there throughout his life, except when
working in Malta in 1953.Ron was born RONALD HERBERT DREW on 16th May 1922 at SOUTH
SHIELDS, Tyne and Wear, England, (the town was in Co.
Durham in the days before the English Counties were re-organised and renamed), living there throughout his life, except when
working in Malta in 1953.
Ronald was the name used by his mother (and likewise today by his wife, Evelyn) when a serious, stern voice was required! Ron is a more cosy, friendly name. Herbert was added in honour of Herbert Crisp, the doctor who delivered him into this world: a name he never enjoyed, for at school it had overtones of being a cissy!
His early boyhood was spent at Baring Street School until 11 years old, then going to the South Shields Boy's High School, which, since educational restructuring, is now known as the Harton Comprehensive School.
Leaving there aged 16, Ron started an apprenticeship as an Electrical Mechanic with A. Reyrolle and Co. Ltd., Electrical Switchgear manufacturers, Hebburn, working there during the war years until 1944. After a brief spell as a draughtsman at a manufacturer of STRAD radios he progressed to Vickers Armstrongs armament works starting as a Research Assistant and ending his period at the Elswick, Nerwcastle works as the Electrical Manager in the Gun Mounting Department.
This was an enjoyable period for Ron for it often involved going to sea on ship's trials. Whether it was because his father and also one of his brothers were sea going engineers or whether, perhaps, because South Shields was a major ship-building and ship repair town, he had a love of the sea, and always enjoyed life on the ocean waves be it through work or for pleasure on cruises.
In 1964, with the impending transfer of the Gun Mounting Dept. to Barrow, Ron made a major career change and became a Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at Hebburn Technical College, now part of South Tyneside College, from where he took early retirement in 1980.
From leaving school without any qualification, he took every opportunity which came along to improve himself and R.H.Drew, B.A.(Open University), M.I.E.E. now regrets there is not enough time available to undertake all the hobbies and commitments which interest him. (Refer to Index.)
It was on 26th January 1946 that Ron married EVELYN SINCLAIR LAWRENSON at the local Congregational Church in Ocean Road. They were both members of the church's youth club as well as being connected with the associated scout group, the 1st South Shields Congregational ('Congo') Sea Scouts. Ron was the Assistant Scout Leader and Evelyn a Leader ('Baloo') in the cub pack.
Evelyn was born in SOUTH SHIELDS on 1st.January 1922 starting her education at Simonside Infants School. She then moved to St John's First School in Winchester Street, South Shields, transfering at the age of 9 to St John's Higher Grade School in Beach Road. At 13, success in the entrance exam to the Commerce Department meant Evelyn would have tuition in Book-keeping, Shorthand and Typing. During this period she excelled in sporting activities and at one time was champion girl swimmer of South Shields.
With her commercial qualifications she left school in 1937 and worked in the office of Wright's (of South Shields) biscuit factory. During 1940 she was also involved with the firm's disc jockeys playing records over the Tannoy Speakers to their employees. This was one of the first 'Music while you Work' programmes in the country for war-time factory workers.
Evelyn then moved to J.D.Ainsley & Co (Ironmongers and ship's chandlers) in the Market Place in South Shields, leaving there in 1946 after her marriage.
Margaret, born in SOUTH SHIELDS on 5th January 1947, married Bill Griffiths (b.9.1.1939) on 31st May 1969 and have two children, Nicola (b.10.4.1975) and Lynne (b.8.10.1978).
Nicola married Alan Ramsay (b.17.11.1963) on 15 December 1996, and their first child Alexandra Nicole was born 4th May 1999.
Margaret and Bill live in Sunderland, Margaret having a part-time job at a local school. Bill now works as a Senior Engineer for Consulting Engineers in Newcastle. They are both connected with cubbing: Margaret at one time being a Cub Leader and Bill, in cubbing most of his life, is now the Assistant District Commissioner for Cubs in South Tyneside.
Alan, born in SOUTH SHIELDS on 15th March 1951, married Dorothea Bootes (b.11.1.1952) on 27th July 1974 and have two children, .Victoria (b.3.4.1978) and Philip (b.24.11.1979)
Having worked in Redcar, overseas in Zambia and then Chesterfield, Alan and Dorothea now live at BEN RHYDDING, near Ilkley, where Dorothea is a teaching support assistant. Alan works for a financial services company, as Manager of their (Computing) Enterprise Servers and Databases department and his main hobbies are football (Sunderland AFC) and (surprise, surprise!) computers, being involved with the maintenance of The Ilkley Pages.
Kenneth, born in SOUTH SHIELDS 2nd October 1953, married Janice Ramsey (b.5.7.1953) on 21st August 1976 and have 2 children, Stephen (b.2.8.1980) and Rachel (b.26.4.1983)
After their marriage Ken and Jan worked in Nottingham for Plessey, moving to Whitley Bay when Ken got employment at The British Gas Research Centre as a Departmental Manager specialising in Communications. He then joined NTL at Stockton-on-Tees as a Senior Network Telecoms Engineer and is now their Regional Engineering Manager, Transmissions, North and Midlands.