Ivor Annetts (26 Mar 1936 - 28 Jan 2019)

In loving memory of Ivor Derek Annetts who sadly passed away on 28th January 2019.

Please feel free to pass on the link to this website / obituary page to anyone who knew Ivor.

Ivor was born in 1936 in Woking. His parents were Salvationists and he attended the Woking Corps becoming a Junior and then Senior Soldier. His great love was the band of which his father Tom was the Bandmaster.

Ivor’s brother Rodney arrived on the scene eight years later.

Ivor attended Woking Boys Grammar school and whilst growing up his two main passions were music and football. He ended up excelling in both – firstly football where he was the goalkeeper for Westfield FC and was eventually spotted by Aldershot Town FC who invited him to turn professional. His passion for music lasted all his life and there were not many days when the sound of a cornet being expertly played could not be heard.

Despite the tempting football career, Ivor decided to become a Civil Servant and eventually completed 42 years of service. His career started off in Whitehall but he was soon called to National Service at the age of 18. After basic training, he joined the Royal Corps of Signals Band which he thoroughly enjoyed. He travelled with the band extensively across Germany, Austria and the British Isles. He had many highlights and funny stories he would tell including replacing the clarinets’ reeds with wooden ice cream scoops whilst playing at seaside events; and the letting loose of a sheep in the Catterick barracks at night. In his second year the band was preparing to play at the Princess Street Gardens Band Stand in Edinburgh. The rehearsal was in Chester with the Womans Royal Army Corps Staff Band. It was at this rehearsal that Pauleen was introduced to Ivor as she was also a Salvationist – from this point their lifelong love for each other begun.

Soon after their first meeting, Ivor found out that Pauleen’s band were to play at the Everton Football Club at Goodison Park; this was a “top flight” game between Everton and Wolves. Ivor suddenly appeared on Pauleen’s coach as it was about to depart and offered to help carry all the band kit into the stadium. This was a clever move as he got to see Pauleen again and also to watch a top game of football. After the match Ivor took Pauleen to the Royal Theatre in Chester to see a variety show.

Ivor was demobbed in 1956 and returned to live in Woking to continue his civil service career. He also became the Deputy Bandmaster for Woking Corps.

Ivor and Pauleen were married in March 1960 and had three sons in 1965, 1966 and 1970 – Mark, Neil and Duncan.
Later in 1960, the Woking Band, which included Pauleen and Ivor, took part in the TV series – “The Pursuit of Happiness”. This was one of several TV appearances they were involved in. Pauleen and Ivor were also part of the “Salvation Army Music Workshop” known as “SAM”.

In 1970, Ivor and Pauleen as part of SAM played to inmates at Wormwood Scrubs – in fact, they had an interesting time as they were briefly locked in due to an attempted inmate escape!

Ivor was also the Woking Songster Leader at this time.

Ivor’s career progressed well and he moved from the Ministry of Housing to the Department of the Environment.
In 1971 all the family moved to Cyprus with Ivor being the Chief Welfare Officer for the civil servants based on the island and in the Gulf States; his responsibilities extended to the welfare of all serving staff families and he could be called upon at any time of the day and night.

His duties meant that there was extensive travelling – with frequent trips via Hercules Transporter with ear defenders in place! He had many exciting experiences including a forced landing in the desert whilst in a small plane when he reported an oil leak that could be seen running across the wing that he was sitting next to; and another time having to run to a shelter after landing on a runway that was being shelled.

Despite these challenges Ivor thoroughly enjoyed this time, made lifelong friendships and generally fell in love with Cyprus - he returned to the island many times throughout his life with Pauleen and the family.

Ivor and the family returned to the UK in 1973 where he took up a new role with the Department of Transport in Guildford. In 1977, he returned to Whitehall to run the Secretary of State – Peter Shore’s office. After a year, the family moved to Norwich where he took up the role of the Chief Welfare Officer for HMSO. Again, Ivor thoroughly enjoyed this part of his career and was part of the team that managed the privatisation and restructuring of HMSO. He made a number of radio and TV appearances as part of his role and met and worked with Griff Rhys Jones whilst making a promotional business video for HMSO.

In 1995, he was selected by HMSO to attend the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in recognition of his service.

He retired from the civil service in 1996 at the age of 60.

In 1997, Ivor and Pauleen moved to Dorset and Ivor commenced work for the Salvation Army initially at DHQ and then THQ on the Annual Appeal.

In 2004, Ivor finally finished work at the age of 68 and continued to enjoy many interests including the Salvation Army, playing in the Senior Band and then the Fellowship Band, spending time with his grandchildren, going on cruises and travelling, and unfortunately for the rest of the family, following his favourite football team – Manchester United!

Ivor was a caring man who many have described as a “true Christian Gentlemen”.

He will be severely missed by his family and friends - as he was very much loved!

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On a more personal note, the following are the words of his three sons – Mark, Neil and Duncan:

Given our Christian upbringing we know that it is wrong to worship false idols but despite that we idolised our Dad and for whatever failings he may or may not have had, being false was definitely not one of them.

He was in fact one of the kindest, supportive, generous and caring people you could hope to meet, who had the ability to get along with anyone he met.

He was extremely hard working and loyal, both in his working and personal life.

We were immensely proud of him and he continued to be an inspiration to us throughout our lives. Ultimately, we would have done anything for him.

Whenever anyone in the family needed him he was always there ready to help without fail. A good example of this was during school holidays when Mum and Dad were always available to look after their grandchildren.

He was a Dad and Grandad who had an immense sense of fun and was known for his dry humour.

We enjoyed many shared interests and activities. Throughout the years we watched and discussed Grand Prix and football matches - with the former we always wanted the same driver to win; whilst with the latter, as fans of rival clubs, we were usually hoping for different results. Though always in good humour!

Over the years Neil, Duncan and Dad enjoyed many trips to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival; Neil also tried to convert Dad to become a Southampton FC fan by taking him to a number of games each season. Unfortunately for Neil – he never succeeded!

Being the football-obsessed soul that he is Mark has many fond memories of his dad coming to watch him play in cup finals and league matches throughout the years and also 5 a side and youth team matches where he has been coaching his youngest son James team. Only last Spring, Ivor was out in Mark's garden helping him and Thomas, Mark's eldest, put in raised vegetable beds & iron railings without being asked, he was just always there for us.

Once he had retired, Dad was determined to keep up with technology, as he could see the World was moving this way. Initially, it was a steep learning curve for both him and Duncan; learning to use computers and tablets for Dad and learning how to supply remote IT support for Duncan. After this initially frustrating time for them they improved in their respective roles. With Duncan really enjoying being able to give something back, following all the love and support his Dad had provided to him throughout their lives.

There are no words to describe how we feel as a family right now, only to say that the world is a better place for his being in it. We will miss his counsel, love and support.

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Ivor's charity is the Salvation Army and specifically their work in "Human Trafficking UK". All donations made will go to this worthy cause. Donations can be made in the following ways:

1. Online (top right hand corner of this obituary page).

2. By cheque made payable to "The Salvation Army" (and write on the reverse side of the cheque "Reference Bournemouth Area Fellowship Band"). Note: The Fellowship Band will ensure that the donation will be channelled to Human Trafficking work.