OBITUARY: Mr Robert Carden

12:10pm Thursday 18th September 2008

LONGTIME Bradford on Avon man Bob Carden died on September 12 at Ravenscroft Nursing Home in Trowbridge, aged 81.

Mr Carden was churchwarden of Christ Church in Bradford on Avon for more than 20 years.

He was born in Kent and after studying at Maidstone Technical School became an apprentice shipwright at Chatham Dockyard in 1942, aged 15. He married Peggy in 1949 and was moved in 1954 to Malta, where he was an Inspector of Shipwrights.

He continued to move with promotions around the dockyards, working in Devonport, Rosyth, Devonport again and finally Bath in 1969, with the rank of Naval Constructor, when the couple settled in Bradford on Avon.

As churchwarden of Christ Church he was very involved with the community and many in Bradford will remember him for his work for the church and the parish, including helping to set up the Lambert Centre.

His other passions included the tennis club, gardening and Scottish country dancing.

He will be remembered for his smile, his courteous disposition and his willingness to take on any task that was needed.

Mr Carden and his wife considered themselves fortunate to have lived in Bradford for 39 years and to have enjoyed life with many close friends in the area.

Mr Carden leaves his wife Peggy, four sons and their wives, 11 grandchildren and their partners and four great-grandchildren.

A thanksgiving service to celebrate Mr Carden's life will be held at 3pm on Monday at Christ Church in Bradford on Avon.