STOKESLEY PROBUS CLUB

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Garry Turner

23rd May 1931 - 19th July 2024

Garry was born on 23rd May 1931 and passed away on 19th July 2024 aged 93.
He lived in Nunthorpe with his wife Hilary but has resided in a Care Home in Nunthorpe for the last few years.
Garry had lived overseas in Europe, Africa and the Far East.
He served in the Army for 20 years followed by 20 years as Personnel Manager and Consultant with ICI.
Garry was a member and keen supporter of The Durham Light Infantry Association.
He was instrumental in the organisation of a Probus visit to the DLI Museum
on Thursday 1st August 2013 attended by 12 Members and 5 Guests.
Garry was interested in Current affairs and the Countryside.
He was proposed for Probus membership by David Middleton and
Mike Sockett on 15th June 2010.
He resigned from membership on 16th July 2019 due to ill-health.
A Service for Garry was held in St Bede’s Chapel at Middlesbrough Crematorium on Tuesday 13th August attended by KW
Refreshments followed at the Blue Bell Hotel.

Brian Cooper Nichols

11th October 1930 - 10th September 2024

Brian was born on 11th October 1930 in Warrington and passed away in James Cook Hospital on Tuesday 10th September 2024 aged 93.

He lived in Hutton Rudby just behind the Wheatsheaf Inn with his wife Gillian.

Brian had lots of memories of war year problems but was very happy growing up eating a banana every day.

He began a love of skiing in 1951 with trips to Norway and then Austria.
Accommodation was in former Nazi barracks.

In 1953 Brian fell in love with Mt Snowdon.

This was the start of his passion for Mountain Rescue. He was a Founder Member of Cheshire Mountain Rescue.

Brian had many interests:

he loved holidays in Venice
all sports especially Liverpool, tennis and Olympic cycling
he was a car enthusiast following F1.
he bought clapped out motors such as his TR7 and Gondola, kept them for a year and then scrapped them;
he loved his pipe, was never without it;
he loved books and always had a stack of 8 or 9 fiction and non-fiction piled up next to his chair ready to read;
he had a massive general knowledge including cars, trains, politics, history and industrial archaeology;
he was excellent in pub quizzes;
he took the family to Croatia, visited a museum and related the story of the Austro/Hungarian war;
he loved Mozart, Sibelius, jazz and films;
he loved Wensleydale cheese, Eccles cakes and potatoes;
and he loved talking.

He was ‘Father’ to the children and a great one. He loved his grandchildren.
He loved his sheepskin coat for the touchline watching the boys play football.
He was always positive and helpful; a dedicated and supportive father.
He was full of ease and life.
He was a dapper Gentleman, smart with a cravat. He never wore jeans,
but, he did love his oldest sweaters and breeches for mountain walks.

Brian and Gill loved the Wheatsheaf in HR enjoying a dinner there every week.
Brian’s parents did not allow him to go to University. He needed a job.
He was found one at the NatWest.
He worked for the bank for 40 years mostly as a Branch Manager in Salford.

Brian joined Probus on 16th October 2007 proposed by Mervin Davies and someone else. He stepped down from membership at the AGM 2023 for health, age and transport reasons.

A Service for Brian was held in St Bede’s Chapel at Middlesbrough Crematorium on Thursday 3rd October. About 40 people attended. Keith Waller attended from Probus.
We entered the service to Mozart and left to Dave Brubeck.
The service included a poetry reading from Emma Nichols, Brian’s granddaughter and a eulogy shared by his two sons Rupert and Mark.
Donations in lieu of flowers were requested to support Mountain Rescue.
I left a small Probus donation.
Refreshments were offered at The Wheatsheaf in Hutton Rudby.

At Brian’s request, his ashes will be spread by Mark and Rupert at the top of Mt. Snowdon.

Edgar Moore

17th January 1936 - 22nd November 2024

Eddie was born on 17th January 1936 in East Murton near Seaham but grew up in Wolsingham in Weardale.

He passed away on 22nd November 2024 aged 88.

A Service for Eddie was held on Tuesday 17th December in St. Hilda’s Chapel at Teesside Crematorium. Chris Griffiths and I attended with Eddie’s daughters Karen and Hazel and their families. Even Eddie’s cleaning lady attended, a mark of real friendship. She was telling me how Eddie just loved to sit and chat rather getting any work done.

The Service programme was designed by Eddie himself to include lots of music, poetry, humour and memories. Eddie’s idea was to embrace enjoyment and a celebration of life.

Eddie was described as a unique, happy and humorous man. He enjoyed risqué fun within a kind heart. He loved people, cycling, ‘good life’ gardening, caravan holidays with his Morris Minor, the arts, culture, cherry blossom, the Yorkshire Dales, Ireland, WW2 Beaches, and dressing up and singing. He enjoyed wearing Boro supporters’ hats and jumpers.

