DICK STOVELL
Brief memories of my Dad
By William Stovell
This is a photo of Dick Stovell, taken during World War Two. It's the best photo I have of my Dad. He worked as a carpenter for Oxley & Bennett, taught woodwork at the evening classes at Hillcrest School and skippered the Ethel (NN13) for Bernard Wheatley, taking out fishing parties, trawling and lobster potting. I wonder how many people made their first guitar at Dad's classes or if anyone still has a coffee table, fruit bowl or other item they made there. I have a couple of examples of Dad's work: an ottoman and a small wooden box, inlaid with green baize that he made for Mum's 21st birthday. It contained 21 silver three-penny bits. He made stuff to last.
Apart from a couple of photos and those items, all I have are memories of a kind, clever, loving and jolly father who died in 1963, aged 42 years. I was eleven.