A bouquet at the Newcastle Association reunion - not sure what was being said but you look as though you might have been teased!
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Donald Trevor Pace (28 Jul 1928 - 31 Aug 2018)
Funeral Director
In loving memory of Donald Trevor Pace who sadly passed away on 31st August 2018
Don was the eldest of 3, followed by Graham, who predeceased him and Mavis. He survived appendicitis as a small child in the pre-antibiotic era and was proud to recall he had learned to knit while recovering in hospital for a very long time. His family moved from Romford to Leigh during his early school days and he attended Westcliff High School and was evacuated to Belper in Derbyshire during the war. He gained a scholarship to the training ship Mercury, about which he told many hair-raising tales, but which he valued as an experience building immense strength and character for his future. He transferred from there to the Navy at the age of 17, and remained, gathering many extraordinary stories of his "Navy Days" with which he loved to regale family and friends, even coming up with new ones I hadn't heard last Christmas. One of the most dramatic was his narrow escape when the RFA Bedenham exploded in Gibraltar harbour killing a number of fire crew, whilst he was on his way to assist. His excellent sporting ability helped him to always be popular and led to him playing rugby at First Class level.
He met the love of his life, Hilda, at the naval base at Kete in Pembrokeshire, married her in 1957 and 61 years of absolute devotion followed. I was born in 1958 and my sister Christine in 1961. We moved to their current home in Tudor Gardens in 1964 and he and Hilda brought us up with great love and enthusiasm, supporting our school events, music and further education unreservedly. Only a few weeks before he died Don, who doesn't really rate musical theatre, asked me to play the music from Cabaret because Christine had been amazing in it at Uni and he wanted to remember.
Don left the Navy and went to work for Houghtons, where his father also worked. He worked initially trading on the wool futures market then rose to a successful role as a certified accountant after many hard evenings' studies after work. When they were taken over, his ability to get on with everyone and his efficiency meant that he continued to gain status, rising to a senior management role, but his deteriorating hearing, the result of damage sustained from the bomb blast and from working with early radar equipment, meant he had to take early retirement aged 61.
He undertook this with gusto, still playing hockey, learning to ski, singing in the Southend Festival Chorus and enjoying many walking holidays and cruises with Hilda. Mah Jong with Brian and Mavis Taylor was a regular weekend event.
He was enthusiastic member of the "Newcastle Association" delighting in the annual reunions and acting as their Hon Treasurer to keep his accountant's skills up.
He also enjoyed the freedom to spend lots of time with his grand-daughters, Corinne, Lucie and Pippa. He and Hilda were great support in being there as I built my medical career and the girls all loved to have them around. I have him to thank for some lovely pictures of them growing up and enjoying trips to stay at the seaside in the school holidays.
We all shared many very happy times amongst a wonderfully friendly and supportive group of neighbours who changed gradually over the years, with those who were already old when we moved in, glad of Hilda and Don's help as the youngsters, being replaced by those who were an ever greater help to them as they grew older. They gained a new "family" as Suzanne and Richard next door had two children, Grace and Joseph, who spent so much time running next door that they installed a gate in the fence so they did not have to go out into the road to come round. Much mischief ensued. Hilda recalls with mixed amusement and exasperation the time that Joseph, fascinated with keys and knobs at the time, managed to lock everyone out of our house as they were in the back garden planning their new conservatory. Richard fitted a key safe for us after that!
Don remained keen to stay active and would always choose to walk if there were a few too many for the car space available when we visited and went out for a meal. I recall only a very few years ago, after lunch at the Peter Boat, that he strode up Leigh hill gleefully chatting to Corinne as she became increasingly breathless and incredulous that he was so fit. I think I could also now reveal to my mother that he deliberately forgot one or two items from the list of provisions he knew were needed so that there as a daily excuse for a walk round to the Belfairs shops.
In 2016, his health suddenly declined and he was diagnosed with very advanced prostate cancer. He started treatment and until early 2018 had been fortunate to have a good response, in 2017 had enjoyed a wonderful Diamond Anniversary with family and friends, and eaten a hearty Christmas dinner with his family, though not himself aware this would probably be his last.
2018 was a year of declining health, stubbornly resisted, with his consistently looking forward and trying to build his strength in spite of everything. He would not accept the trappings of illness, sent his hospital bed back and got over a life threatening septicaemia in March. He remained on his feet, albeit restrained by his "cage" as he named his Zimmer frame. On 31st August he suddenly became more unwell in the morning and by teatime he died in his own bed in his much-loved own home, as he would have wanted to do, if he had ever seriously considered the likelihood of dying!
He was a man of immense strength, determination and courage as well as having a wicked sense of humour and always wanting to help people. There is so much more I could write and I'm sure others will have tales of their own to add. Please do so - I would love see them
JP
Donations in memory of Donald to Prostate Cancer UK by clicking here
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Another trip - all dressed up for dinner with the captain
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Going on board the Black Prince with Alasdair
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Christine and Barroso - a bilingual wedding
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Very smart at Mavis and Peter's Wedding. Don and Graham.
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With Dickie Tribe, friend and best man, at the Golden Wedding party. Reunited after so long
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A lovely sunny day - is that J or C?
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And some more evidence the Navy wasn't all hard work. I think that's Jumbo Smith with the bottle
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Some evidence it wasn't all hard work in the Navy - a crossing the line certificate
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More DIY - obviously a big job needing more space!