He was a keen supporter of the Guide Dogs Association and sponsored a dog: Rupert. He wrote two Books. One on Botany and A River Runs Through It.
He recommended two poems for others to read: Seven Ages of Man by Shakespeare and Let Me Die A Young Man’s Death by Roger Gough.

Eddie married Isabelle on 22nd August 1959. Sadly she passed away in 2010 after 51 years of marriage. He loved reading bedtime stories to his daughters and grandchildren. He loved telling ‘dad jokes’ and keenly supported their education. He loved the big family gatherings, friendships and bridge. Eddie toured the nation playing bridge for fun (and in competitions) as well as visiting local attractions with Chris Griffiths. Post Brexit their friend Gail joined them to visit local historical sites and concerts. The Three Amigos.

His first job was as a postman delivering letters to farms and villages.
He then spent 2 years in the RAF. He toured the world and especially loved Bulawayo. He trained to be a Teacher at Leeds University and taught in Middlesbrough at Whinney Banks Primary and Langbaurgh Secondary Schools. He then moved on as a lecturer in Horticulture at Stockton Billingham Technical College. He taught himself Latin and French. In 2020, aged 84, he gained a BA in Classical Studies through the OU

Eddie lived in Stainton and joined Probus in February 2023 with Chris Griffiths. He was enduring significant ill-health at the time. He did renew his Probus Club membership but only managed a handful of Meetings. So, Eddie never really managed to enjoy his membership and the club missed out on a real character.

KW 21.1.25

Brian John Dinsdale
10th July 1948 – 20th February 2025

Brian was born on the 10th July 1948 in Northallerton and passed away peacefully in JCH on the 20th February aged 76.
A Service led by the Revd. Tessa Stephens was held at St Mary’s Church, Nunthorpe Mon.17th March.
Bob Scott and myself attended. It was packed; a sign of the man.
I arrived 30 minutes early and the car park was full. Bob arrived 60 minutes early so was in the front stalls.
I sat next to Doris: a neighbour from Brian’s first Nunthorpe home.

Brian was a twin. His brother Ken was born 10 minutes after him.
He attended primary schools in Northallerton followed by Allertonshire Secondary School. After leaving school he attended Darlington Technical College and excelled in maths.
He gained employment at NY County Hall Finance Dept. where he met Gillian.
She invited him on a date to the Speedway and marriage followed.
Employment took him to several places across the North before he joined CCC as Assistant Treasurer.
In 1976 he moved to Nunthorpe and their daughter Sarah followed in 1980.
In 1988 Brian became CEO in Hartlepool.

Brian enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a Local Authority Officer. He was Chief Executive Officer in Hartlepool for 15 years.
He played a key role in Regeneration Projects including significant developments at Hartlepool Marina and the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre.
He was instrumental in Hartlepool becoming a Unitary Authority in 1996 which saw the abolition of Cleveland County Council. Services, such as Education and Social Services, were transferred to the Unitary Authority.
Brian left a significant legacy and was held in the highest regard. He was awarded an OBE in 2002

He retired in 2010 after two years as CEO and Consultancy work in Middlesbrough.
He served as Clerk to the Cleveland Fire Authority. He served on the Board at North Tees Hospital.
He worked for the 13 Housing Association. He was a Board Member for several Charities.

 

n 1995 he moved to De Brus Park in Nunthorpe; walking distance to the Golf Club where he became Treasurer.
Brian led an ‘understated’ lifestyle. He was known for his boots, purchased at Tesco and worn on virtually every occasion.
Brian and Gill loved playing Bridge every Saturday night. He was a Member of Rotary.
He completed the first of several Great North Runs in 1997.
He loved family holidays especially to New York.
He had grandchildren in 2012 and 2014 and loved discussing historical issues with them.
He enjoyed gardening especially growing raspberries.
He was once filling his Green Bin but fell in breaking several ribs and couldn’t climb out.

Brian was a committed Christian and a Member of St Mary’s Church where he was an outstanding Treasurer. His Reports were lucid, well-presented and appreciated.
He was highly respected with affection for his support of the Church and its Members.

Brian joined Probus on 15th January 2019 proposed by Maj Chuhan and Bob Scott.
Unfortunately, Brian suffered serious ill-health, Cancer, in 2022.
He received treatment in Southampton and enjoyed remission for a while before the Cancer returned in 2024.
He stood down from membership at the 2024 AGM. He was keen to return so asked to be kept on the regular mailing list so that he was always up-to-date. Brian and Keith: coffee catch-up at Arcadia.

Donations in lieu of flowers were requested for St Mary’s Church. A small Probus donation was given.  

A wake was held at Middlesbrough Golf Club, Brass Castle Lane.
KW 18.3.25