Eric Southgate truly was a man of many talents – a baker turned firefighter, as well as a talented tenor, ballroom dancer and self-taught mechanic, there were few things he could not turn his hand to.
“Once we were on an airplane and the captain said, we can’t take off because the luggage hold is faulty,” said Eric’s wife of almost 55 years, Sue Southgate.
“So, Eric got out his little toolkit and he mended it – and he got a free drink!”
However, Eric often said he was happiest enjoying the peace and quiet of his and Sue’s boat, keeping an eye out for sunbathing seals at Felixstowe, the town they had retired to.
Eric was an Ipswich boy, born and bred. He was born on September 26, 1948, the only child of Grace and Geoffrey Southgate.
Eric grew up in St Matthews Church Lane, with the family moving to Rectory Road after demolition works started. Eric was always a gifted singer and became the leading chorister at St Matthews Church.
His mother had dreams of her only son working in a smart office, but being behind a desk never suited Eric. His first job was as a Saturday for Jennings Bakery, delivering bread early each morning with the roundsman, and after leaving school, he worked for the Footman, Pretty & Co department store, where the vacant former Debenhams building is now.
Eric did not settle here, and the owner of Jennings soon asked if he wanted to come back and train as a baker, and Eric eagerly accepted.
Sue hails from Dereham in Norfolk, and met Eric for the first time at a dance in Norwich, when she was 18.
“I felt like Cinderella at the ball,” laughed Sue. “It was like when you meet across a crowded room. I saw him and he saw me. We danced, and then he came to see me the next day in Norfolk. He didn’t have a car, he came on a moped once just so he could see me.”
It was love at first sight, and Eric and Sue tied the knot on June 5, 1971.
Eric left Jennings for Newstead’s bakery on the corner of Bath Street and Wherstead Road. However when rumours began to rumble that the firm may close, Sue encouraged him to retrain as a firefighter – her father had been a fireman and her brother-in-law was a retained fireman, so it was very much in the family.
Eric decided to go for it. He would spend the next 30 years responding to people in their hour in of need, a responsibility he felt keenly. He also bonded with his new colleagues, playing the cornet in the fire service band. He also continued to sing, joining the Ipswich Choral Society where he held the role of leading tenor for 13 years, and performed in Gilbert and Sullivan shows.
Even on holiday, Eric was still putting out fires – quite literally. Sue recalls one trip to Spain when they had gone ballroom dancing at a 10-storey hotel. Coming back from the bathroom, Eric was quick to let reception know that he had just discovered and put out a fire from cigarette in a bin. He was incredulous to be told that the reason the alarm had not sounded was because the hotel had switched it off.
By this time, Eric and Sue were parents to two daughters, welcoming Mandy in 1972 and Marie in 1975. Through Mandy, they are now grandparents to two grandchildren.
Wherever the family went, Eric could always be relied on to rise to the occaision. On one memorable trip, he and Sue were visiting the Greek islands, travelling by boat from Skiathos to Skopelos.
“When we got there, the boat broke down!” said Sue. “The captain said, we won’t be able to leave, I can’t get anyone out to fix it.
“So, Eric went down to the engine room. He was down there about two hours, and he fixed the boat.”
It was a running joke that Eric, with his big, bushy beard looked remarkably like a Greek sailor. This was entirely true, for the captain, wanting to repay Eric’s kindness, later arranged for him to be given a free meal – but inadvertently gave it to one of the shipmates instead.
Eric and Sue retired to Felixstowe in 2001, where the peace and quiet suited them down to the ground.
“We used to go up to Ramsholt, Waldringfield and Woodbridge and anchor up and have a picnic,” said Sue.
Eric died on February 22, aged 77, following a long illness. He and his family were very grateful for the support of Marie Curie and Rose Care for their support and compassion in the time leading up to his death.
To make a donation to Marie Curie in Eric’s memory, visit: ericsouthgate.muchloved.com
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