Gerard Rudd 17/12/1933 to 15/10/2017

[falling-out-with-my-car]

It is with great regret that I am posting up the passing of my Father Gerry Rudd.
quite simply he loved his Citroens from his first ami 8 in the seventies
right through to his Xantia VSX. I remember when I was 22 years old spending every night
for 3 weeks with him in his garage stripping down the gs to fit new rings and the ones supplied by Citroen
were the wrong size. the car started ok but once it was warm the engine would not turn again.

he tried gallantly to strip the heads down again to get them to fit properly but sadly it was time for the car to go.
we drove down to the scrap yard and cut the suspension pipes watching the car sink to the ground
that was the first time I ever saw tears in my dads eyes and probably the last. he was exhausted.

My Dad liked to tell people about his Royal Navy Days on Submarines and recently he got his service medal
something he didn't know he was entitled to for years, he was very proud of that. he was a petti officer.
He left the Navy in 1965 to become a school teacher and I remember him telling me his take home wage was £3.50 a week.

After his heart stopping on 14th of October 2017 at home My Son Daniel tried to resuscitate him with the guidance of the
999 crew on the phone for 12 minutes until the ambulance crew arrived, they tried for another 26mins and we had to
dismantle his stair lift so they could carry him down the stairs. his heart stopped in the ambulance to.

he was alive on Sunday 15th of October but not really with us completely and the hospital
doctors advised us that they should not try to revive him again as he was to frail.
we were with him all afternoon on Sunday the 15th but had to leave because of protected meal times
I received the call that he was going down hill at about 7-30pm but we did not manage to get there in time even doing 120mph.
which will always be my main regret. as with others he was my Mentor, my Teacher, he taught physics as my teacher in my school to.
The City of Portsmouth Boys School.

He gave me the bug for wanting to work on cars and engines and motorbikes, fly radio control aircraft and to go sailing,
to enjoy camping and sea fishing, swimming and just life in general.
I just wish I listened to him a little more.

funny how the memories you think you lost come flooding back when you loose someone you love so dearly.

I don't have much time to grieve as my Mother has dementia and needs a lot of care and attention.

So R.I P Dad and Thank You for everything. XXX Husband, Father and Granddad.

[myglaren]

Very sorry to hear that Nigel, sincerest condolences.

A while since I have seen him but did meet up with him a few times at the rallies.

[CitroJim]

Nigel, my very deepest condolences.

[GiveMeABreak]

Sincerest condolences on your loss Nigel.

[white exec]

He sounds a real gentleman, Nigel, and a teacher and inspiration. Reminded me so much of my own Dad, who died in 1998.
Things will get better, and fond memories win out.

[Michel]

Sounds like a top bloke Nigel, my condolences for your loss.

[Hell Razor5543]

Nigel, you have my (and, I feel certain, that of the whole forum) deepest sympathies.

[Peter.N.]

I would like to join the others, nice to have had such an interesting father, condolences to yourself and the rest of the family.

Peter

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Thank you everyone, I failed to mention that he raised my Son Daniel to from the age of 13 months old whilst I went out to work and later on whilst my health was in decline with recurrent dvts and blood clots on the lungs. This is why I have tried to help make both my Dads life and my Mums a little easier for them in their elderly years. It's not easy as some of you know very well indeed. Thanks to those that knew my Dad even if we did not attend regular meetings in the CCC. Partly owing to ill health or my ill health over the years. As you say time will heal eventually it gets easier, I am already struggling to think of someone to call up to ask about technical things, my Dad always had the answers esspecially as he was a physics teacher, a maths teacher, and a technical drawing teacher. I regretfully lack the intelligence of my Father but the patience I think comes with age. I hope he taught me enough to survive without him around. We did not get on very well for years until we moved to Kettering from Portsmouth. I found the Wicksteed Park Model boat club and bought him his membership the a 1 meter radio control Submarine. He loved it. And from 2002 onwards I had the chance to rebuild our relationship for which I am very grateful.I remember him welding up a sidecar for my Honda C50 moped so I could carry ladders to do a window cleaning round. He was very clever at measuring g twice and cutting once. Whereas I tend to forget and end up. With some shorter pieces than others. He never once had any bolts left over whereas I always had at least three,even if the job was only held together with four.

[CitroJim]

Nigel, you were a great son and doubtless it was your father's rather fine influence on you that made you the very caring and compassionate person you are...

In reading all you have said and knowing you I believe you and I had very similar relationships with our fathers and certainly mine taught me most of my engineering skills from a very young age right up until just before he passed away...

Time will heal; you will always miss your dad. I do mine terribly but try, as I do, to keep his memory alive in all ways that you can and then it will seem he is still with you.. I keep dad's memory alive by having quite a few of his treasured possessions in my house and using a great deal of his kitchen equipment - like me he was a keen cook and baker...

I also have lots of his workshop equipment and engineering tools in use too... They all hold good memories...

And always concentrate on the good times... Never on the bad...

My thoughts are with you Nigel and you're always welcome here any time you're passing...

[lexi]

Ah, sad news Nigel. Condolences to you and family. A Man for all Seasons by the sound of it.

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Thanks again everyone. I am sure he would have appreciated your kind words.

The funeral was held on Wednesday the 8th at Kettering crematorium and it is the first time
Ive heard laughter at a funeral, some of the stories people had were amazing.

almost half of the church staff turned out to see him off. the Vicar did the service for us as my Dad
used to do the printing of the church magazine called Focus. apparently whilst printing one day
my Dad appeared from the little door that linked the area he worked in and the main church hall

The last service had just finished and the congregation were all leaving. My Dad went up to the Vicar and said
So you believe in all this crap then do you? The vicar replied well yes Gerry I do, the vicar telling the story said well this could have gone either way.

My Dad replied well do you know what so do I.