JOHN William Wooltorton who died at the James Paget University Hospital on April 24, aged 97, served in the Royal Navy during the second world war.He was born at Shoeburyness on October 8, 1911.
JOHN William Wooltorton who died at the James Paget University Hospital on April 24, aged 97, served in the Royal Navy during the second world war.
He was born at Shoeburyness on October 8, 1911. Three years later, following his father's demobilisation, the family moved to Runham. Leaving school at 14 he found employment at Mr Waters' farm at Herringby. Later he joined a fishing company sailing off the coast of both East Anglia and Scotland. He worked at Cantley sugar factory between December and May when not engaged in fishing.
At the outbreak of war he joined the Royal Navy and was drafted to the mine-sweeper base at Lowestoft. Throughout the war he served on HMS Eaglesea in the Mediterranean where he was involved in food and water convoys to Malta.
Following demobilisation he was employed by Trinity House at the Yarmouth depot where he was a stoker on both Warden and Mermaid where he was promoted to Petty Officer. He retired from Trinity House when he was 60 and spent his remaining working years at Johnson's factory in Gorleston.
He enjoyed 37 years of retirement taking part in bowls and cultivating his allotment.
He leaves a widow Ena, a daughter and a son, a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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