It is with sadness that I have received news of the death of ARTHUR GOVUS who passed onwards on Saturday May 3rd. 2008.
The funeral took place on Tuesday 20th May 2008 at 12.00 noon at the North East Surrey Cremoratorium which is in Morden Cemetery, Greater London.
Bob Blackie and Cliff Douthwaite attended Arthur Govus farewell service representing all of the "boys" evacuated from Battersea Central School to Hawkley in Hampshire.
The service on a bright sunny day was well attended by family, about 50-60, Arthur was billeted with the Bone family in Empshott/Hawkley and Elsie and Freda the Bone family daughters attended Arthur's funeral.
I have requested Arthur's funeral tribute written by his brother David and when it arrives will put up on the web on this page.
Arthur Govus - 1928-2008
The eldest of eight, Arthur was part of a fabulous family of characters.
His parents headed the group as hard working and generous to all of us that frequented 57 Grant Road Battersea, UK.
Following demobilisation from the army Arthur worked at BOAC for many years and ultimately became an expert in incentive travel.
He together with Charlie Sammonds and Tom Cowell returned to Hawkley in Hampshire near Liss the place that he (with Charles and Tom plus about 80 other boys) was an evacuee from Battersea Central School where they were evacuated to in 1939, these three frequently returned to Hawkley after the war during the late forties.
He was a reasonably good runner, accompanying his two companions running the bridges (Albert Bridge round Battersea Park over Chelsea Bridge along the embankment and back over Albert). He had eclectic interests and a wide circle of friends to match. There was a ballroom dancing period during which he acquired a bronze medal. He loved music especially as recorded by Frank Sinatra. It is believed that he had acquired copies of everything Sinatra had recorded on Vinyl. His reputation for cataloging and storing his collection is legendary. Arthur was a football fan and a football referee. He was an authority on good beer and “real ale”.
He had recently enjoyed a visit to Australia where he was reunited with his sister Joan, brother Lindsay and their respective families. Arthur was uncle to 23 nephews and nieces.
He accepted his medical condition for what it was…a tough break and something he would have to live with or in his case die with. He did not actually die from cancer but from a pulmonary embolism while in hospital. There had been plans for his brother David to take him to attend the Hawkley reunion in July 2008.
He leaves to grieve, his remaining siblings Joan, Pat, David, Peter and Lindsay together with a lifelong accumulation of FRIENDS.
He will be sadly missed by us all.
Tom Cowell , Canada 2008
