In Memoriam.

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Roy Standen - Timeline

31 August 1935 Born on Blackdale Farm in Darenth Dartford Kent to Frank and Emma Standen.

1940-1950 attended schools in Bexley. As a young boy during WW2 raised funds for the Red Cross and St Johns and received a letter of recognition from the Duke of Gloucester .

1949 Joined Dartford Sea Cadets, and was a member all his life.

1950 Employed by J&E Hall as office boy, going on to complete an Apprenticeship as Tool Maker and endorsed Draughtsman by age 21. Attended evening classes.  During this time the Company sent him to the Outward Bound Sea School at Aberdovey where he was fortunate to have sea training from Captain Dove from Shell Mex of the River Plate fame.

1956 Joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinance Artificer serving on HMS Adamant, HMS Explorer (submarine), and HMS Undaunted at sea, having been trained on land at HMS Royal Arthur and HMS Excellent.

1958-1964 Served in Royal Naval Special Reserve.

1958 Married Barbara Plews in Trinity Church Dartford and purchased a house in Dartford near Halls.

1958-1968 continued to work at J&E Halls

1961 Daughter Susan born.

1968 Promoted to Lieutenant Commander (SCC) RNR following years of being an Instructor and Commanding Officer of Dartford Sea Cadets.

1968 J&E Hall were taken over by Otis Ltd and roles held: Sales Manager,  Service and General Manager West  London, and finally Director of Major Accounts.

1981 First holiday trip to Piesport Germany, travelling to Germany 2 or 3 times a year to date.

1983 Invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party for services to Sea Cadets.

1984-2000 Ran the Otis UK team sailing until 2000.

1986 Joined Rotary Club of London. (first club to be chartered outside of US)

1988 Moved to Swanley and his Father moved in with him and Barbara.

2001-2002 President of Rotary Club, raising funds for Sea Cadets and met The Duke of Edinburgh.

2002 retired and since then:

Chairman of the Kent branch Marine Society and Sea Cadets, Secretary of the Chatham Naval Officers Association,  The Tunbridge Wells Twinning and Friendship Association, the care for St Anns Church  committee Lime House, The Orpington sketch Club and Vice President of The West Kent Sea Cadets Sports Committee.

2023 Received a card from The King for 65yrs of marriage to Barbara.

Passed away 23 July 2024

Other hobbies: Oil and watercolour painting, the German language, coin collecting, gardening and DIY.

The above information was kindly provided by Roy's daughter Susan Hayzer.

Letter from Geoff Farge to Susan Hayzer :

Dear Sue,

I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your father for whom I had the greatest admiration and respect. I am sorry too, for being unable to attend the funeral and wake last week, I send my sincere condolences to you and your family.

I had many good bosses in my 37 years at Otis but your father is unquestionably top of the list. He was highly respected by both his colleagues and customers. It seemed to me that any challenge he faced, Roy met with passion and enthusiasm, with a calmness that belied the magnitude of the task and as my manager and latterly director he was more of a father figure and always dealt with staff concerns with compassion and understanding.

When it came to individual customers Roy was not only highly respected, but he was also, to many, a friend. All issues were handled with sensitivity and discretion. His negotiating skills both internally and externally were exemplary. Roy was masterful at balancing customers’ needs and expectations with the available resources and often obstacles within Otis. Rarely were customers left wanting.

Roy’s activities outside of Otis with the Sea Cadets were legendary and he used his extensive nautical experience in organising and running Otis UK’s association with the Elisha Graves Otis sailing trophy. He even turned an amused blind eye to his secretary Denise’s constant referral to the event as the EGO trip! It was Roy’s passion for the sea and encouragement that influenced my own relatively small but very memorable involvement in some of the domestic regattas.

I remember Roy as a calm and measured man, a role model for his team. I do not remember a time when Roy lost his temper and if there was such an instance, he must have had good reason – despite me erasing it from my memory.

I can say without hesitation that I am proud and honoured to have known and worked with a fine gentleman and Otis statesman - Roy Standen, your father.