My father, Ron Hughes, who has died aged 86, was identified with Waldenström macroglobulinemia, a uncommon most cancers, on the age of fifty, and consequently had to deal with well being problems all through his life. He was a eager supporter of the NHS and, in his working life, a technical translator from German to English.
The NHS was vital to him. In Could 1970, whereas dwelling and dealing in Germany he wrote to the prime minister, Harold Wilson, on behalf of a “small group of Englishmen” there, urging the federal government to make a larger effort to enhance the tattered picture of Britain in Europe.
He and his colleagues believed TV programmes broadcast in Germany had offered a distorted image of the NHS. My father wrote: “Any true evaluation of the NHS should be incomplete with out emphasis on an important function of all, the sense of safety each Briton enjoys in realizing that he can obtain the most effective medical consideration with out changing into a burden.” Ron was brave in managing his well being and coping with every medical subject that arose.
He was born in Chatham, Kent, to Invoice Hughes, a dockyard employee, and Elsie (nee Greatest), a housewife. On leaving Gillingham grammar college for boys in 1953, Ron undertook a five-year apprenticeship at Chatham Dockyard. He met Jackie Morris on the Chatham city corridor New Yr’s Eve dance in 1956. He was a ballroom dancer and he or she was a jiver – however they clicked, and have been married in 1959.
In 1961 Ron sailed often to South Africa with the service provider navy, then the next 12 months joined the civil service, initially with the Ministry of Public Constructing and Works after which as an engineer at RAF Northolt in west London. In 1963 his work took my dad and mom to Libya, the place Ron was primarily based on the primary energy station at RAF El Adem, and my brother, Matthew, was born. In 1968, my dad and mom moved to Erlangen, Germany, the place Ron labored as a technical translator for the Siemens firm, and I used to be born.
In 1970 our household returned to Britain, settling in Frimley, Surrey, although Ron continued his technical translation work. Two years later he grew to become a member of the Institute of Linguistics and was elected a member of the Translators Guild.
Strolling featured all through his life. He undertook the 100-mile Tour du Mont Blanc in 1985, and in 1991 walked the GR5 path from Geneva to Good with a pal to lift cash for Frimley Park hospital in Surrey – specifically the ward the place he had acquired his most cancers remedy. In 2004 my dad and mom joined Matthew for the previous couple of weeks strolling the Camino de Santiago, ending in Santiago de Compostela.
He might be remembered for his dedication, dry sense of humour, and kindness.
Ron is survived by Jackie, Matthew and me, and by a granddaughter, Elysa.
