It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Walter Derrick 'Dickie' Paget (ON 1931-1939) who died at the fantastic age of 105.

Dickie was here at the School from 1931-1939, he was in Maples House and was a member of the OTC. His tutor described him as “a good, hardworking lad, cheerful disposition, very gentlemanly.”

Below is the eulogy given by his daughter Diana at his funeral.

Dickie was born in 1920 in Leicester.  He won a place at Nottingham High School, where the nickname “Dickie” originated.  A groan was heard when he told the boys his actual name, as there was already a Derek.  A bright lad noticed the difference in the spelling and said they would call him Dickie.

Whilst at that school he was in the rowing team.  He was also a good cox.  This was put to the test one day, as a posh boy was frequently late.  The master got more furious and sent the rowing eight out as a seven – that must have been quite tricky!

He joined the Civil Service in London a few weeks before his 19th birthday.  War was declared soon after and he found himself packing boxes for an office move to an unknown destination.  That turned out to be Bath.  In his spare time, he joined a theatre group as a stage hand, where he met his late wife Margaret, who was singing in the chorus.  He was in Bath for about a year before he then joined the RAF. 

He married Margaret in December 1944 and they went on to have two daughters, Elizabeth(Libby) and Diana.  Libby moved abroad about 55 years ago giving Dickie Canadian grandchildren Kim and Robyn and great grandson Daniel. 

Dickie was a wireless mechanic in the RAF.  He was stationed in India and was located in five different areas in his time there.   Some of his time, he was lent by the RAF to the US army as they didn’t have signal staff.    

He was later sent home from India for extra training.  The war ended while he was home.  He remained on an airfield in Taunton, Somerset, which was American run, until he was demobbed in the middle of 1946.  After that he had to go back to very standard English rations!  Meals in Madras, were the choice between bully beef, salad or curry. Of course he chose curry, he said that the cooks in Madras knew how to make a really good curry.  Once back in England Margaret made curry for dinner quite frequently.

It was during his time in India, a colleague lent him a copy of a railway modelling magazine and his interest was sparked.

I had a clockwork train, which was upgraded to an electric one.  He subsequently mounted the tracks on board, made and painted a corner tunnel out of plaster of Paris; a magnet coupling and uncoupling gadget was added and so his interest was further fuelled.  Not quite sure about mine!

All the radios in our youth were made by Dickie, including the housing.  His final one was a transistor radio, which he made for Libby in her teens.

After the war, back working in London he attended the LSE for his training as an auditor, having started the Civil Service career in Exchequer and Audit.  Many years later he transferred to the Department of Health and Social Security as a financial administrator and attained the level of Assistant Secretary, dealing with several Ministers, Barbara Castle being the one I recall of most.  He was heavily involved in the building of a Leeds Hospital, but I have forgotten which one. 

He was an active member of St Clement Players Amateur Dramatics Society.  He acted, did stage managing, lighting and directing – not all at one time.  Recollections are that he frequently took the lead role in his younger days.

Soon after his retirement NAFAS (a floral organisation my mother was very involved with), needed a replacement treasurer for a big National show in Brighton.  Dickie was persuaded to take on this role, which eased him into retirement.

They moved to Wimborne in 1984 and he soon after joined the EM gauge society and joining with three others, Andy Webb, the late Geoff Greenwood and late Ron Hersey, they formed the ‘Gang of Four’ and the Flintcombe layout evolved. 

Latterly due to his failing eyesight, it meant he could no longer do any modelling or running of the layout, he still loved to go to the shows, whether as an exhibitor or visitor.   He says they are like going to an ‘Old Boys Reunion”, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Also at the shows when exhibiting, he felt that he could give history and technical advice to interested viewers.

He loved to bake his own bread, kneaded by hand no less, and to cook.  Dickie loved visits from his Canadian family and thanks to the model railways friends for continuing to have some of their meeting as his house.  Sadly he was due to host two days after he passed.  I know he loved hearing about their engineering trials and still feeling involved with the group. 

Diana Steward (Dickie's daughter)

Dickie on his 105th birthday with his card from the King and Queen

Dickie in a play at school - he is playing the girl (second from the left)