We have been written to by the family of David Stevenson with the sad news of his passing.

In Loving Memory of David Stevenson (Ret'd Major) who sadly passed away on 21st January 2025.

David was born in Portsmouth in 1930 to Ernest and Edith. He had two older brothers Cyril & Ernie. During his childhood he lived for a time in London and Fishguard, as well as a number of years with his aunt and uncle in Rowlands Castle. 

In 1941, whilst living in Rowlands Castle, he won a scholarship to attend Churcher’s College where he stayed until 1949. David joined the army cadet force, travelling daily by train and often carrying his rifle with him. He enjoyed playing in the cadet’s drum and bugle band and developed a love of military band music. He enjoyed his time at Churcher’s, was an active “Old-boy” and proud that his daughter Claire became one of the first girls to study at Churcher’s.

He voluntarily joined the Royal Engineers in 1949, the same year he met his late wife Beth, having spotted her ice skating on Petersfield Heath pond. Going on to join Sandhurst Royal Military Academy as a cadet in 1950, he passed out of Sandhurst in 1952, but no ceremony took place because George VI had died on that day, so his passing out ceremony eventually took place in April 2002 (50 years later).

After Sandhurst he went on a Young Officers course in Chatham, and later returned for a Junior Officers course, in the of spring 1957, as a young troop officer in the 25 Engineer Regiment. He was posted to Christmas Island, and while there he took part in Nuclear weapons testing, for which he was awarded a medal in November 2023.

During his time in the Royal Engineers they lived in many places including Osnabruck, and Famagusta & Hermitage.

David and Beth had two daughters, Diana and Claire, and in 1963 the family moved to Petersfield. It was also in 1963 that David had been given notice that he was going to the Directorate of Overseas Surveys to be seconded to the Civil Service and would be heading to East Africa, working firstly a year in Uganda and then going for a year to Kenya.

In 1966 the family moved again this time to Nottingham. Here David was Regional Officer to the East Midlands region of the Ordnance Survey for 3 years, and following that in January 1970 he was posted to 14 Field Survey Squadron in Düsseldorf. In 1972 he moved back to Feltham and the following year he retired from the army as a Major.

After this, he joined BKS Surveys as a Survey Manager which meant he needed to be based in Washington DC. From here he then went on to work for the company in the Middle East and Africa. He left BKS in 1977 and set up his own graphics and printing business back in Petersfield, which ran until 1993 when he retired.

In his retirement David kept busy volunteering at Uppark, as well as spending over 20 years as a guide at The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Dockyard. He was a keen photographer and a brilliant artist. He was involved for many years with both Petersfield Hi-lights and Petersfield Operatic Society, taking part in many of their performances as well as behind the scenes, contributing to the scenery displays, while also completing a degree in Heritage & Museum studies at Portsmouth University when he was 77 years old.

Beth passed away in 2020 and sadly, with David’s failing health, he moved into Eastfield nursing home in late 2021, passing away peacefully there on 21st January. He will be greatly missed by his daughters Diana and Claire, three grand-daughters, one grandson and two great-grandsons as well as his nieces and nephews.