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.
Most Read
- 1 80 homes threaten access to ‘rural haven of rare beauty’
- 2 Bus ‘wars', Aids, Ely parking and a ’vote for fen man – for fen people’
- 3 Woman wins right to build annexe to home
- 4 Dental practice plan move to business park
- 5 Family escape 'devastating fire' that ripped through home
- 6 Big Christmas lights switch-on arrives
- 7 Primary school plans for new town take step forward
- 8 Frustration for Ely City is United's gain as unbeaten home run ends
- 9 East Cambs Council bins green waste collections for seven weeks
- 10 Two-day operation to feature in episode four of TV series
The grandfather-of-three is survived by his wife Jean and three sons Martin, Simon and Arnie.
