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| My father, Eric Woodroffe, was a second world war veteran who took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in May 1940. Eric, who has died aged 95, gave a detailed account of his part in Operation Dynamo to BBC Bristol and to the national press while taking part in the 70th anniversary commemoration. As a 22-year-old signalman, he made seven crossings to the beaches and harbour on the Medway Queen, a converted paddle steamer that rescued an estimated 7,000 men. | My father, Eric Woodroffe, was a second world war veteran who took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in May 1940. Eric, who has died aged 95, gave a detailed account of his part in Operation Dynamo to BBC Bristol and to the national press while taking part in the 70th anniversary commemoration. As a 22-year-old signalman, he made seven crossings to the beaches and harbour on the Medway Queen, a converted paddle steamer that rescued an estimated 7,000 men. |
| Having joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1938, he rose to the rank of lieutenant in 1943 and was demobilised in early 1946. He served in many destroyer flotillas, escorting convoys and landing troops, primarily in the Mediterranean fleet, including on HMS Belvoir, and was mentioned in dispatches in 1944. | Having joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1938, he rose to the rank of lieutenant in 1943 and was demobilised in early 1946. He served in many destroyer flotillas, escorting convoys and landing troops, primarily in the Mediterranean fleet, including on HMS Belvoir, and was mentioned in dispatches in 1944. |
| Eric was born in Wallington, Surrey, where he enjoyed an idyllic 30s childhood revolving around scouting, tennis and amateur dramatics. He attended the City of London school, where he was an accomplished gymnast. | Eric was born in Wallington, Surrey, where he enjoyed an idyllic 30s childhood revolving around scouting, tennis and amateur dramatics. He attended the City of London school, where he was an accomplished gymnast. |
| In 1947, he had the good fortune – for cars were scarce – to acquire a Standard Eight tourer and, that hot summer, to meet Pauline Withers Green, who had served in the Women's Royal Naval Service in London. They married the following year. | In 1947, he had the good fortune – for cars were scarce – to acquire a Standard Eight tourer and, that hot summer, to meet Pauline Withers Green, who had served in the Women's Royal Naval Service in London. They married the following year. |
| Having completed his prewar studies in accountancy, Eric returned to civilian life as bursar of Gordonstoun school. There he had his work cut out; the headteacher Kurt Hahn, also one of the founders of the Outward Bound movement, was an inspired and original educationist, but had little grasp of the financial realities of running a school. It was at Kent College, Canterbury, where Eric became bursar in 1956, that his pragmatism and skills as an administrator were to find full expression. | Having completed his prewar studies in accountancy, Eric returned to civilian life as bursar of Gordonstoun school. There he had his work cut out; the headteacher Kurt Hahn, also one of the founders of the Outward Bound movement, was an inspired and original educationist, but had little grasp of the financial realities of running a school. It was at Kent College, Canterbury, where Eric became bursar in 1956, that his pragmatism and skills as an administrator were to find full expression. |
| In retirement, his enthusiasm for history in general, and family history in particular, led him to engage in rigorous and detailed research into the lives of his paternal ancestors, once wood-reeves (from which the surname derives) of Charnwood forest, Leicestershire. The result was an extensive family tree going back to the mid-16th century, with a full scholarly introduction | In retirement, his enthusiasm for history in general, and family history in particular, led him to engage in rigorous and detailed research into the lives of his paternal ancestors, once wood-reeves (from which the surname derives) of Charnwood forest, Leicestershire. The result was an extensive family tree going back to the mid-16th century, with a full scholarly introduction |
| Eric was reunited with the Medway Queen last year. He went to visit her in the dockyard in Bristol where she is currently being restored. He was able to give valuable assistance to the Medway Queen preservation society who will soon be putting her on display at Gillingham Pier in Kent. She will make the crossing to Dunkirk once more for the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo in 2015. | Eric was reunited with the Medway Queen last year. He went to visit her in the dockyard in Bristol where she is currently being restored. He was able to give valuable assistance to the Medway Queen preservation society who will soon be putting her on display at Gillingham Pier in Kent. She will make the crossing to Dunkirk once more for the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo in 2015. |
| Pauline died in 2011. Eric is survived by my sister Nicola and myself, and by his younger brother, Brian, and cousin Arthur. | Pauline died in 2011. Eric is survived by my sister Nicola and myself, and by his younger brother, Brian, and cousin Arthur. |
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