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George Winter Celebrated his 90 birthday earlier this year.

George started work wih the Norwich Union at Reading as an engineer back in April 1964, and retired at the end of May 1986 as  Senior Staff Engineer. George says he had a really wonderful time working for the company.

His career started as an apprentice at Lagonda Motors in Staines. He then volunteeredfor service in the Royal Navy during the later part of World War Two serving on a minesweeper partly on Russian convoys and D Day landings an sweeping the seas clear of mines for todays generation. On his demob George returned to the Motor Trade and was a works manager for Botwoods of Ipswich for 18 years.

George was married for 62 years having two children, a boy and girl who are now married  and live in France. He now has four grand children and four great grandchildren. His wife sadly died in 2007 who he misses greatly.

His hobbies have been boating and privilaged he says to have owned 4 boats over the years, sailing across to France and to the Channel Islands on many occasions. His son continues the family  tradition by owning a boat in France.

George Winter

Retired Norwich Union colleague celebrates 50th wedding anniversary.

Celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary on October 2nd 2015 are Barbara and Paul Manning, who were married at St Michael’s Church, Tilehurst in 1965.

Barbara started work in the typing pool at the Norwich Union offices in Station Road Reading in the early 1960’s and continued working for the Norwich Union, and later Aviva, for the majority of her working career. She retired as a Credit Controller with Aviva in their Kings Road, Reading, offices in 2001,

Barbara now spends her time doing voluntary work for the Royal Berkshire Hospital, tracing her ancestry on the internet, and adding to her lovely collection of over 130 pill boxes that she has collected from far and wide during many years travelling and from celebratory gifts from friends and family.

Barbara and Paul Manning.

Bernard Woodwards.

Bernard joined the Norwich Union Group in 1962 as Aviation Underwriter until retirement in 1981. Prior to that he had worked for the Royal Insurance.
Towards the end of August 2014 Bernard was contacted by the Russian Embassy and asked attend a medal presentation on the 28th August 2014. This was to receive the Ushakov Medal for his involvement on Arctic Convoys in the 2nd World War. Two of Bernard’s daughters accompanied him to the event where there were some 30 veterans present, all around the age of 90 or more.
The Ambassador made a speech prior to the awards thanking them on behalf of President Putin..
A choice of tea or vodka was served afterwards. The vodka proved so popular that the Ambassador had to send for reinforcements!!
Bernard joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1940 as a pilot flying mainly Grumman Wildcats from aircraft carriers making seven trips escorting convoys of supplies to Russia. Bernard later flew Sea Fires as an instructor.

See under PHOTOGRAPHS details of the Medal of Ushakov and Picture of Bernard with his award.

Visit to Bletchley Park.

On the 16th July 2015 a group of 13 visited Bletchley Park. Before our organised tour we took the oportunity to visit the Mansion House with its war time setting anong with an exhibition on the film ‘The Imitation Game’

Our guide for the tour gave us a humorous but well informed history of Bletchley Park before we were guided around the site. On our journey we were regaled with many amazing tales of the goings on at Bletchley Park.

After the tour we were free to visit the various huts and exhibitions including an informative and interesting talk on ‘the bombe’ designed by Alan Turing and further refinements by Gordon Welchman which enabled the codebreakers to speed up the process of codebreaking.

Many thanks to Carole for organising this visit.  All in all a most enjoyable day out.

See under PHOTOGRAPHS for a group photo..