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Kitching On 4 October, Frederick
Charles Kitching, MRPharmS, of Limes Walk, Oakengates, Telford TF2 6EP.
Mr Kitching registered in 1972 (see
Tribute).
Maltman On 16 September, David Greig Wilson Maltman, MRPharmS, of 174
Craigcrook Road, Edinburgh EH4 3PP. Mr Maltman registered in 1934.
Morris On 13 September, Roy Neal Morris, MRPharmS,
of 19 Windmill Lane, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 1EY. Mr Morris registered
in
1934.
Shaw On 29 September, George Shaw, FRPharmS, of 215B Unthank Road, Norwich,
Norfolk NR2 2PH. Mr Shaw registered in 1948.
Wilkinson On 6 July, Eric Wilkinson, MRPharmS, of 24 Prairie
Crescent, Burnley BB10 1EU. Mr Wilkinson registered in 1942.
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Tribute
Kitching In a tribute to
the late Frederick Charles Kitching, CHRIS MERCER writes:
It was with
the utmost sadness that I learnt of
the early death of Charles Kitching following a long, painful but cheery
and gallant battle with cancer.
Charlie, Chas or Charles and I first met in late September 1968, on the
pharmacy course at the then Sunderland Technical College. It rapidly
became apparent that we shared mutual passions in Radio 4, most particularly
our addiction to “The Archers” and the organ music of Jimmy
Smith. Charlie’s musical hero of course, was The King himself,
Elvis Presley. Charlie not only sported the sideburns to match but also
had an encyclopaedic knowledge of his music and background and was wont
to break into “Hound dog” at the drop of a hat or indeed
anybody else’s hat. Who of us could forget his regular, usually
late evening, renditions of “Old Shep”, replete with expansive
and melodramatic hand gestures and sobs?
Charlie had a personality that just could not be ignored and a zest for
life that was infectious. His warmth and generosity, particularly in
supporting his somewhat impecunious fellow students, became the stuff
of legend, although just occasionally a little embarrassing, because
he simply would not let anybody else get a round in.
Charlie was always just simply, Charlie, a wonderful one-off. He was
a staunch royalist, which in our age group at the time was unusual. The
idea of toasting the Queen, before embarking on an alcoholic midnight
barbecue at Marsden Grotto one Saturday night, did seem a bit bizarre,
but that was Charlie. His other and of course, more important passions
were his wife Sue, his children Claire and Paul, his town of Oakengates,
his business, his profession of pharmacy and, of course, his lodge. He
also had more than a passing interest in the products of Dewars Distillery.
The impact that he had on all who knew him was evidenced by there being,
literally, standing room only at Telford Crematorium on Wednesday 15
October. Following some stirring singing and warm and enthusiastic eulogy,
we left, full of our own personal and cherished memories of Charlie and,
inevitably, we left with the theme tune to “The Archers” ringing
in our ears. Charlie had had the last laugh, which made us laugh with
him while just a little tearful, too.
I feel immensely privileged to have known him and to be counted as a
friend. I will remember and I will be grateful and I will cherish his
memory, but I will not mourn such a man who, in his all too brief stay
with us, managed somehow to pack in a life and a half.
Cheers, Charlie! You were and will ever remain a gentleman and a star.
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