Henry was born, just a few hours after his twin brother William, in the very early hours of the wet and windy Monday of 16th March 1925. Considering the weather, quite apt to be born under the water sign of Pisces.
This West London family would now be complete. Henry & William, with elder siblings; Bess, Wilfred, Charlie, Ethel, Robert, & Michael. Henry's father Charles, a carpenter based at Old Oak Common rail yard, was employed by GWR. Charles an avid QPR fan, survived the First World War where at one time he'd fought alongside a Maori regiment in Mesopotamia. Henry's mother Mary was a nannie and had also worked alongside Lady Newbold helping the poor of London. Due to Mary's commitments as a nannie, their wedding was delayed until 1910 when Mary would return from France. Later in 1925 the ‘Came' family moved from the Ladbroke Grove area to Hunters Grove, part of the ‘Railway Estate' in Hayes Middx. In 1939 after Secondary Schooling, William & Henry were sent to the ‘Gordon Boy's Home’, a military school. Both joined the band. William learned to play the Piccolo, Henry the Clarinet. In early 1940 the twins performed and marched at the same event as the world famous Italian Opera singer Beniamino Gigli. William sadly died in November 1940 in a tragic accident at the school. Henry, Gordon Boy 5172, continued at the school until 1942. The Second World War had now been raging for three years. Having completed further training, ‘Merchant Seaman Henry Came’ sailed off to war, initially as a cabin boy, on the tanker ‘British Statesman'. Sailing up the River Thames, having loaded from docks at Tower Bridge, they entered the North Sea, known by sailors as ‘U-Boat Alley'. Henry recalled a voyage to Iceland as part of a convoy where their ship, having run into difficulty in the North Atlantic, was left behind. Drifting and at the mercy of a possible U-Boat attack, they waited many hours for a Royal Navy escort to return with help. In 1946 Henry sailed into the Japanese port of Kuri on the troopship RMS Strathmore. From here it was just a short train journey to Hiroshima where Henry witnessed the cruel effects of war first-hand just months after an atom-bomb was exploded over the city. Time moved on. Bill Hayley would ‘Rock Around The Clock’ and in mid-1950’s Hayes Town, love was in the air as Henry met Maureen. The Old Crown Public House was the backdrop to this romance. They were married in December 1955, the patter of tiny feet soon followed. Steven, the handsome one, was born in 1956, twins Tina & Bill born 1958 & Malcolm born in 1960. Maureen & Henry gave their children much love as well as warm memories of camping holidays to the South Coast, the Isle of Wight, Devon & of course, their beloved Cornwall. In fact, their love for Cornwall was manifested and in 1988, having retired, they ‘emigrated' to Newquay. Here they spent many happy years with sand between their toes. Their children made the most of this ‘happy hub'. Never tiring of holiday-trips to places such as Falmouth, Padstow and not forgetting St Ives, where Henry famously lost a tooth and a pasty to a hungry seagull. The ‘Came’ family would often be the first to arrive on the beaches, including Holywell Bay, and often the last to depart. Fun in the sun was had by all, often ended by sitting around a camp fire re-telling tales of old. In later years Henry showed his true strength of character when Maureen became ill. The loving care given to his wife knew no bounds. A cruel twist of fate meant Maureen never returned to the family home after a fall on the stairs. Hospitalised for over three months and then almost three months in a Bodmin care home, Henry became a ‘celebrity’ to nurses, patients and the public alike. He visited Maureen every day. Doctors waved, nurses smiled, porters ‘doffed’ their caps. His face, courage and charm was recognised on a daily basis. It was a happier place for all when Henry was present. He was even known for singing a tune during care home karaoke sessions. A once in a lifetime super hero, truly worthy of a million medals. Maureen passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in January 2017. Henry, although deeply saddened, carried on with his life. He was admired by so many. Always impeccably dressed. Henry exercised every morning, often to the sound of classical music. Henry loved apple pie, reading, watching cricket and the occasional ‘Western’ movie. He dearly loved his four children and their partners, his grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He will be missed.