We're very sad to announce that our Vice-Chairman, Gordon Chambers died on 10th August 2026 after a long illness, stoically endured.
Gordon was a local lad and a keen supporter of The Saints. He was born and brought up in Dibden Purlieu, attended Dibden Primary School and then Noadswood Secondary School. After leaving school he joined Hovercraft and worked there from 1964 to 1990. He then worked for British Gas and Cromwell Tools.
After retiring, he was a tireless Vice-Chairman of Waterside Heritage. His major work for the last three years was completing the book on the history of Dibden Purlieu started by our late Founder and Chairman, Graham Parkes. He was enthusiastic about the work and wanted an index, more pictures and fewer words than our previous two publications. He had reached the stage of selecting photographs to include when he went into hospital.
In addition, Gordon was Chairman of Hythe Historians which met every month in the Hythe and Dibden Community Centre. To both these roles he brought immense local knowledge and common sense enlivened with a puckish sense of humour. He was also in demand as a speaker on various aspects of local history. We at Waterside Heritage will miss him and our condolences, sympathy and best wishes go to his long term partner, Shirley.
This leaves Waterside Heritage with a number of new challenges. First we need a new Vice-Chairman. Any volunteers would be welcome. Then, we need to complete the work on the book as part of his, and Graham’s, legacy – it was expected later this year but will now probably appear next year.