The obituary notice of Vincent Don DETHERIDGE

Vince was a guy once met never to be forgotten . He employed me as a RCCO1 at 60 Halfway Street Sidcup a residential children’s for boys aged 12 to 18 . Vince told me after my interview when I asked why I got the job when more qualified people also attended the interview ( I was an young engineer who "dropped out" he said it was because I had been engineer and had worked with real people , he said he had enough of young social graduates straight from college . He was a great bloke. He could run that home from his office.. Have loads of fun stories we had together.. He had a great look (Gene Vincent) , great sense of humour and a bellowing voice. Loved his pipe and Alsatian dog. He was compassionate with kids with special needs . Drug addicts etc . I left I think after a year . I was getting married and had to return to Engineering. I met him once again at Margate and by this time he was married with young children as I did. RIP Vince , the man.

I worked with Vince back in 1964 when I volunteered for Community Service and ended up in Forhill House, a Senior Boys Remand Home in Kings Norton.
We were the only resident staff and lived in bedrooms up in the garret of the house. He was an incredibly good person, and the kids adored him for his firm but good natured discipline. Later when J had qualified as a teacher, I met him again when I lived in Eltham and he was running his own home down the road from me.
Then in 1970 I moved to Italy and we lost touch but I have never forgotten him, his smile, his humour, his warmth.
I don't know why I decided to look for him this week, I suppose isolation makes the mind wander and I was very sad to discover he had died. Sad thing is I am not too far away from where he lived and we could easily have met up. R.I.P. Vince. You will never be forgotten.