David Seton Middleditch - TrustNews March 2009
Trust Chairman 1986 - 1992
David was born in Darlington on 18th August 1923. His father was an officer in The Green Howards (1914 – 1936). After Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge, he joined the Army in 1942 and was commissioned into the XII Royal Lancers, an armoured reconnaissance regiment, in which he served in North Africa and subsequently in Italy. He was slightly wounded twice and once more seriously, which resulted in the loss of the lower part of his left leg. He was mentioned in despatches. Having recovered from his wounds, he was appointed ADC to General Sir Brian Robertson who was then the Deputy Military Governor of the British Zone of Germany.
In 1947 he joined Jardine Matheson and Co. Ltd. and served in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tientsin until 1951. In 1952 he joined the Consolidated Zinc Corporation now called Rio Tinto Zinc, and in 1962 became a Director of Matheson and Co. Ltd, a post that he held until retirement in 1984.
In 1957 David and Celia were married, since when the family has grown to include their children Matthew and Harriet, their spouses and their seven grandchildren. The family moved to Winchester 30 years ago.
In 1991 he became a member the Committee of the Southampton and Winchester Branch of the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association (BLESMA) and was very active in visiting and talking to fellow amputees in the Winchester area, and assisting them with their welfare problems.
He was also a stalwart and very active member of the Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group for Refugees, who believe that every asylum seeker deserves respect and compassion, and that their applications to stay in the UK should be given a fair and proper hearing. The group give practical support to those in the Southampton area who are in difficulties, and may need help in contacting a solicitor, finding accommodation or getting access to medical treatment.
He was an accomplished croquet player and played at the Winchester Tennis and Squash Club for many years, becoming a very effective Chairman of the Croquet group from 1991 to 2002.
His time with the Trust
David was induced at short notice to become chairman of the Trust in 1986 when Antony Skinner’s commitments changed, meaning that he could not take up the post as had been expected. This was a generous and public spirited action on David’s part as he had only joined the Trust in 1984. However, helped by Gill Graham, then the Hon Secretary, he quickly mastered his role, deftly guiding the Trust’s activities for the next six years.
During David’s time all the regular activities of the Trust improved in scope and efficiency, and the Trust prospered: amongst many other things Sir Peter Ramsbotham became President; the first formal lease of the Heritage Centre was secured; the first stage of our work on the Eastgate Street terrace was completed; the Trust’s lobbying helped lead to the adoption of a Park and Ride policy instead of more multi-storey car parks; and on Gill’s retirement, David initiated the pattern for the future by introducing the Trust’s first paid secretary.
But there were difficult challenges too: the Trust objected to all the schemes put forward for the Brooks Centre but despite every effort was unable to influence the outcome; as the chairing member of the M3 Joint Action Group and participant in the third Inquiry, the Trust was able to rejoice when the group was victorious in preventing the motorway running through the water meadows, but disappointed when the tunnel scheme was rejected; and controversial proposals for redevelopment of the Barracks caused great concern, though prolonged negotiations and ownership problems delayed matters into the recession of the early ‘90s, opening the way for the successful conservation approach.
Throughout all this activity David was always ready both to take advice and to give it, remaining unfailingly good humoured and encouraging. His was a well earned sigh of relief when Antony’s commitments allowed him to take over at the AGM in 1992 – David had not expected to be in post for quite so long!
David was a man of great humour and compassion, a wonderful friend to all and will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.