Deric Scott
Bournemouth
Reception Details
A private reception is being held.
Ceremony Details
The Ceremony for Joseph Francis O'Connor will be held on:
Thursday, 21 September 2023 12:00
757 Christchurch Road
Boscombe
BH7 6AN
Committal Details
A private committal is being held.
In memory of
Joseph Francis O'Connor (Joe)
Joe O'Connor was born in Blaydon in the North East of England on 9th December 1926 where he spent some of his childhood and went to school in that part of the country. He was the second in line of 4 boys, all very different in character. From an early age he showed promise in two different areas. Academically his strengths were in the areas of Maths and Physics and these were to form the basis of his professional life later on. He was keen at a variety of sports, but the ones he loved most and excelled at were Billiards and Snooker. He took these skills into competitions and was crowned the English Schoolboy Snooker Champion.
The other continuing thread in Joe's life was travel and that too was ignited as a child when he went with his parents and brothers to live in the Sudan while his father worked there. He also served in the Royal Signals regiment in the army in Sudan.
The North east of England was where he met May (née Dawson) and where they forged a strong loving relationship that kept them together for 71 years with an incredibly happy marriage and adventures all round the world.
He joined Rediffusion as an electrical engineer and specialised in the then growing world of television. The O'Connors were the first in the village and local community to have a television in their house, that Joe had built, and they were the envy of the rest of the community.
Rediffusion took May and Joe on their first big adventure to Nigeria, where Joe worked as an electrical engineer for several years. They could always tell many interesting and amusing stories about the colonial life of the 1950s,
When they came back to England, it was first to the North West, living in Poulton Le Fylde, where Joe's communication skills had him teaching others as well as doing engineering work. That was also where their family was completed by the arrival of Helen, their daughter. Soon after they moved to Nottinghamshire.
The urge to travel was now burning, so the opportunity to go abroad, still with Rediffusion, first to Hong Kong and then to Singapore for well over 20 years was too good to miss.
As well as leading the installation of cable TV throughout Hong Kong, Joe kept up his sporting interests playing golf and tennis and, of course, lots of snooker. He also loved working with the Garrison Players and HK Singers at their Amdram productions as their experienced lighting engineer. He was also a very active member of Round Table in Hong Kong. His name is still on the boards listing the snooker and billiard champions at both the Hong Kong Club and the Tanglin Club in Singapore. He was Snooker convenor in Singapore at the Tanglin club for many years.
They made many close and strong friends in both these places, who they retained contact with, and affection for, long after their return to England.
Joe retired soon after coming back to England and they settled first in the Cotswolds and then in Bournemouth. He was still very active in such groups as Probus and The Past Rotarians, often being called upon to use his mathematical skills and financial acumen as treasurer. He also later on in life became an avid follower of Formula One motor racing.
He also joined the Constitution Club in Bournemouth and got back into snooker and billiards. He continued to improve his skills, taking regular lessons into his 90s and frustrating most of the younger members by beating them at both games.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife and constant companion, May, his daughter Helen and son-in-law Chris, two grandsons, Tom and Nick and recently two great grandchildren, Oskar and Mia.
He is fondly remembered as a loving, very modest and charming man with a wickedly dry sense of humour who would never say a bad word about anyone. He will be very much missed by family and friends.
The other continuing thread in Joe's life was travel and that too was ignited as a child when he went with his parents and brothers to live in the Sudan while his father worked there. He also served in the Royal Signals regiment in the army in Sudan.
The North east of England was where he met May (née Dawson) and where they forged a strong loving relationship that kept them together for 71 years with an incredibly happy marriage and adventures all round the world.
He joined Rediffusion as an electrical engineer and specialised in the then growing world of television. The O'Connors were the first in the village and local community to have a television in their house, that Joe had built, and they were the envy of the rest of the community.
Rediffusion took May and Joe on their first big adventure to Nigeria, where Joe worked as an electrical engineer for several years. They could always tell many interesting and amusing stories about the colonial life of the 1950s,
When they came back to England, it was first to the North West, living in Poulton Le Fylde, where Joe's communication skills had him teaching others as well as doing engineering work. That was also where their family was completed by the arrival of Helen, their daughter. Soon after they moved to Nottinghamshire.
The urge to travel was now burning, so the opportunity to go abroad, still with Rediffusion, first to Hong Kong and then to Singapore for well over 20 years was too good to miss.
As well as leading the installation of cable TV throughout Hong Kong, Joe kept up his sporting interests playing golf and tennis and, of course, lots of snooker. He also loved working with the Garrison Players and HK Singers at their Amdram productions as their experienced lighting engineer. He was also a very active member of Round Table in Hong Kong. His name is still on the boards listing the snooker and billiard champions at both the Hong Kong Club and the Tanglin Club in Singapore. He was Snooker convenor in Singapore at the Tanglin club for many years.
They made many close and strong friends in both these places, who they retained contact with, and affection for, long after their return to England.
Joe retired soon after coming back to England and they settled first in the Cotswolds and then in Bournemouth. He was still very active in such groups as Probus and The Past Rotarians, often being called upon to use his mathematical skills and financial acumen as treasurer. He also later on in life became an avid follower of Formula One motor racing.
He also joined the Constitution Club in Bournemouth and got back into snooker and billiards. He continued to improve his skills, taking regular lessons into his 90s and frustrating most of the younger members by beating them at both games.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife and constant companion, May, his daughter Helen and son-in-law Chris, two grandsons, Tom and Nick and recently two great grandchildren, Oskar and Mia.
He is fondly remembered as a loving, very modest and charming man with a wickedly dry sense of humour who would never say a bad word about anyone. He will be very much missed by family and friends.
Macular Society
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Donations
Donations for Joseph Francis O'Connor (Joe) £430.83
Helen Binge
Macular Society
Mrs C M Hiley
Macular Society
Moira O'Connor
Macular Society
mike oconnor
Macular Society
Richard and Jenny Fullard
Macular Society
Michelle O'Connor & Christine O'Connor
Macular Society
Sheila Marsh
Macular Society
Bernardine Perry
Macular Society
Eileen Miller
Macular Society
Anne Moss
Macular Society
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