John FrancisGIBBSHenry Gibbs, who has died aged 97, was a long-serving army officer and had a successful second career as manager of a large local authority leisure centre. Born and brought up in the tiny village of Black Bourton near Carterton, Oxfordshire with two older sisters, he enlisted in the Army in April 1946 and passed out from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in October 1948 with a regular commission in the Royal Artillery. During his 30 years' service he was stationed in Egypt, Germany and Singapore as well as in several locations in the UK. He was promoted to the rank of Major in 1961 and served in a number of posts as senior instructor in gunnery. During one posting in Germany he was battery commander of a nuclear artillery regiment. In 1977 he decided to return to civilian life while he was still young enough to take on a new challenge. Having gained a Diploma in Management Studies he joined Chester City Council's Northgate Arena leisure centre as officer manager. He was soon appointed centre manager, a position he held for almost ten years, taking great satisfaction in the success of the large travel exhibitions he helped to organize as well as in the day to day running of the center. He retired in 1988 and spent much of his retirement planning and enjoying holiday cruises to parts of the world he had not seen before including South America and Alaska.
His companion on those voyages and the military bases to which he was posted was 'Dinny' the woman he fell in love with at school in Burford after her family had relocated from London to nearby Brize Norton during the blitz. They married in 1950 and remained together for 73 years until Dinny, nee Doreen Marjorie Miller, died following a fall last year. Henry will be buried on December 8th at Black Bourton Cemetery and Dinny's ashes will be interred with him.
Henry is survived by his sons Geoffrey and Michael, his grandchildren Minna, Sophie, Heather and Alex and great grandchildren Joshua, Jago and Rupert.
Family flowers only please.
Donations in memory of Henry will support the work of the Smile Train and IFAW.
All enquiries to J. Howell & Daughters
1126 Netherstowe, Lichfield Ws13 6TS
01543 255776
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