Page 2 - HGS Suburb News 133 - Winter2018

John Hewson 1932-2017 from his firm but relaxed welcomed his in-laws, and reached
approach during our teenage
out to support many individuals
years. Becoming a grandad was beyond his immediate family,
a high point for him. He was because if he could help, he
very proud to see Isabel, Ben would. Dad had a sort of moral
and Connor come into the fibre about taking responsibility,
world and he followed their and sharing what he had.
progress with sometimes forensic In the family we are missing
ANDREW BOTTERILL
interest. Although thankfully he him for so many things, but John
never took to Facebook! He was would want us to remember him
delighted to meet Elijah, his with wit, more than sentiment...
first great-grandchild born in he was a great fan of Peter Cook
April 2017. (some say he even sounded like
John has been generous to him) and this quote resonates
so many of us. He let us be for me, “I have learned from my
ourselves and do our own thing, mistakes and I am sure I can
but the minute we needed him, repeat them exactly.”
he was right behind us. He INGER GORDON Ruta Teteris 1926-2017
My father John died on 26 in Turkey and well beyond, and John Hewson’s successor at Fellowship pays tribute Ruta was born in Ventspils, a enthusiasm were infectious, and
November having battled with loved gathering together his advertising world he became town on the NW coast of Latvia, therefore, it comes as no surprise
cancer for 18 months in his family and friends. I had known of John Hewson involved in local voluntary on 7 September 1926. Her parents that she was known throughout
for as long as I have lived in the
typically stoic and modest Dad was very successful at
fashion, supported at home by work, joining in 1973 the Suburb, but more recently I came work, helping children to learn were both teachers. Her father the Suburb as the ‘Rose lady’ and
a very knowledgeable gardener.
to read at the local school, and
was the head teacher at Ventspils
his wife, Wendy, and a team of innovative advertising agency, to know him more closely when joined the Horticultural Society primary school No.1, and also Ruta moved to the Suburb in
devoted carers. Collett Dickenson and Pearce. He I succeeded him as Chairman of and Fellowship. Peter Falk has founder and head of Ventspils 1981 and lived in Asmuns Place
Fellowship. He had been a leading
John was raised on the was renowned for developing
Suburb and spent most of his new ways of working in his figure in Fellowship having been told me how they both had a public library up until the time up until the end of 2011, when
the family was forced to flee
love of dogs and would often
her mobility started to make
time living there, but in 1940, field and for mentoring his Treasurer for many years before meet in Big or Little Wood, their homeland in 1944 in fear life difficult. She spent the last
when aged 8, he and his family team members. They repaid him becoming Chairman, a post he whilst walking their dogs. of the advancing Russian forces. years of her life at The Orchard.
held until 2015. His was a hard
moved to Upton Bishop in with affection and by taking
John was Treasurer whilst
Ruta participated in Suburb
Herefordshire to escape the bombs every opportunity to create act to follow and I was conscious Eileen Whelan was Chairman. But Ruta and her family were on the life in many ways. She was an
last fishing boat carrying refugees,
falling on Brim Hill. After a week scenarios in which he might that my actions were very much when Eileen’s infirmity became which crossed the Baltic Sea to allotment holder for many
prefaced by the thought of how
or so at Highgate School he unwittingly entertain them! Dad John would have responded. more serious, John found that the Swedish island of Gotland. years and served as the secretary
transferred to a small village had a wry sense of humour and
school where one teacher taught could laugh at himself, which As I came to know him better he had to assume the role of Ruta, her brother and parents for the Asmuns Place site. She
also helped with the gardening
eventually moved to Lund in
both Treasurer and Chairman,
40 pupils aged 5-14! He was lucky endeared him to others. I realised that he was a man of clear which he found excessive. Their Southern Sweden, where Ruta’s at Abbeyfield House and she
enough to win a scholarship to After a few years working will, with resolution, determination two dogs conferred and by canine father worked as a librarian at took part in the Trust’s Suburb
and above all integrity and
Hereford Cathedral School, which part time for Portland Outdoor
agreement Peter agreed to become
he attended as a weekly boarder. Advertising, Dad retired around sincerity. All the more surprising Treasurer and John Chairman. Lund University. Appraisal. However it was the
Horticultural Society that received
Ruta was a promising music
After the war he and his 1990, and he took to the golf when I realised that he had worked student in Latvia, but her family’s the most attention; she worked
in advertising for over 30 years, Perhaps I should get a dog!
sister Anne moved to Wembley, course and his 1.5 allotments for these attributes are not With John’s support and life as refugees meant that any on organising the library; served
and Dad was saved from becoming with gusto. Like his mother he
a chartered accountant by the was a keen gardener and we commonly associated with that encouragement, Eileen Whelan’s further music studies had to be as membership secretary for many
put on hold. Ruta studied Baltic
legacy was used to refurbish
years; sat on the committee
call to National Service. He was were plentiful in beans and profession! Fellowship House, and though philology at Stockholm University, until November last year;
proud of his work in the Royal various vegetables for many In 2014 John was interviewed
Army Service Corps (Intelligence seasons. The balcony of the flat by Sally Botterill in the form of ill-health curtailed his role as and then followed in her father’s organised a rose festival; won
no less!) Then based in Sussex, in Homesfield was resplendent Desert Island Discs, an occasion Chairman, he was able to see footsteps and qualified as a the Rose Cup 12 times and the
Banksian medal once.
