Remembering 'Dick' Hubbard

Remembering ‘Dick’ Hubbard (1943 – 2023)

We might ask why ‘Dick’ when he was called Harry Thomas Hubbard.  The story goes that a relative suggested why not call him Dick then you’ve got them all: every ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’.

On 16th August 2017 Past President Dick Hubbard gave members of the Rotary Club of South Foreland a fascinating insight into his experiences and interests by talking about his large collection of articles, documents, photos, coins and other objects which were passed around as he spoke.

Dick joined the club in 1987 at a time when prospective members had to be interviewed. He had photos of many Rotary events as well as his framed Paul Harris Fellowship Award given to Rotarians for outstanding service to the community.

A copy of the plans for the brand-new Dover District Council Offices, looking more like a single storey hospital, was a reminder of local government reorganisation in 1974 and of Dick’s interest in and commitment to local government at parish and district level.

A well known character in the agricultural community of East Kent, Dick had an engineering background.  He still had the driving licence for Motor Vehicle Retail given for his apprenticeship years in agricultural engineering and motor vehicle maintenance.  A reminder of his first job with Ford at Invicta in Canterbury, was an advert for Ford tractors photographed locally and based on the then current slogan of ’go to work on an egg’.

Dick’s amazing collection of coins and stamps reflected his interest in and respect for traditional English values.  There were, for example, first day covers of stamps for many national and royal events, a Britannia 1797 replica penny, an original penny from the reign of George 111, and a £5 coin of George and the Dragon for Tristan da Cunha.  He also had commemorative reminders of World War 1 such as the 2015 Gallipoli campaign, ‘we shall never forget.’

One of Dick’s interests was speedway: he was machine examiner and a Marshal at Canterbury Speedway where Ted Hubbard was a rider.  Dick would set up Ted’s bike ready for racing.  Sadly, Dick’s daughter died some years ago, but he treasured an article about her when she was chosen, from many others, to fly the flag at Cardiff Millenium Stadium at the World Speedway Grand Prix in 2007.

A yellow Jordan Team cap was a reminder of the special present given to Dick by his wife Jenny for his 50^th birthday, a visit to the Jordan F1 racing car factory.

Dick showed us a photo of himself with his grandson Tom standing next to a tractor at the Weald of Kent Ploughing Match, probably in 2016.  This was significant as Dick ended his career selling Class combines and Tom is now doing the same.  Dick was well known at the East Kent Ploughing Match where he was a judge of the vintage tractor ploughing for many years.

At Dick’s funeral on 1^st August 2023, Robert Maylam gave a fitting tribute to all that Dick had done for his family, the local village of Lydden, the farming community and beyond. He belonged to a number of organisations, such as the Masons, Order of St George and Rotary. The church was full, with some people having to stand outside, a reflection of how he had reached so many people in his life.

Dick was a valued member of the Rotary Club of South Foreland, not afraid to speak his mind, forthright, caring and generous.