INSPIRED by ‘a very full life’ Redditch man Roger Henry Lippett has written a book on his life which began living on the Batchley Estate. He went on to serve in the Royal Navy and wants to share his story.
He was born on January 30 1939 on the council estate, with his dad’s name Henry, being given to him as his middle name.
Here he sheds light on his life family and friends as a social record of sorts that may be of interest to his children, grandchildren and the people of Redditch.
Although he said he had never achieved great wealth or fame he felt his life had moments worth recounting.
In his words: “I now live in the beautiful city of Plymouth in Devon but I will always be a Batchley boy.
“Far have I traveled, and much have I seen and this is my story, serialised in the Redditch Standard.”
Chapter 22
WE eventually arrived back in Devonport on July 14 1967 to a large crowd of welcoming families with our decommissioning pennant proudly flying.
Sadly Rose couldn’t be there to witness our arrival back in our home port as it was too far to travel with two young children.
The crew went on leave in two parts and I was second leave so it was two weeks before I was able to get the train back to Scotland and once again experience the joy of holding Rose in my arms and being together with my family.
Most of my education from Redditch technical school to my naval training has been of a technical and military nature and not being naturally skilled in the use of language I am often at a loss to express in words the joy of being reunited with my wife and children after such a long parting.
Often the joy is short lived by the knowledge that soon I would be away to sea again but on this occasion it would be different because of the fact that I would be remaining on the ship during the long refit which was scheduled to take a year.
The past year had been a difficult one for Rose particularly as the winter had been severe.
She was very isolated in Kircaldy and at time she was unable to leave the house at all because of the great depth of snow which made dragging a pram up the steep drive impossible.
Now however we faced a huge disruption in our lives as we prepared for the move to St. Budeaux, Plymouth, where I had a married quarter arranged.
We had arranged for our furniture to be transported to storage in Plymouth and after making our goodbyes to Rose’s family we made the long train journey to our new home in Plymouth.
It was sad leaving our lovely house but having the opportunity to be together as a family was too wonderful a chance to turn down.
We arrived late at our married quarter 87, Foulston Avenue, St.Budeaux and entered through the front door.
First impressions were quite daunting. Although the house was clean sound and well equipped it was dull and depressing with brown painted doors and skirting boards.
Rose Susanne and Antony looked around and then sat down on the couch and cried!
I felt awful. I thought, God, what have I brought them to.
However as the days went by we settled in. A fire in the hearth and some of our own items around the house slowly turned it into a home.
As regards work I must admit life was now a doddle. The ship was now laid up in dry dock with dockyard mates swarming all over it.
It was an 8am to 4 pm job and was like being a civilian. It was a bit boring but it was nice to have a family life.
It was not long after we had moved to married quarters that I now had the opportunity to take driving lessons.
I took 10 lessons at a total cost of £7.50 and my instructor was an ex-Chief stoker. I passed my test at the second attempt and it was not long after that we bought our first car – a pale blue Ford Prefect 100E.
We paid £120 for it and £11.14 to insure it.
Having a car gave us a new lease of life for we were now able to visit lots of local places.