many readers will remember. Fellowship House emerge as the
music librarian.
he met my Norwegian mother, in petunias. fine building and flourishing Ruta met her future husband, Ruta first returned to Latvia
who was working as an au pair. John did much for the Much of John’s early life was enterprise it is today. As you Karlis Teteris, in 1950 when she in 1988, when political changes
revealed, how he had been born
The young couple married community on Hampstead
when both were 20, moved into Garden Suburb. He was Chair in the Suburb and after a bomb enter Fellowship’s garden and the attended a Latvian song festival in the region made it easier to
travel there. Whilst her dream
sun is shining, you can tell the
in Leicester, organised by the
Brunner Close (bought from his and Treasurer of the Fellowship had destroyed the Hewson time of day on the handsome Latvian refugee community in of returning to live in Latvia did
grandmother) and had me two for many years. During this home, he had been evacuated sundial which was given to England. Ruta and Karlis were not materialise, she continued
to Herefordshire. Some of that
years later. The marriage ended period he took part in arranging
in 1958 and in the early 60s the refurbishment of the Fellow- rural upbringing may just have Fellowship by John. married in Stockholm on 26 to visit Latvia regularly over the
December 1957, and moved to
next 20 years. In between
And John Hewson was given
Dad found himself the man about ship premises, funded largely crept into his voice leaving a the unique honour by Fellowship London in January 1958. meeting her many relatives and
town again, meeting his mates by a legacy, and he was very trace of that soft West Country to be “Life Time Honorary Ruta’s husband died in 1975 enjoying Latvia’s cultural life,
burr that was so attractive.
Dick, Mike and Alan at Foote pleased with the improvements.
Cone and Belding, at which he He spent much of his spare John returned to live in the President” an accolade that and Ruta was left alone to bring she acted as an adviser to
up her two young children,
libraries in both the capital Riga
always will be his.
had followed his father’s time at Fellowship House Suburb and after leaving the Maris and Jana. She spent her and her hometown of Ventspils.
footsteps into advertising. facilitating events, playing JOHN MATHIAS professional career working as a She also taught translation, and
John was a media account croquet and generally enjoying
executive who bought air-time the company there. He also Joan Beales son, Peter, reflects on his mother’s life in a letter to librarian in various public and assisted a number of museums,
universities and schools.
school libraries in London,
and Wendy worked for a TV served teas and lunches at our editor, following our obituary in the last issue before retiring in the late 1980s. Ruta lived a long and
station and sold it! They wed in Abbeyfield, read with children
1964 at Kensington Registry at the local primary school, and Dear Terry, retired, she was a great user of Any free time she had was devoted productive life, and never
office, and Chris was born in could always be relied upon as a Three thoughts have struck me the H2: for example, until quite to her family, the Latvian school regarded herself as old. In her
in London and various Latvian
close to her move to Worthing
opinion, age was just a number,
as I’ve been thinking about Joan.
1966. In the following years good neighbour. First, she – often with Leonie she would come into the City charitable organisations. and a person’s good heart,
Dad enjoyed a succession of Dad was a devoted father – made full use of the theatre almost every week to have When she retired, Ruta actions and interests were far
misbehaving dogs, took holidays and Chris and I both benefited
visits that the HGS Theatre Club lunch with me and other family continued volunteering for more significant. For her the
used to arrange, and I do hope, members and friends that were various Latvian organisations in family, life-long learning, self-
Hall and Randall Plumbers incidentally, that that excellent Vinos was her favourite haunt, changes in Latvia she also development and keeping busy
around. The Cannon Street El
the UK, and with the political
were of utmost importance. She
service has been maintained.
(Unfortunately not. See page 6 the staff liked her and would began a new career as a always tried to encourage those
Plumbing and Heating Services • Property Maintenance of our last issue, Ed) always ensure that she had the translator and interpreter. She around her to follow these
Second, her fondness for table that she liked best. continued translating until ideals, and loved helping other
the Suburb included extensive So many fond memories shortly before her 90th birthday, people whenever she could. She
walks on the Heath, often ending but, if truth be told, she missed as it was very important for her had so many varied interests,
at the Spaniards, particularly when the Suburb after she left and to keep her mind active. and despite her increasing lack
her beloved Labrador, Max was would always share with us the Nevertheless her main of mobility she kept her mind
still with us; she was pleased to news that she picked up. I often interests following retirement active right up until the very
be able to do things in return think that if she hadn’t had were horticulture and particularly end of her life.
for the place that had been her that accident on the Tube, growing roses. Her passion and JANA TETERIS
home for so long – so was a which shook her confidence so
Governor at Childs Way for a much (in spite of the brave face
time as well as all her RA work. she put on it), she might not
Central Heating, Plumbing Repairs & Advisory Service Lastly, and when not driving have decided that it was time to
her old Honda that she had move on.
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11495
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