BELSOM, Sidney Ralph was born on April 9, 1918, in Faversham, Kent, England and passed away at home on December 9, 2010 at the age of 92, after a full and well-rounded life.
Sid is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, June; her children: Beth (Dennis Schmidt), Jean Campbell (Dennis Anderson), Bob Miller (Gail), and Terry Miller (Deb); 8 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren and one niece in Seville, Spain, Lynda Martin.
Sid served in the R.A.F from 1938 until 1947 in the U.K., Canada, France, Belgium, and Norway. Approximately half of his service time was spent on RAF High Speed Rescue Launches. He immigrated to Canada following the war and worked with the Department of Fisheries on the Laurier, then for 26 years as a steam fitter at the Port Hardy and Comox Air Bases.
Sid was a founding member of the Legion Branch in Port Hardy and served as Secretary for the Legion in Comox for many years. He was also a founding member of the Courtenay Natural History Society. Sid took part in Co-Val, and entered festivities such as the Nanaimo Bathtub Race and local parades with home-made steam powered vehicles, PoofyBelle and Poofmobile.
Sid and June traveled extensively. Everywhere they traveled, he enjoyed recording nature through his sketches and photographs. He also wrote detailed daily journals, and produced over 20 documents with photos and stories about his experiences.
Sid personified the consummate English gentleman: calm, considerate, and thoughtful, always thinking of others before himself. He made friends wherever he went, not seeking to be the centre of attention, but always the one that everyone remembered. He had a wonderful sense of humour - a sparkle in his eye, a song in his heart, and all of these were shared with the world in his whistling. He was an inspiration and role model for everyone, and will be sorely missed.
A memorial service was held on December 11, 2010. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, Box 1225, Comox BC, V9M 7Z8.