Anthony (Tony) Furneaux RIP

Update from David Furneaux:

The address for messages of condolence is: David Furneaux, Seymour, Whitchurch Hill, Reading RG8 7PG.

For those unable to attend the service, David has arranged a webcast which will be broadcast live, and then available to watch for 28 days after the event. Below are the Username and Password for the webcast along with the times it will be available to view. You can login to the website at any time to view a Test Webcast, which we would recommend doing in plenty of time before the service:

Usernamesate3288
Password771753
Service DateFriday 19th November
Service Time1:00 pm
Service Viewing Time12:56 pm – 1:50 pm
Websitehttps://watch.obitus.com
Once the viewing window has passed the Live Webcast will then automatically close and a message will appear saying “This funeral service has now finished”. The aim is to get the watch again Webcast back online on Friday 26th November, where it will be available to view until Wednesday 29th December using the same Login Information.

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Sad news has come in from David Furneaux, Tony’s son. His email is shown below:

Tony passed away on Monday 25th October at his care home in Henley. He was going downhill due to his dementia but succumbed to a chest infection. He was 94.

His funeral is on Friday, 19th November 13:00 at Reading Crematorium. We will have some drinks and snacks afterwards (TBA) to celebrate his life. Could you please communicate this to all his ex work colleagues as I’m sure you will have contact with many of them. Also, If people wish to attend the after event, could they let me know so I have a rough idea of the numbers for catering.

My Dad loved his time at Faireys. He always talked of his fondness for the people he worked with and never had a bad word to say about anyone.

Thanks,

David Furneaux

Please let us know at admin@faireysurveys.co.uk if you want to attend the after event, and the responses will be passed on to David Furneaux.

Below is a photograph of Tony at the 2004 BBQ at White Waltham, which seems a real classic, and another taken at work, where he wasn’t quite so happy!

John Cripwell, Tony Furneaux, Eileen Donovan (Storrie)

Neil Chisholm

Neil Chisholm (FSL 1969 to 1976) has found our website, and many of us may remember him.  He has sent a current photograph, and two older ones – one with Malcolm Eaton at White Waltham Cricket Club, and one from late 1976 with his Fairey Surveys tie.  He has included his email address if anyone would like to get in touch direct.

In his own words …..

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NEIL CHISHOLM

I know this is taking COVID-19 distancing to ridiculous levels but this is Neil Chisholm ‘speaking’ to you from 884 km (549 miles) away. I realise that some of you may not know who I am but some may well remember me (and several more might well wish they didn’t) when I was at Reform Road for exactly 7 years from September 1969 (a mere 51 years ago!) to September 1976. Did also return to Maidenhead for a two-week spell (in 1977?) to run a CPD photogrammetric training course for operators but that doesn’t really count.

Lawrence Scott and Eric Holland had offered me a position straight from Glasgow University and I began as a photogrammetric operator (69-71), moved on to Project Control (71-73), then in the field as a land surveyor (73-74’ish) and finally as Mapping Research Officer (74’ish-76) where I worked closely with Bill Cheffins on various projects. So, although I was at FSL for only ~1/6th of my working life, it was the first 1/6th, and it was very influential on my subsequent career and I have very fond memories of happy albeit hard-working times. “Delivery of a job to specification and on time” was the FSL mantra and I like to think that it has been ingrained in me ever since.

I still remember the names of most of my past colleagues in each department (far too numerous to mention here) and the photographs in various places on the Fairey Surveys website jogged even more memories (and sad to see the passing of a few of them). I saw too the photograph of the 26 July 2019 reunion and I must admit to a twinge of regret that I hadn’t known about it – and the location would also have been especially nostalgic for me as I had played 7 seasons for White Waltham CC (so I both worked and played with Malcolm Eaton!).

It’d be great to hear directly from as many past colleagues and friends who feel so inclined and the easiest way would be to use the email address below. I have asked Gillian Wallace to add me to the database of folk to be contacted about future reunions as I reckon it might be worth the ~1100 mile round trip to catch up with (and surprise) some ‘well kent faces’ (whilst they, and I, are still functioning!).

With many memories

Neil

email:          neilandsheila@madasafish.com

P.S. Left FSL to join the staff of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and after 21 years there moved to Inverness to assist in the creation of the new University of the Highlands and Islands. Retired in 2010 and am an active Rotarian and a keen curler (still in Inverness).

Neil Chisholm 2020

Neil Chisholm with Malcolm Eaton at White Waltham Cricket Club

Neil Chisholm late 1976 with his favourite FSL tie

Neil Chisholm and Tony Furneaux at an inter department cricket match