Victor Franklin

   Another name for Victor was Vic.

  General Notes:

ADDRESSES
1940 - 30 Grasmere Avenue, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire
1949 - 30 Grasmere Avenue, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire

Note: No addresses have been given post 1949 as Victor's widow is still living. If you need further information please e mail me

  Noted events in his life were:

• Birth: Born, 8 Dec 1924, Reading, Berkshire.
Information from England & Wales Birth Index -
Year: 1960
Quarter: 4th (October, November, December))
District: Reading
Mother's maiden name: Hawkins
Volume: 2c
Page: 553

• Apprenticeship: Reading Newspaper Co, 18 Oct 1940.
Indenture held

• Military Service: Royal Marines, 26 Jan 1943.
Volunteered as hostilities only regular
Royal Marines records held

• Military Discharge: Left Royal Marines, 23 Mar 1946.
Royal Marines records held

• Marriage: Married, 19 Mar 1949, Reading, Berkshire.
Marriage certificate held

• Heroism: Devon Newspaper Article, 1962.
Note: The full address has been removed from the following article

COLLAPSED AS HE WENT TO BATHE - SAVED

A 57-year-old holidaymakerwas pulled out of the sea at Exmouth yesterday by another holiday visitor after he had collapsed as he entered the water near Maer Rocks.

He was Mr. John Bates of 125, Wolsey Road, Harvills Hawthorn, Hill Top, West Bromwich. His rescuer was 37 year-old Mr. Victor Franklin of Reading.

Mr Bate's daughter saw her father fall forawd as he was wading into the water. Mr Franklin, who was swimming nearby, heard her calls and swam across to Mr Bates, who was lying face down in the water.

He brought him to the beach where another visitor, Dr. A Yule, of Aberdeen, applied artificial respiration until Exmouth St. John Ambulance arrived to take Mr Bates to the local hospital.

This morning, a hospital spokesman said Mr Bates's condition appeared to be satisfactory.

• Death: Died, 18 Jan 2003, Reading, Berkshire.
Death certificate held - died in Battle Hospital Reading, Berkshire
England & Wales death index information
Registration district: Reading
Registration month/year: January 2003
Register number: B10B
Entry number: 54

• Obituary: Reading Chronicle, 23 Jan 2003.
Note: The names of living persons have been deleted from the following obituary

RETIRED NEWSPAPER MAN DIES, AGED 78

A VETERAN of the Reading newspaper industry and a keen and talented fisherman - VIC FRANKLIN, has died aged 78.

Mr Franklin, who lived in Earley, spent his whole working career with the Reading Newspaper Company, publishers of the Chronicle. He worked with the company for 50 years until his retirement in 1989, by which time he had risen to become overseer of the composing room.

Born in Reading, Vic Franklin attended Battle School, leaving when he was 14 to take up a seven year apprenticeship with the Reading Newspaper Company.

But in 1943 his printing career was put on hold when he joined the elite Royal Marines.

He was among the first troops to go ashore on the Normandy beaches in the D day landings, where the invading allied forces braved intense gunfire from the defending German army.

After his military service Mr Franklin resumed his newspaper career.

He met his future wife while she was working at the Reading Chronicle, and the couple were married in 1949.

Away from his work Vic Franklin spent many happy hours fishing on the riverbanks around Reading and devoted even more time to his hobby after his retirement.

He died on January 18 and his funeral will take place at Easthampstead Park on Monday.

Mr Franklin is survived by his wife, their daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter.

• Burial: Cremated, 27 Jan 2003, Easthampstead, Berkshire.
Cremated at Easthampstead Park Cemetery & Crematorium

Victor married Living

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage: Married.
Marriage found on England & Wales marriage indexes

Full details not given asVictor's widow is still living - e mail me for further information