Andrew John Armour

Andrew John Armour (“Sandy”) died peacefully at home in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, on 29 June 2019 at the age of 87. For the past two and a half years he had had heart failure, which he bore with stoicism, tenacity, and a remarkable cheerfulness. During this time he had received excellent treatment and nursing from his wife, Ann, the Tasburgh Lodge practice, and a dedicated team of carers.

Sandy was born on 5 September 1931 in Lincoln, the second son of Dr George and Mrs Freda Armour; his elder brother had died soon after his birth. He was educated at St Hugh’s School in Woodhall Spa and was among the cohort—along with his brother, Iain—that was evacuated to Ingleton, north Yorkshire, for their safety during the second world war. Iain still clearly remembers the caring support Sandy gave him after this event and also on train journeys when they were squeezed on to packed troop trains.

Unfortunately, during the summer holidays of 1943, on August 17 a fateful wind carried two parachute mines from the direction of Haltham, one of which destroyed the Royal Hydro Hotel (which stood on the present day Royal Square), resulting in two fatalities. The other landed in the garden of the original Tasburgh Lodge, where the local surgery now is, devastating the building and trapping Sandy, his brother, and their grievously injured mother. It is difficult to imagine the emotional impact on two young boys, aged 11 and 9, as they waited with their injured parent to be rescued from the ruins of their home, which might collapse at any moment. The bench on which they endured …