Edward (Ted) Webb 
8^th August 1927 – 28^th August 2008

Ted Webb was a lifelong resident of Whaddon and Chairman of Whaddon Parish Council. He passed away peacefully at home after a short illness. Wendy Godfrey (nee Handscombe), Ted’s niece, writes about Uncle Ted, the family man, and Clare Byatt, Vice Chair of Whaddon Parish Council pays tribute to Ted’s role in the village of Whaddon:

Ted Webb, Chairman of Whaddon Parish Council, died on 28^th August aged 81.  He was born in the cottage in Bridge Street where he lived all his life and it was in this cottage that he passed away. 

Ted’s father ran a successful bakery business in London.  Shortly after the turn of the last century he and his wife decided to move to Cambridgeshire, firstly renting a cottage on the Green in Barrington and then purchasing (for £50) the cottage in Bridge Street.   In this home, which the family named ‘The Haven’, they raised six children - brothers Sonnie, Bernard and Ted and three sisters Winnie, Betty and Maisie.     

Sadly, Ted’s father died when Ted was still quite young.  Ted did have one memory of him, however, and that was the day the family took a day trip to the seaside.  There is a photograph of his father on the beach in full dress - smart trousers, shoes, shirt and, most notably, a trilby hat.  We suspect that may be where Ted got his impeccable dress sense from, for he was always dressed in shirt and tie whatever the weather.

Following his schooling at what is now Whaddon Village Hall, Ted did his National Service in the Army where he eventually joined the Catering Corps. 

In civilian life he settled on a career as a civil servant.  He was a mechanical and electrical engineer working at airfields including Bassingbourn, Wyton and Duxford - a career which suited him perfectly as he had a lifelong love of aeroplanes.  He thoroughly enjoyed his work and was well respected; he carried on working until he was 70, latterly part time as a lecturer at Cardington and as a consultant at RAF Honington and at the Harrier base at RAF Wittering. 

Ted and Jean married in Litlington church - the start of fifty three very happy years together.    

Ted was very proud of all his family and cared deeply for them.  He was particularly proud of his brother, Bernard, who gave his life on active service in 1944 when the Lancaster Bomber in which he was a Mid-Upper Gunner was shot down over Germany.  What made this even more poignant was that Bernard was a member of the standby crew for that mission.  The Mid Upper Gunner, named Tom, who was due to go received a call to say his father was gravely ill.  Bernard volunteered to take his place so that Tom could be with his father.  In 1997 Tom and Ted were introduced and that was the start of a unique and special  friendship. 

Ted was a patient listener and particularly enjoyed spending time with young people, especially his great nieces and nephews. He also loved gardening, fishing and cricket. 

Ted’s passion over the last ten years of his life was serving his village and community as Chairman of Whaddon Parish Council. Just being born in the village is not necessarily going to make someone a brilliant Chairman. However Ted was just that: an exemplary Parish Council Chairman. He was also a member of St Mary’s Parochial Church Council and Whaddon Village Hall Committee. There are two words that come to mind when describing Ted, authority and affection.

Always smart, always wearing a collar and tie, even on the hottest days, Ted’s appearance was of someone in authority but at the same time he was always approachable and welcoming, especially to newcomers to the village and encouraging to anyone showing interest in village affairs. Like a good headmaster, he was someone to look up to.

And look up to him the village did. No sooner had Ted joined the Parish Council in 1999 than, one year later, he was elected Chairman. In this position Ted guided the Council through matters from the mundane to the celebratory – from picking litter to opening the fountain in Bridge Street, from vetting small planning applications to major projects such as the refurbishment of Village Hall. Ted, always conscientious and always democratic, would visit, consult, seek advice, whatever was needed, in order to improve things for the village.

The Village Hall Committee and the Parochial Church Council have both benefited from Ted’s dedicated membership. At St Mary’s Church Ted’s natural authority made him an obvious choice to read the names of the fallen on Remembrance Sunday every year. And, as a keen gardener and an authority on vegetables, flowers and cakes, he was a highly regarded judge of the Produce Show at the Church Fete. The best Church Fete moment was when Ted and four other life-long residents of Whaddon opened the Fete two years ago.

Ted loved his church and it is his affection for things and people, which will also be remembered. Great affection for the village, for the job that he worked so hard at and for the people he knew.

The village regarded Ted with much affection. He was often seen on his bicycle, wearing jacket, collar and tie but no helmet, cycling on the pavement, which was just as well as many times he would have only one hand on the handlebars, waving with the other, as he knew everybody.

To many in the village, he was a very good friend indeed.  As a Councillor he was fond of, genuinely concerned about and very supportive of his team. Ted was a man of principle, a true gentleman that it was a privilege for us all to have known and worked with. His authority and affection will be much missed.