The unique qualities of Godmanchester are loved and appreciated by local people and Dick Emmett was one of these people. Dick valued the importance of individuals and this, coupled with his love for Godmanchester, became the focus of his interests and service to the community.

During the 2nd World War Dick served as an Air Force Pilot and trained in Canada to fly coastal command flying boats. After the war he studied at the London School of Economics as a mature student and gained a degree in Social Sciences. Here he met and married Jessie who was also a student. This was the beginning of a very happy partnership.

During this period of time he became interested in politics and this shaped his choice of profession. Dick decided to become a social worker and experienced working in both rural and urban areas; serving in the Children’s Department in Harlow and later in the rural areas of Suffolk. He was then appointed to the post of Divisional Social Services Officer for the Huntingdon area, a post that involved supporting people of all ages.

Dick moved with Jessie and their son Robert to Godmanchester. Here they built a house at the end of West Street and started to plan what was to become a wonderful garden, enjoyed over the years by many people. Dick was responsible for the vegetable garden and Jessie for the flowers. Dick’s vegetable garden was a miniature of a stately home walled garden, with beautifully manicured grass paths among the vegetable patches. He was very good with tomatoes and those of us who try to grow tomatoes at our end of West Street were always very worried when he advanced towards our tomatoes, with a sad look on his face, and then told us were we had gone wrong.

Dick always remained interested in politics and loved a debate. He was always very forthright in expressing his views. As a member of the Labour Party Dick served on the local committee and spoke at the conference in Blackpool in 1986 on Secondary Education. He was also an active member of CND.

Jessie and Dick shared many interests including the environment, the countryside and in particular conservation. They were active members of the R.S.P.B, the Woodland Trust and were founder members of the W.E.A.

Travel was another of their interests, first travelling on a motorbike and side-car with a tent. They travelled widely, including a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway. Dick also enjoyed walking and until shortly before his death would walk regularly in and around Godmanchester. In 1995 he took part in the Ramblers Association Diamond Jubilee 60 mile walk, from Cambridge to Peterborough.

Particularly interested in working with children and young people, Dick served as a governor of Godmanchester Primary School for fifteen years. He had a lively mind, was an avid reader, played chess and had a wide knowledge of 20th century films. Robert and his wife Louise and their children, Hannah and James, also live in Godmanchester. Spending time with his family gave Dick great pleasure, particularly after the death of his wife, Jessie.

Dick had decided that he did not want a funeral and donated his body for research to the Cambridge University School of Anatomy. So, instead, his family and friends met for lunch on a sunny day last summer to remember him and to plant a tree on St. Judith’s Field in his memory. We have said goodbye to a man who enjoyed life and who committed his life to serving the community. His memory will live on in the lives of his family, friends and all those he supported and cared for during his life-time.

Leonore Charlton
36, West Street

Copyright © Godmanchester Community Association 2004