Strange Eric Arthur
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13th April 1921 |
| Place of birth | Bristol England |
| Date of death | 14th April 2019 |
ERIC ARTHUR STRANGE born 13th April 1921, died 14th April 2019
Eric Arthur Strange was born in Bristol England on April 13th 1921. First born to Gertrude Elizabeth Strange nee Freeman and Arthur Strange. He had 4 siblings, Iris, Donald, Lenard and Bert. Sadly Bert was killed in a bike accident at the age of 16. Arthur left his wife and children when Eric was young and Holy Nativity Church Knowle Bristol helped Gertrude to raise her children. Father Eric Buchan was a fatherly figure to Eric who was a choirboy at Holy Nativity and this is where Eric’s love of church music and the pipe organ began. He continued his relationship with Dad “Buc” as he was affectionately called, until he emigrated to Australia with his daughter Christine on October 22nd 1973.
Eric Strange went off to the 2nd world war joining the 55 squadron. He travelled many countries including the Middle east, Eygpt and Cairo. He was an aircraft fitter. While serving in the war he had a stray dog who took a liking to him and he called the dog Hoppy as he had a funny way of walking. Hoppy was smuggled on various aircrafts and ships accompanying Eric and the squadron. Eric told many interesting stories of his fellow mates and the war years.
During the war, he married Mary Ferris and later they had John Eric Strange on February 1st 1946. Sadly Mary died of TB when John was about 6. Eric remarried to Margaret Jean Russ on August 22nd 1953 and had their daughter Christine Ann on April 8th 1956.
Eric had many jobs during the ’50s and ’60s including working as a chuffer and then later had his own mechanic and panel beating business. Which was destroyed by fire and Eric went bankrupt.
He also worked as a mechanic for the formula 4 racing driver Johnny Walker. He travelled all over the UK often bringing the racing cars home to the delight of the children,
After this Eric went to work at Rolles Royce where he worked an aircraft fitter on the new Concorde engines. Here he stayed until 1973. After Margaret died on September 4th that year Eric and his daughter Christine emigrated to Australia Joining, John and his wife Chris and brother Len and wife Peggy and family. Eric worked at Wormald Security for a short time, during this he attended TAFE. He then went to Musicmaker at Gawler selling Yamaha and Wurlitzer electronic organs, he started teaching keyboard to many students old and young. During the 1970s Eric received the Gawler Citizen of the year for services to Gawler and its people. He was very proud of this award
Eric joined a couple of 60/40 dance bands playing the keyboard. He played for many wedding receptions and Friday and Saturday night dances.
While at Gawler Father John Kinsman approached Eric and asked him if he could become church organist at St Georges church in Gawler which of course Eric accepted. The pipe organ was not in a very good condition and need a lot of money spent to restore it. In 1984 while Eric and his family were in the UK for a Christmas holiday he came across a pipe organ in which the church had been decommissioned and the church office wanted to sell, this church was St Judes in Bristol. Eric purchased the pipe organ for one thousand pounds and had it dismantled and shipped to Australia. The organ was rebuilt in St Georges Gawler by a couple of men who had some knowledge of mechanics, and the ladies of the parish who supplied the much-needed tea and scones. Later Eric discovered the pipe organ had been in St Nicholas church Bristol before the war and had been rebuilt in St Judes Bristol. Eric had played this organ in St Nicholas the day before war broke out and it has now followed him across the world to Gawler where it is currently played every Sunday for worship.
In 1991 Eric married Rose Brekker and went to live in Riverton South Australia. He continued to play the electronic organ in Holy Trinity church every Sunday until he died. During the latter years he resided at Gilbert Valley Senior Citizens Home in Riverton. He really loved it there especially the staff and the activities. He played the organ for sing a longs and weekly church services there. Enjoyed painting and mosaicing and many of his pieces are in the garden including a birdhouse and sundial and wheelbarrow.
