Funeral of 2629182 Roy Leonard Pickford

10 September 2019

Grenadiers,

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of our father, 2629182 Roy Leonard Pickford, formerly The King's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards 1947-1952, aged 90

Roy joined Corporal Butcher's Squad at the Guards Depot in July 1947. On completion of his training he moved to Number 1 Platoon, 13th Company, Grenadier Guards at Caterham Barracks in the September of 1947 before being sent on a troop ship to Palestine, where he served with the King's Company into early 1951. He was a keen sportsman from the start of his service life and went on to win various inter companies sport competitions including the javelin and football. He remained interested in Regimental and Association life post service and enjoyed visiting the Regimental open days (Grenadier Day).

Roy was President, life member, and indeed a true stalwart of the Lytchett United Royal British Legion Club, joining the TRBL in 1954 after resettling in his birth town of Upton, Dorset. Post the army he turned his hand to the building trades and grew his general building business until retirement 1994. He was a keen gardener renowned for winning awards for his prize fruit and vegetables.

Roy's best friend, Neville Smith, also from the King's Company was with our dad on the night he met our mum, Joy Cox, in Lowestoft, Suffolk while they were home on disembarkation leave in 1952. Roy and Joy married in June of 1954 and went on to have 4 daughters, 1 son and 11 grandchildren, and 10 Great Grandchildren.

Roy was enjoying a pint with his friends at TRBL on his 90th Birthday, when he was taken unwell and sadly passed away. His funeral service will take place on Wednesday 18 September 2019 at 1100hrs within the Long Barrows Ceremony Hall, Harbour View, Randalls Hill, Lytchett Minster, Dorset, BH16 6AN. Family flowers only, donations can be made towards an automated external defibrillator machine to be installed externally at the Lytchett United Royal British Legion Club for the local community use.

After service, a reception will be held at Lytchett United Royal British Legion Club, 93 Dorchester Road, Upton, Dorset, BH16 5NW. If anyone should wish to write to Joy and the family, the letter should be sent to:

Mrs JD Pickford

163 Sandy Lane

Upton

Poole

Dorset

BH16 5LU

?

Yours sincerely

Shaun Pickford (Son)

on behalf of Mrs J D Pickford and Family