Doug’s son, Peter, contacted me to say that his father had attended Ealing County in the 1930’s.

He asked if the Association would be interested in some of his father’s photos and school reports and I readily agreed and requested more information.

Below is Peter’s story of his Father’s life.  It gives a fascinating insight into the life of an ‘Old Boy’ of the school and his career afterwards, finishing up as Chief Engineer of the London Rubber Company.

JH (Editor)

Hello John,

                  I was wondering whether you might be interested in some documents I have of my father, Francis Douglas Berry, known as ‘Doug’?   A photo of him and with my mother is shown above.

  He was born in 1920 at Tooting and he attended Sudbury Infants’ School, before attending Ealing County school in the 1930’s.  The photo below is of his year groups at Sudbury Infants’.

The two school reports are from his years at Ealing County and they show an average boy, making some progress.

TRIBUTE TO DOUG BERRY

(Francis Douglas Berry)

1920 to 1971

As recalled by his son, Peter Berry

After leaving school, he joined the RAF as a trainee and proceeded to gain his commission as an officer (technical).

The photos are of Dad as an RAF apprentice with a Gypsy Moth, at Sidmouth RAF training college for officers.

In 1946, he left the RAF and went to Canada to find fame & fortune but, sadly, it did not go well and he returned to the UK, where we had a prefab in Barking, before moving to Harlow New Town and lastly Theydon Bois near Epping.  

Dad secured employment at the London Rubber Company, where he worked his way up, through the system.  The company produced Marigold rubber gloves, Durex condoms, Aerial balloons and also the Femi Dom, for which he won an award from the Medical Council.

My father was responsible for the automation of condom production with Latex dipping equipment.   He became the Group Chief Engineer for development of machinery and the installation of production plants in India & Vietnam.  The photo shows him at a ground breaking ceremony for a new factory.

He stayed at the LRC for his whole career after the RAF and retired at 65.

Sadly, Dad passed on in 1981 of a sudden heart failure.  He was just 71.

He was in touch with one or two of his RAF chums but I’m afraid I do not have any details.   

He had a good life and I thank you for your interest.

Peter Berry