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Newsletter 140 Spring 2023 © Hampshire Mills Group |
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We are
very sad to announce the sudden death of John
Christmas in late December 2022. John was a
long-time member of both HMG, serving as Technical
Advisor, and of Hampshire Industrial Archaeology
Society (HIAS, formerly SUIAG), where he was Project
Manager for a long period. His skill and technical
knowledge will be sorely missed. He went on all the
SUIAG and HMG study tours (holidays!), as seen here
(far right, with his familiar brown leather hat) at
Melin Llynnon on Anglesey in May 2018.
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Ashok Vaidya
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John
had been ill on and off for quite a long time, and
had spent several weeks in hospital in the autumn.
However, he appeared recently to be fine. The
results of a post mortem are awaited before a
funeral can be arranged. |
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Dave Plunkett writes: What a very sad Christmas
shock! JC, as he was known to many in Hampshire,
was a renowned water engineer of the highest
standard in my view. He was immensely knowledgeable
on water control issues at mills and it was a joy to
discuss the finer points of molinology with him.
Crux
Easton Wind Engine (right) was a late passion for
him. He devoted an enormous amount of time and
effort to restore it to working order. Lots of
mills, water, tidal, and wind powered, as well as
other IA projects in this county, benefited from his
expertise.
I had
known him for over 40 years and he was always a
private man in personal life and I knew nothing of
his family links. We shall certainly miss him into
the future when it comes to maintaining existing
restored mills and their machinery.
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Ruth Andrews |
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Ruth Andrews writes: I will miss John. When I
first joined SUIAG (now HIAS), knowing nobody, I sat
next to him on a coach trip and found him very
interesting, and later I joined the 'Heavy Gang',
where we coined the phrase 'waiting for Christmas'
as he was not the most punctual of gentlemen. He was
known for having his car absolutely crammed full of
stuff (with the dog squeezed on top!), and it is
reported that there are now two of his cars full of
stuff to be dealt with, as well as a storage unit at
Shawford. |
Angela Smith writes: JC was a great friend once
you got beyond his apparent gruffness and would go
out of his way to help people.
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Clockwise from top left:
At the HMG Barbecue at Whitchurch Silk Mill
– Angela Smith
At Donnington Mill, trying to free a bearing
– Ashok Vaidya
At Donnington Mill, floating in a replacement beam
– Ashok Vaidya
Heavy lifting at Eling; note the familiar large
bunch of keys! – Angela Smith
Working on a sluice at Sutton Mandeville (Greater
Hampshire!)
– Ruth Andrews |
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