Ely World War Two gunner with an eye for DIY dies aged 93
A GUNNER who protected Merchant ships crossing the Atlantic during the Second World War has died aged 93.
Lieuwe Herrema served as a corporal in the London detachment of the Netherlands army having been educated at Ely’s King’s School.
The Dutch-born man moved to Queen Adelaide in 1925 when his father Jan became chief engineer at the new Ely Beet Sugar Factory, which was built by the Anglo-Dutch Group.
After the war he returned to Ely to begin a long career at the sugar factory, working from the mid-1950s until the factory closed in 1981.
He was also a particularly skilled at woodworking and was a founder member of both the Ely Guild of Woodturners and the Millennium Woodturners of Ely.
He died on August 18 at Kingfisher House, in Newmarket.
“Football was a passion throughout his life and he remained a supporter of the Holland national team, wearing the famous orange shirt to watch big games,” son Martin Herrema added.
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The grandfather-of-three is survived by his wife Jean and three sons Martin, Simon and Arnie.
