Corporal George Henry Judd RAF
George was an Armourer at Elsham Wolds from 1941 to March 45 and he was an Assn Member up until his death in the early 90s.
He was born at the Bell Inn, Sutton Veny, Warminster, Wiltshire on 5th March 1909. His father Henry Judd was the proprietor of the inn and they also took in overnight guests, who were fed and watered by his wife Eda, dad's mother.
George was the middle of 3 children, he had an elder sister Barbara and younger brother Frederick. Both George and Barbara left the village after school days to seek their fortunes in London. He started work as a steward at the Junior Carlton Club in London aged about 15.
In 1928 he joined the merchant navy and the old White Star Line sailing from Liverpool to New York on many occasions. At some stage in the late 1930s, he left the merchant navy to work as a private secretary for a wealthy Jewish gentleman who lived in a serviced apartment in the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London and wintered in Monaco.
George married Margaret Reid, a Scots girl, in May 1940 at Caxton Hall, Westminster and was called up later that year. It is believed he spent most of the war at Elsham Wolds working in the Armoury.
Above - George Judd left and an unknown friend from Elsham Wolds. Taken in Blackpool.
Armourers Group at Elsham Wolds 41/42. George Judd back row second left.
After discharge George and his wife bought their own house in West Hampstead, London. He remained in London for the rest of his working life working for both the BBC at Broadcasting House and the Anglo-American Corporation before finding his niche at the Ionian Bank, a private merchant bank in the City. By now he was in charge of the Directors' Dining facilities including the extensive wine cellars, private dining rooms etc. He had a team under him of butlers, stewards, Cordon Bleu chefs et al and when he finally retired aged 65 in 1974 he had become a valued and much respected 'honorary director!'
In addition, during the 1950's he worked free lance as both butler and chef, both of which he undertook to a very high standard. He did dinner parties for Sir Maurice and Lady Violet Bonham-Carter, among others, where believe it or not, the guests are listed as The Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen Mother and numerous other dignitaries and politicians of the day. He kept letters from Lady Violet, where she speaks very warmly of him and his abilities.
During his time at the BBC told his wife the news that they were replacing the actress who played Mrs Dale in the radio soap opera, as she had become unreliable due to her 'fondness for the bottle' with the film actress Jessie Matthews. He also worked on The Billy Cotton Band Show and brought me home numerous autographs of the stars of the day.
After retirement in 1974 George and his wife returned lived in Warminster. For the first few years he worked part time in an antique shop, which he loved, he learned a great deal about what had been a hobby previously and was also trusted to purchase items if they were brought into the shop for sale. He eventually retired and lived happily with his wife close to his brother and sister in law and many friends until the lung cancer which finally claimed him was diagnosed in 1991. He died in Warminster Hospital in January 1992 aged 82 years. Cressida Potter nee Judd
|
