Roy Underdown was born and grew up in Kent, and after serving in the RAF during the Second World War, he came to Hamble to work as an instructor at the civil pilot flying school, Air Service Training.  He continued to work at the aerodrome when it became the College of Air Training in 1960, eventually becoming its Principal.  Roy was also an author of aviation textbooks for professional pilots, published internationally.

Roy was best known for his contribution to Hamble’s community life. He joined the Parish Council in 1970 and became its Chairman in 1972.  He was elected Chairman of the Council 17 times, therefore achieving the status of being the Parish Council’s longest-serving Chairman.

In 1982 he was elected to Eastleigh Borough Council and became Chairman of the Highways and Works Committee.

Roy died in 1994 at the age of 70, and subsequently the Parish Council’s new pavilion and meeting place, at the College Playing Fields, was named in his honour.  The last Parish Council Clerk with whom he worked particularly noted his tireless work for the benefit of the community and at his funeral it was said that he had squeezed as much into one lifetime as many of us would achieve in three.

© kind permission of Ian Underdown