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Very early days with Graham, May and Len
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This looks like a Houghtons dinner. I think I recognise I or 2 faces
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On top of the world - took to skis with great skill on trips with Brian and Mavis and the Police Club
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Very smart here - not sure whose wedding this was.
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A proper English breakfast on holiday in Lyme Regis with Corinne, Pippa and Jacqueline
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Busy with the DIY.
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With an excellent character reference
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On many ships
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A distinguished service record
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A distinguished list of service given
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Opening presents 2017
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A good pull. soon a cracker 2017
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Chatting over Christmas dinner 2017
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Helping out after a bit of a mishap - what a good nurse he was!
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looking good, with plenty of puff at 86
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A bouquet at the Newcastle Association reunion - not sure what was being said but you look as though you might have been teased!
Another trip - all dressed up for dinner with the captain
Going on board the Black Prince with Alasdair
Christine and Barroso - a bilingual wedding
Very smart at Mavis and Peter's Wedding. Don and Graham.
With Dickie Tribe, friend and best man, at the Golden Wedding party. Reunited after so long
A lovely sunny day - is that J or C?
And some more evidence the Navy wasn't all hard work. I think that's Jumbo Smith with the bottle
Some evidence it wasn't all hard work in the Navy - a crossing the line certificate
More DIY - obviously a big job needing more space!
Very early days with Graham, May and Len
This looks like a Houghtons dinner. I think I recognise I or 2 faces
On top of the world - took to skis with great skill on trips with Brian and Mavis and the Police Club
Very smart here - not sure whose wedding this was.
A proper English breakfast on holiday in Lyme Regis with Corinne, Pippa and Jacqueline
Busy with the DIY.
With an excellent character reference
On many ships
A distinguished service record
A distinguished list of service given
Opening presents 2017
A good pull. soon a cracker 2017
Chatting over Christmas dinner 2017
Helping out after a bit of a mishap - what a good nurse he was!
looking good, with plenty of puff at 86
6th July - a trip to the Silver Jubilee for a lovely summer lunch
First Christmas in the new house - Chichester 2012
Our first Christmas in Chichester - 2012
And another Christmas - 2011 wearing your presents from Alison
And another Christmas - 2011 with a new hat
Deep in thought - Christmas 2010 in St Albans
Barbara and Lucy signing the Anniversary plate
Don in his very favourite spot of all - next to Hilda.
Don in one of his favourite spots - next to the Stilton!!
Indoors there was quite a group of people making a puzzle picture of your Golden Wedding at your Diamond Wedding
Everyone signed the Anniversary plate but Grace and Joseph did quite a lot of other painting, including a mug for each of you
Don learning about Moonpig from Corinne
The first of quite a few cakes!
What a happy couple; never lost that sparkle either!
It may have been foul but we were all determined to get out and about before Christmas lunch. A windswept walk in Bosham to earn our feast
Another Christmas on pudding lighting duty!
And the big day with family to share the fun plus long lost best man, Dickie Tribe and his wife thanks to Friends Re-united
Golden Wedding 2007 - cutting the first of 2 lovely cakes
Golden Wedding August 2007 - dinner the night before the big event at Verdi's, the restaurant they converted from a public convenience. Delicious Italian food. Pippa was excited!
A Happy Birthday Don - outing to The Plough and Sail, Paglesham - July 2015
A pleasant stroll around Graylingwell Park not long after the move to Chichester in 2012
Striding cheerfully up the hill from Old Leigh.
Happy 61st Anniversary - 17th August 2018
With Corinne learning about Moonpig - Diamond Wedding party
Socialising with Barbara Dimes and Lucy, her Businesswoman of the Year daughter - Diamond Wedding party 2017
Here you are 60 years on and still smiling
Favourite wedding picture xoxo
Seems as though Lucie was always about to eat or drink something when being looked after by grandpa - chewing the order of service at Alison's wedding
Helping with a very small Lucie while on a ski trip to Megeve organised by Brian Taylor. I hope the bottle was empty!
First time in charge of the pram as new grandparents in May 1987. Jacqueline and Paul still in Harpenden then. The beginning of years of being fantastic helpers to the young family as they grew up
What a family of stalwarts we all are - Christmas 2012 - determined to get out for a walk in Bosham though the weather was absolutely foul
Christmas at 49 The Park before Pippa arrived - though not long before. Everyone looking very happy but I bet it wasn't on time....though definitely was on hot plates!
A very happy birthday to Hilda, back garden, 6th July 2013
Stretching our legs around Graylingwell Park not long after Jacqueline moved to Chichester
Striding up the hill with Corinne over the bridge in Old Leigh - she said she was out of breath and he was still chatting away happily
Doing a regular Christmas duty
16th August 2007. Dinner at Verdi's; the restaurant they converted from a public convenience! Delicious Italian the night before the big event. Pippa looks excited!
Hilda and Don’s Ruby Wedding celebrated in the garden at 49 The Park with (surprise) Brian and Mavis Taylor, who came over specially to share our dinner in the sun
Another picture of early happiness at a new family found
The day Hilda met Shirley for the first time. Such a wonderful day for Don too, who could not have been happier for her and their surprise new family
With Brian and Mavis at Leigh Gardens. A beautiful day in the sun
Don dishing out the bubbly!
Hilda and Don enjoying Hilda's 80th Birthday Bash
Don and Hilda in grand outdoor style enjoying a walk with Pippa
Don, Mavis and Graham
Don and Hilda at Titchfield
Best Man Don at Graham’s Wedding 1955
One of many enjoyable breakfasts!
HMS Newcastle, and her service: http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Newcastle.htm
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