Many thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

The page is set up in memory of my Dad, Roy Pepper who sadly died on 5th July, aged 82, unexpectedly in hospital after a short illness .

Throughout his life he was hugely dedicated to his work and delivering safe, drinkable water to the people of . He was a "hands on" Civil Engineer and was well known and respected throughout the water industry. The charity "WaterAid" is dedicated to overcoming poverty by enabling the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. He would be hugely grateful if you would like to make a donation, however small to enable this work to continue.

Born in Walthamstow in 1927 to Arthur and Ena, Dad was evacuated in the early part of the war, returning later on to start as an apprentice at the Royal Ordnance Factories, Woolwich in 1943. He moved soon after to Woolwich Polytechnic from where he graduated in Engineering in 1947. He enjoyed his National Service where he was a Sergeant Instructor in the Royal Army Education Corps, and claimed that he taught many of the “top brass” in the Army how to hold a pencil.

He joined Sunderland & South Shields Water Company way back in 1953 after a short period working for Sandeman Kennard and Partners in . Starting as Resident Engineer, he then worked throughout the 1960’s as a Supply Engineer and then as Engineer to the Board from 1974 to 1986. During this time I well remember being taken to see the odd “hole in the ground” that had suddenly appeared. I also recall him interrupting a family holiday to deal with a water storage reservoir the contents of which had mysteriously disappeared overnight!

Dad became the General Manager from 1986 to 1988, with much time in the final couple of years being taken up with the privatisation of the Water Industry by the Government at the time. However, he always made the effort to know everyone in the Company and their families. I remember that he always took the time, every New Years Eve, to phone the “control room” to wish everyone on duty a very Happy New Year! How many Directors would do the same these days?

He was very much honoured to become the National President of the of from 1988-1989 and was also delighted to be made a Liveryman in Worshipful Company of Plumbers and a Freeman of the City of . He was a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management with a Membership lasting over 50 years.

In his retirement he was very active in helping his Church, St Georges in , as a Manager and Elder. He actively researched his family tree and kept in touch with many part of the family across the world. He enjoyed his photography and made great efforts to keep up to date with this new technology of the “internet” and “e-mail”. He would be intrigued as to how this website was set up and flattered that anybody has taken the time to visit it!

Dad was married to my Mum, Mary in 1955 in Bearsden. They spent nearly all of their married life, apart from the first couple of years, living in . Moving to a strange part of the country must have been quite a “big thing” in those days, with both of them moving away from family. But they made many friends in Sunderland and Dad was a regular attender at the Sunderland Club for his Friday snooker session (maximum break "in the teens" - or so he claimed!). He was also active in the local "Probus" club and the RSA. For a short time he was a Governor of Hill View Junior and Infant School.

He is going to be hugely missed by Mum, myself and his granddaughter Catherine, who he was devoted too. He was also much loved by John Gristwood as “Uncle Roy”.  Lots of love Dad

John xxx