OBITUARIES
the Cambridge Union Society . His career was as a chemical engineer involved in research , development and design , including employment with the longestablished firm of Albright and Wilson . Alan was a Birmingham Local Secretary of Mensa , 1963-4 , and founder , organiser and editor of the Trethewy Society from 1983 in which role he published articles in various genealogical journals . In 1964 he married Barbara , who survives him . They had two children , Phoebe and Jasper .
( From the St John ’ s College , Cambridge , The Eagle magazine , 2016 edition )
( Note : According to the Trethewy Society website , AK founded it in 1993 ( not 1983 as above ) and that it ceased publication in 2004 )
Tom L Moody ( 58-62 ) was of Northern Irish descent and proud of his roots in Ulster . His father was a GP in Stockton-on-Tees and his mother a registered nurse . He boarded at Pock and was a successful sportsman , playing rugby for the 1st XV , sprinting for the athletics team and playing tennis for the 1st VI . ( He was one of the first people to win the newly instituted tennis colours ). He was also one of the first group from Pocklington to successfully complete the Lyke Wake Walk .
After leaving school , he studied medicine at Newcastle , where he met his future wife , Eileen , who was studying French . He joined the navy while at University and on qualification served as a naval medical officer for five years , with postings both on board and on shore .
He took further qualifications as an anaesthetist and achieved Fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthetists . He settled in Melton Mowbray working partly as a GP and partly practicing anaesthetics in Leicester hospitals . With the early onset of Parkinson ’ s in his late 40s , he had to finish practising in his 50s . He suffered long-term decline as the disease became more aggressive and latterly had been in a care home .
He leaves his wife of 47 years , two children and two grandchildren .
( Peter Shaw , 52-63 )
Denis Moor ( 41-46 ) was born in York on 2 August 1929 and lived in Pocklington all his life ; he was a true Pocklingtonian . His father , Eric Moor , was manager of George Todd ’ s grocery shop in Pavement and the family home was in George Street .
As a boy growing up during the war , Denis spent his spare time collecting birds ’ eggs ( a hobby which was probably more environmentally acceptable in those days ), scavenging for shrapnel on the aerodrome , fishing at Willow Waters , and staying on his grandparents ’ farm at Kilnwick . From 1941 to 1946 he was educated at Pocklington School and had many tales to tell about the masters and his fellow pupils . He also acted as an Altar Server for All Saints Church at this time .
At the age of 18 he was called up for National Service and went off to North Africa , spending time in Tripoli and also in Malta . Working in an RAF signals division , he had his first taste of overseas travel and started to develop an enduring interest in electronics and radios .
On his return to Pocklington , Denis met Jean and they married in All Saints Church in 1955 . They moved to their home in Barmby Road where they have continued to live ever since after bringing up their children , Lorraine and Chris .
Denis started his working life as a television engineer working for two local businesses , Fred Kirk and Eric Lee . In about 1960 he opened up his own shop and electrical repair business in Market Street , visiting outlying farms and villages to set up televisions and aerials , and repairing and selling electrical goods with Jean helping out at the counter . He usually had his head in the back of a television set in his workshop , although this back room often served as a ‘ coffee shop ’ for friends calling in ! In the days before disposable electrical goods became the norm , he was always busy with repairs and was sometimes even called out on Christmas Day to mend a TV for a customer who didn ’ t want to miss the Queen ’ s speech . The business was well known in Pocklington and Denis was a member of the Chamber of Trade . The shop continued for 45 years until his retirement at the age of 77 .
In the early 1960s Denis joined York Sub-Aqua Club and became a keen diver . Weekends were spent , with family in tow , diving off the Yorkshire coast or the Farne Islands , and lasting friendships were made through this lifelong interest . For many years Denis attended the club every Tuesday night for a swim and a pint in the clubhouse afterwards , and eventually he was made an honorary member of the club . In later years , his diving was limited to snorkelling in Pocklington Canal where he loved taking underwater photographs and recording the resident wildlife - he recently donated some natural history records to the Beverley Archives .
Denis had an interest in history and he was a member of the Pocklington and District Local History Group where he shared his memories of Pocklington and the canal . He also built up collections of vintage radios and old bottles , of which he was very fond ! Some years ago he was instrumental in the successful campaign to save the remaining conservatory at Burnby Hall when it was threatened with demolition .
Jean and Denis have been associated with Pocklington Wine Circle for about 40 years , and have had great fun with members who have become close friends . Denis always enjoyed the famous Wine Circle dances , the garden parties and other convivial gatherings organised by the group , especially when there was the opportunity to don fancy dress !
He loved nature , wildlife and birdspotting , taking much pleasure in watching the red kites soaring over the edge of the Wolds . In his later years he shared an allotment on The Mile , enjoying sociable chats with other gardeners as well as keeping the household adequately supplied with courgettes and green beans . He was also a volunteer with the ‘ Green Grass ’ recycling programme .
Denis very much valued the companionship of friends and family . He enjoyed travelling and often recalled good memories of holidays with friends in Greece , Spain and France . In recent months especially , Jean and Denis also greatly appreciated the support offered by neighbours .
He will be missed by all . ( Chris Moor , 71-78 )
John Edward Richardson ( 34-39 ) was born in North Leeds on 8 June 1923 , the youngest son of Norman and Muriel Richardson . He attended Moortown School , Ingledew School in Roundhay , Leeds and Pocklington School 1934 – 1939 .
Whilst at Pocklington he took a very active part in Scouting . He became a King ’ s Scout and Group Leader and spent his last term ( December 1939 ) at school in Scout uniform comforting evacuated children and collecting waste paper for the war effort .
On his eighteenth birthday in 1941 , he enlisted in the Tank Core . He expected to join the 8th Army in North Africa , but instead he was selected to study for an engineering course at Wakefield Technical College and at Guilford College . He was commissioned in REME and left the army in 1945 .
His first civilian job was with a joinery company in North Leeds and in 1950 he started his own business , Richardsons of Moortown , in North Leeds , which supplied carpets , curtains , furnishings and interior design and lighting . In the same year he married Joyce Scarr .
Having contracted polio in 1955 , the business changed to concentrate on retail and sold glass , china , furniture , lighting , stationery , homewares and expanded from the original shop unit to occupy three units over two floors to display all the goods . In 1953 , he joined the Rotary Club of Leeds and in 1961 , he became the founder President of the newly formed ‘ daughter club ’, the Rotary Club of Roundhay . Rotary was to play a significant part in his life , being awarded the highest honour as a Paul Harris Fellow and raising many thousands of pounds for several charities over many years . He was still regularly attending Rotary meetings and Probus Club ( retired Rotarians ) up to 2015 .
Through the business he became a keen member of the Leeds Chamber of Trade and served as President in 1977 , the year of the Queen ’ s 25th
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