inmem-i

IN MEMORIAM

Ian ‘Curly’ REA

1^st July 1924 to 14^th July 2011

Bramley 1938 to Arborfield ATS 1939.


1939		2009

Arborfield & The September 49ers web site.

by Trevor 52A » Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:27 pm

I am deeply saddened by the news received this morning from Ian Rea's family....

'It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the passing of Dad today. He passed peacefully in his sleep this morning about 8 am. The previous night he saw us all and was relaxed by our presence. We stayed with him for an hour or so and then he wanted us to go. After we all left, he dictated a beautiful note for Mum via a nurse. This morning we got a call saying he was very weak, but by the time we got there he had just passed.'

Ian Rea (Jnr)

'Thank you for your kind regards. We have just finished making arrangements for Ian's funeral, which will be held at 11:15 Australian Eastern Standard Time at Wilson Chapel, Springvale Crematorium on Tuesday 19 July 2011. I know it will be comforting for his family to know that he will be being remembered by members of the Arborfield Old Boys Association at that time.

Ian Rea (Jnr)

Oceans apart in mileage and the times that we were at Arborfield, I had been in touch with Ian over a number of years, he was my link to the history of the early days of Arborfield and was always ready to share his experiences. In 2009, his lifelong friend Peter Humpston passed away. Peter was one of the Jersey Boys who was evacuated to Arborfield in 1939 and that was when they first met. Later in life they both moved to Australia and a friendship formed in those far off days at Arborfield was still as strong as ever, they were in regular contact. When we speak of friendships formed at Arborfield, there is no finer example than that of Ian and Peter. Be sure they will have adjoining bed-spaces back at HQ.

Stand easy Ian, a life well served. You will be greatly missed.

Trevor STUBBERFIELD (52A)

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Arborfield Old Boy’s Association web site.

Yet another of our elder brethren has passed away. Ian was, as Trevor says, a link to the earliest days of the Arborfield saga and retained his links with the rest of us, mainly through Trevor, for many years. As Trevor has said, his mate Peter was, almost literally, a life long friend and their Arborfield link was broken only by Peter's earlier demise. The number of us Brat's down here in Oz has shrunk not only in number but also in stature now that Ian has passed over. Maggie and I, as well as the others from our small fraternity of Arborfielders in Oz, send our sincere condolences to Ian's family.

Greg PECK (53B)

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Another loss to our "gang" One of the sobering thoughts as our friends take the final passing out parade is that each of us slowly moves up in seniority.

RIP, Ian.

Derek DRIVER (57A)

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May God rest Ian’s soul and my condolences to his family.

Cliff CHARLESWORTH (47B)

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Just like to pass on my condolences to the family. RIP.

Bren CARROLL (79B)

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Rest in peace Ian.

Doug MATTHEWS (53B)

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Published in Herald Sun (Melbourne) on July 16, 2011

REA. - Ian. 01.07.1924 - 14.07.2011 Passed away peacefully Cherished husband and lifelong companion of Cecilia. Loving father to Ian and Keith, father-in-law to Bernadette and Carla, loved Grandad and Great Grandad. Private Family Funeral.

Ian Rea (Arborfield 1939)

An Ode for Ian, as Arborfield itself fades into the past.......

And so our final chapter is drawing to a close,

Time‘s wheel, it turns inexorably, taking with it those

We thought as indestructible, but physically so,

For spiritually they’ll always be as real as long ago:

Though maybe not of our own time, it is well understood

That we are all related in exclusive brotherhood

Of common, warm endeavour, of faithful, loyal heart,

Each one of us is surely still a strong integral part

Of that which time will not deny, nor ever fail to be

Less than a sure commitment to our camaraderie.

And as we bid farewell to Ian, held in high esteem,

We recognize how fortunate we all were to have been

Privileged to be part of the same fraternity

Of which he was a founding member, and will always be

Honoured and remembered as a good and gentle man,

A great reminder of how fine a person really can

Become, by living to the truths he learned as a young boy,

And practicing throughout a life of hard work to enjoy

The fruits of happiness, devoted family at his side,

Who loved and cherished him, with quiet dignity and pride.

So sleep your sleep old warrior, it’s surely well deserved,

Your time in this world never wasted, loyally you served

Country, King, and fellow man the best that you knew how,

And after a successful life, it’s time, at long last, now,

To say farewell and we know, at those other welcome gates,

Your old friends who have gone before, are gathering to await

Their old brother in arms, laughing, as they did when they

First met as long ago in early happy, youthful days.

And “The Reds” will echo out, that half forgotten serenade,

As another Old Boy makes his final Passing Out Parade.

A life well and honourably lived. RIP Ian.

By kind permission of Tony Church 55A

Before his passing, Ian had contributed his memories of life at Arborfield to the ‘Arborfield & The September 49ers’ web site along with identifying the names of some of the boys and staff in the photos we have of that time. With Arborfield now closed, these memories will be a record available to anybody interested in what life was like there, from 1939 when it opened to2004 when the gates closed for the last time.

To access Ian’s Memoire, please click on the wreath below.