1- Sue Pettinger-RIP
We first met Sue together with her husband Ed when we first returned to the UK from Hong Kong in 1990 and moved back in to our house in Wey Road, and at that time Joanne our daughter was approaching 15 years of age, and had done babysitting in Hong Kong, and was of course anxious to earn a little money and Jennifer met a lady called Sue who had recently given birth to their first child, actually eighteen months earlier, Emma and was looking for the occasional baby sitter and so Joanne obliged. Over the years the relationship and friendship developed and then a new child by the name of Ben appeared on the scene and so Joanne went back to her baby sitting tasks. Of course during this period we all got to know the family well and we would meet up for the occasional BBQ in Piplin House and they would attend Joanne wedding and birthday parties etc. Both Ed & Sue worked for British Airways and that was also a lovely contact for Joanne as Sue could perhaps help her with seating when she you was able to fly off and see her friend in Canada.
Over the past few years Sue has been in ill health with the dreaded big C and it finally is caught up with her and she passed away on January 15th peacefully at home with her family with the funeral taking place today in Beaconsfield. Unfortunately we could not attend as we are in Florida but Joanne and family of course attended this sad occasion.
Sue will be very much missed by family and friends alike and she left this earth a better place for being here.
Charles (Charlie) Woodhatch
I first met Charles when I joined a company in London called ASA Aeroservices Ltd as an aircraft cargo charter broker in the Jardine Matheson Head office in the Minories, London EC3. My days in this office were long and strenuous and you never knew when you would get home or even get to bed when trying to finalise some charter or another. I spent two years doing this job and one day was called in to Charlie who together with my direct boss were sitting there looking very serious and I thought , Boy this does not look to good. Only I was wrong, as they said, was I happy in my job and how would I like the idea of working in Hong Kong?.Well as you know we moved there on 13 th September 1975 and the rest is history. We cannot forget this date as the BOAC flight departed at 13.00 hrs from Gate 13 on 13th September, luckily it was a Saturday.
Over the years Charlie visited Hong Kong and he had amazing energy after a 24 hour flight would say lets hit the bars, and after several hours I would have to say Charlie I have had enough and need to get some rest and the next morning I might struggle but he was on the ball. After Charlie’s retirement many years ago we only saw each other occasionally but sadly he passed away within the last week aged 96 so clearly the late nights and booze did not hamper his long life.
A great loss to the Industry and a man with always a tale to tell. Charlie Rest in Piece.
