Jimmie Gordon's 100th Birthday

Jimmie was born on the 12^th June 1920 in Hillington, Scotland- between Glasgow and Paisley. He was stationed at Ringwood in 1942 during the Second World War. Here he met local lass, Elsie, and worked for her father who was a builder.  In 1944 Jimmie became office manager for him. Later that year Jimmie married Elsie, and never returned permanently to Scotland. They had two children, Paul (1945) and Neil (1950) and moved to a bungalow in East View Road, built by Elsie’s father. He worked for Elsie’s father for twenty years, before opening his own wallpaper and paint shop. The shop included all the latest home fashions, as well as art supplies and works of art. The couple let the studio upstairs to a French gentleman to have the role as a visual artist; this operated for another twenty years until Jimmie retired from the shop.

Their two children both went to Ringwood School, followed by what is now called Brockenhurst College. Paul then went to London University to study law and worked at The London Metal Exchange. Whereas Neil was enthusiastic about art, and attended Bournemouth Art College, before going on to study for an art degree. Furthermore, he became an international designer working in London, but then transferred to the estate agency business.

In 1955 a group of like-minded Ringwood people got together to introduce the first ever Ringwood Carnival. Jimmie was on the procession committee which over the years led to him being in charge of the indoor and outdoor events. It was thanks to Jimmie that famous people came to open the procession. He had links with Southampton ITV securing Barry Westwood and ‘Trevor the Weather’. One-year Ken Dodd agreed to start the carnival in return for one bottle of champagne to give to his girlfriend, no fees of money were charged. Lionel Blair attended in another year for a gift of a teddy bear. Jimmie would always give thanks by giving these people a book of the New Forest. Jimmie was President of the Carnival for four years.

During this time Jimmie was also a member of the New Milton Round Table.  To bring activities closer to home, he was the Founder Chairman of Ringwood and District Round Table in 1959. Thirty people were interested in joining the new Club. This was followed by his involvement in the Forty- one Club of Ringwood of which he was founder Vice-Chairman. This still remains active today with a total of sixty-four members and Jimmie is a Life member.

Jimmie joined The Rotary Club of Ringwood on 24^th June 1967 and for three years was International Chairman. This involved working to fundraise with other organisations including the Ringwood Girl Guides of which he was a Trustee for a number of years.

As well as Rotary activities, his commitment to the town extended in other ways. He was on the entertainment committee of the Ringwood Conservative club and also in charge of the Neighbourhood Watch in Poulner for 14 years. Jimmie organised a Bingo session to raise money for Christmas parcels for the local elderly folk. This took place at the Regal Cinema owned at that time by Mr Beckett who hired the venue for free. Jimmie also used the theatre for a Midnight Matinee film and stage show called ‘Roar like a Lion’ to raise funds for the Carnival.

His committed support of cancer charity work began in 1964 with the British Empire Cancer campaign. The local committee was disbanded in 1976 due to lack of support, but Jimmie continued to put collecting tins around the town in shops, local business and private homes, Any donations given to Cancer Research UK in memory of the loss of a loved one received a letter of thanks from Jimmie on behalf of the cause. He believes it is always important to express a written acknowledgement of such gifts.

Cancer Research UK expressed their thanks for his commitment to the cause over many years by presenting him with ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ for raising over £200,000 in June 2010.