After a fall he moved to the hospital in Riverton and again got on well with the staff especially the nurses who he called his girlfriends. Sadly Eric Arthur Strange died 1 day after his 98 birthday on April 14th 2019. He left behind his wife Rose, Son John and daughter in law Chris, daughter Christine. Grandchildren Ian, Tim, Amanda, and Vincent. His Great Grandchildren Amber, Allan, Samantha, Evan, Ruby, Luke, Lucas, Claire, David and William.
Eric was well-loved and he always loved talking about his younger years and his life. He spoke fondly of his family and was especially proud of them all.
REST IN PEACE ERIC
A Tribute from Christine Brown
Dad was born in Bristol England on April 13th, 1921 eldest son of 5 children born to Gertrude and Arthur Strange. Arthur left Granny Strange while dad was about 9 and Granny brought up the 5 children on her own with help from Holy Nativity Church in Knowle Bristol where dad was a chorister.
Dad learnt the pipe organ at St. Mathiest church in his teens before the ww2. He was an aircraft mechanic and travelled to the Middle East and dad told us many stories and loved to talk about his war years. He had a dog called hoppy who travelled with him and soon became the 55th Squadron mascot. They smuggled the dog on various aircrafts and ships he told us. During the war years, he met Mary Ferris and were soon married and had my brother John in 1946. Sadly, she died of TB. Dad then remarried my mum Margaret Russ in 1953 and in 1956 I was born after several miscarriages. Dad had several jobs including taxi driving and chauffer. He also had his own motor car mechanic business but went bankrupt following a fire.
Dad then went to work for Johnny Walker the formula 4 racing car driver as a pit stop mechanic, he travelled all over England with the team and would often bring the racing cars home and I would often sit in them. Dad then left Johnny Walker and then went to work for Rolls Royce where he worked on the Concorde engines he worked there until Dad and I emigrated to Australia in 1973. Sadly, mum died in September of that year of a cerebral haemorrhage. John and Chris’s son David also died aged 2 in the same week. John and Chris’s were already here in Australia along with Dad’s brother Len and wife Peggy and their 3 boys. Dad and John decided to reunite the family here in Australia on October 22 1973. Dad worked for Wormald’s Security selling fire extinguishers then went to TAFE to study music and became a music teacher. He went to work at Musicmaker in Gawler teaching and selling Yamaha electronic organs. This is where he went to play organ at St. George’s church here in Gawler. After Musicmaker closed down, Dad went to work for Barry Hall in Adelaide and also went to Victor Harbor to teach at Southland Music shop and drove a bus which was fitted out with organs where he taught at local country schools. Later Dad went to teach privately at home and at church. While Dad was at St. George’s the pipe organ was in a very bad condition and when Dad and I went to UK in 1984 for a holiday we purchased a pipe organ from a redundant church in Bristol. This organ was rebuilt in St. Jude’s Bristol after the war and came from St. Matthais church where Dad had first organ lessons. We had the organ shipped to Australia and Dad and a few others rebuilt it in St. George’s church and here it is being beautifully played by a former St. George’s organist Bill Scott. In 1985 Trinity College was established in St. George’s church hall with 28 students including my son Tim. Dad taught music to these students and then when the college was transferred to Evanston South Dad taught students there for a year while he continued to have private students at home. Dad remarried again in 1991to Rose ? and eventually moved to Riverton. Dad then went to play the electronic organ at Holy Trinity Church in Riverton until a week before Dad died. It was here that he fell and broke his hip and was transferred to the Lyell McEwin where had surgery. Dad was transferred to Riverton Hospital where he had resided for the past two years. He sadly died on April 14th at 4am one day after his 98th birthday. Dad previously lived at Gilbert Valley Senior Citizen home for a couple of years which he loved very much. He enjoyed the activities with Tracey and Alison and I thank Leslie and all the caring staff that looked after my dad during that period. I also thank the Riverton Hospital and staff and Dr. ? for their care and support.
Rest in peace Dad God Bless You, hope you are playing the heavenly pipe organ in Heaven
Please click here to view a photo of Eric Strange
.
Memories of Strange Eric Arthur
Do you remember Strange Eric Arthur ? Then Join up and add your memory here.
Support our sponsors!
