David Craven

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David J Craven
Born 1937 (1937)
Died 18 January 2018 (aged 80–81)
Portsmouth
Education Boston Grammar School (1948-1957); London University (Physics with Mathematics); Isle of Ely College of Further Education (City and Guilds course in Cabinet Making)
Occupation teacher; lecturer
Employer Isle of Ely College of Further Education
Spouse Pamela M
Children Nicholas, Helen
Relatives Derek Craven (brother); Tom (grandson); Jamie (grandson)

David J Craven was educated at Boston Grammar School (1948-57).

Obituary

This obituary was supplied by David's widow, Pamela M Craven

David Craven (1937-2018) and a BGS pupil from 1948-57, died on January 18, 2018 in Portsmouth. His parents were well-known locally as they owned and ran the High Street Sub-Post Office for many years before retiring in 1960. David’s older brother Derek had also been a BGS pupil.

On completing his A Level studies, David became a student at London University, graduating in Physics with Mathematics. He and his wife Pam (also a Bostonian) continued to live in London, both now teachers. However in 1967 they were both appointed as lecturers at the Isle of Ely College of Further Education, and they returned to the Fens.

Here they remained, now with two children, Nicholas and Helen, for over thirty years. However, at the age of 55, David surprised everyone by taking early retirement only to return to the same College as a full-time student following a two-year City and Guilds course in Cabinet Making. He was very proud of this last qualification and put his new skills to excellent use helping his son and daughter, now both property owners themselves. In 1999, partly in response to his doctor’s advice to move to a milder climate, David and his wife decided to move to the South coast. They bought a small house in Gosport, where his daughter now lived, and much closer to their son based in London.

For the next decade David enjoyed an active retirement, becoming the family handyman and enjoying regular holidays in France and Italy - taking full advantage of the Portsmouth-based continental ferry services. Above all, he gained great pleasure from being a much loved grandfather to his grandsons Tom and Jamie.