Sidney George Harvey (28 Jan 1941 - 28 Jul 2018)

In loving memory of Sidney George Harvey, who sadly passed away on 28th July 2018. Sid was born 28 January 1941 and taken from us far too soon. He managed a full life, marrying Carol in July 1965 and going on to have four children, one of which I had the pleasure to be. Dad joined the army at a young age and became a signalman as part of the Royal Signals. Training in Newton Abbot, Devon, at Denbury camp, we have quite a few phots of those days, mainly of dad and his pals being scamps, with the all too familiar grin that he had when mischief was on his mind. His army days took him to places like Belize, The Persian Gulf and Cyprus attached to many different branches of the army, including the Parachute Regiment. Dad had lots of stories to tell of escapades with his pal Tom Stephens and we have the photo evidence to prove it. After completing his spell in the army, dad went back to civilian life working alongside family members and eventually meeting a very young Carol Asher whilst she was working at the Westcliff Hotel in South End on Sea. When dad moved up to Nottingham and started his married life, he and mum eventually settled in Beeston Rylands where we all grew up. Dad worked for Plessy Electrical for a time and then moved to Bell Fruit gaming machines in Lenton, Nottingham. An inspired move as far as his kids were concerned, as we got to go in with him at the weekend and "test" the machines. By a young age, the youngest of our siblings, Graham, was an expert on space invaders. Working for Bell Fruit also had the added advantage of allowing Dad to start sea fishing, one activity that I was more than happy to join him on and one that we kept going after he left the company some years later. Along with Terry Teds and Dave Ling and Barrie we travelled the country, digging up Rag Worm and Lug worm at first light and then spending 8 hours in the North Sea not always catching something but enjoying the challenge never the less.

Another highlight was dad's ability to walk everywhere, he walked to work for years irrespective of distance and even though he may have had a car in the garage, it was the same on holiday. We would always get a holiday home where the beach was in dads words " a short walk away". In reality, that meant either miles of walking, a decent bus ride or a trek into the unknown. This was where dad's optimistic use of tide and train timetables has given us many years of enjoyment. From one time when we were coming back across Red Wharf Bay a little later than planned and the tide caught up with us only for dad to say "it ok kids you can all swim". When it reached up to our knees we were getting a little panicky, but we were rewarded with ice cold coke and a bag of crisps after the adventure, to the time when we had to cross the main line railway. Mum had enquired about the trains to which dad replied, "I've checked the time table and there's nothing due." About 30 seconds after clearing the bridge an intercity passed by at about 80mph. I think at that point dad may have received a biff from mum. He did love his walking though and that kept us all very fit as kids.

Dad worked six or seven days a week all the way up to 63 years old when his last employer Lyra Pencils moved production from the UK and dad took a well earned retirement. His attitude to work has rubbed of on his kids and is one of those most precious of lessons. We saw in him what could be achieved, the trust that the businesses he worked for put in him, even sending him to Spain to help set up facilities there (another good holiday with lots of walking). But one thing was always true of dad, he always had a smile for you, he would always make time to play with you even when he was too tired, and he was always there for you when you needed help or advice. He used his knowledge gained at work to help us kids and his friends when asked, and his advise was generally sound and faultless.

I have so much to say that I can't put it all down right now. It's enough to say that we will all miss Dad, Sid, Sidney and when he was really in trouble Sidney George. Because of his humor, humanity, generosity of spirit and his impishness. All thing that will keep him in our hearts forever.