on first sight. Working for London Transport allowed him to pursue his great love of sport and he played on many teams for his garage, and took part in tennis tournaments and table tennis tournaments winning trophy's for both. He married Joan in 1962 and went to live in Searles Road which continued to be his home until his 91st birthday (56 years). In 1965 his son Richard was born and in 1966 his daughter Sally. Sid changed jobs still with London transport but becoming a pay clerk and garage assistant at Catford Bus Garage where his numerical skills and dedication to ensuring the staff received their correct pay and holidays made him very popular and respected by all. In 1989 he retired after 39 years service with London Transport, to spend more time with and caring for Joan who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. He cared for Joan for the next 4 years until her condition required more constant supervision and she moved to Anne Moss Domus for the specialist care needed. Dad continued to visit Joan daily, entertaining her with her favourite songs on their electric organ and making the staff laugh with his plethora of jokes.