Rowland Holmes (11 Nov 1934 - 4 Jan 2019)

In loving memory of Rowland Holmes who sadly passed away on 4th January 2019
Born 11/11/1934 to parents Olive and Percy Holmes , named Rowland Eric Holmes there 4th child one of 9 ( first child Albert died before age 2 ) at home Worcester Park, they later moved 1935-36 to Danetree Road Ewell, believe he attended Danetree school .
Percy was in service between 1940-44 luckily they did not get evacuated ,they had an Anderson shelter at the bottom of the garden.
When Rowland left school he went to work for Richard Morris at Cobham manufacture of television aerials 1950-54.
1954-60 worked for Avery Hardell they made petrol pumps, he was a welder and sprayer.
In his youth enjoyed bike rides family outings picnics and walks.
He had passion for motor bikes , he had a 68 Curtis and a Norton , he meet up with others and they enjoyed trips to Little Hampton , Brighton and Windsor just a few. He meet his wife Margaret through the friends he hung out with, they took a trip to Scotland to visit the Lake District. Also enjoyed walks Epsom Downs ,Box Hill.
Rowland married Margaret 17th August 1957 two days after her 21st birthday.
They lived for bit in a flat over shop called Sugar and Spice Triangle New Malden. Believed they lived with his parents for a short while.
1960-63 worked for Field Brothers Chessington.
1963-82 Sheet metal+ Welding Company Surbiton , as sheet metalworker Supervisor.
I came along in 1966 Daughter after 6 miscarriages . Lived in Surbiton flat St Leonards Rd then in 1971 got offered council house Cambridge Estate . 1973 blessed with son .
In his 40s diagnosed with Angina.
1982-91 went to work for Litem (aero) Limited New Malden as Senior Machinist, operating and maintaining machines, responsible for all aspects of accuracy regarding specialised components for Concorde and Jumbo jets. He went away with the firm for a week to Isle of Wight to help build Hoover craft.
Rowland spent many hours tinkering in the garage or on a vehicle. He didn't believe in calling out repair person when he could do it himself, what he didn't know he would look up and work it out for himself. MR FIX IT.
He brought an Austin van ( mini bus) which he adapted so could sleep in had many great holidays he even brought a tent it was big enough to fit two Austin vans in. Yorkshire and New Forest and coast stopping and sleeping in lay byes
eventually replaced the Austin for a Commer which again adapted for storage and sleep , with an awning.
Continued to work for Litem (1991) Limited 1991-99, Senior Machinist, Calibrating, setting up, operating and tool making machines.
1991 blessed with granddaughter and 1994 another granddaughter.
Rowland enjoyed many hours with grandchildren, we all went on holidays together.
Was diagnosed with Parkinson after he retired ,he kept active he and his wife did cleaning jobs together , they liked to go for walks along the Thames, he enjoyed photography in his younger days developed his own photos, he liked fishing listening to country music belong to country and western club even dressed up at times, he redeveloped his front and back gardens.
in his 70s his health started to decline was diagnosed with Parkinson ,Margaret was his carer and did a lot for him, also heart , breathing curvature of spine ,arthritis of the spine and deep vein thrombosis for which he had been in hospital for.
July 2014 blessed with great granddaughter , wife Margaret diagnosed with Alzheimer's Vascular .
Sadly in Sept 2014 lost Son to drink .
2015 was not to be great wife Margaret Alzheimer's worsened in late August was taken into hospital very dehydrated also found to have infection but due to her kidney function couldn't fight it antibiotics not work, a week later Rowland was taken into hospital himself thought to have DVT thankfully wasn't . Margaret passed away 29th Sept pneumonia . Rowlands fragile health meant that he was unable at this time to go back to the family home so had to look for Care Home, in Jan 2016 room came available at Hampton Care Nursing Home , after six months he was re assessed but his frailty meant he was not able to look after himself and would need 24hr care .
December 2017 blessed with another great granddaughter .
He was well cared for at Hampton Care Nursing home the staff said he was chatty and had a laugh when he was awake.
Despite his health he was a strong determined man ,always there for the family, proud, worked hard to support and care for his family he was fun ,intelligent but also shy and kept himself to himself.