Lieutenant Alan Hutchinson RNVR
Alan Hutchinson died on 24 September, 2018 at the age of 95.
Born on 27 January 1923, the third eldest of five children, three girls and two boys, his preparatory education was at Shoreham Grammar School, where he boarded. This was followed by St. Paul’s School in Hammersmith. His family were based at Kew where his father was Keeper of the Museums of Botany. He joined the Navy from school in 1940, probably influenced by membership of the sea cadet at St. Pauls. He went into the Fleet Air Arm and trained as an Observer at HMS Goshawk, RNAS Trinidad, from November 1940 until June 1941 when he qualified.
Leaving Trinidad he had a very short spell at HMS Halabar, RNAS Bermuda flying in Walrus and Swordfish, before returning to the UK in August 1941. He joined 700 Squadron at RNAS Halston in the Orkneys, shortly to become part of the flight on the battleship HMS King George V based in Iceland. He then moved to the heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland in November 1941 with whom he sailed until the end of April 1942. In that period the Cumberland was part of the escort of a convoy from Sedisford in Iceland to Murmansk in Russia, in January 1942. Both ships were equipped with Walrus seaplanes.
In 1943 he joined 772 squadron based at RNAS Macrihanish, HMS Landrail, flying in Walrus, Albacores and Swordfish. Later that year he moved south to RNAS Worthy Down, HMS Kestrel, joining 739 (Blind Approach Development Unit) squadron flying mainly in Swordfish but also in Fulmars, Barracudas and Oxfords. It was during this time that he had two forced landings, the first in a field near Chesterfield followed by one on the sands off Southport. He was fortunate to walk away from both.
In late 1944, 739 squadron moved to RNAS Donbristle, HMS Merlin, where he also flew in Firefly’s and more often in Barracudas. It would appear that he finished his time as an Observer at this air station in mid 1945.
He married Greta Harriet Charlton Davies at St. Georges Church, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, in August 1943, they having met at one of the Scottish naval air stations, probably Fearn.
After the war he joined the Bank of England in Threadneedle Street. For a few years he was transferred to their Manchester Branch but then returned to London. With the abolition of Exchange Control he took the opportunity to take early retirement in 1980.
After just over 71 years of married life Greta pre-deceased Alan, dying in 2015. He is survived by his sons Noel and Nigel with his wife Jacqueline and grandchildren Victoria and James, together with great grandchildren Evie and Jessica.
Noel Hutchinson