Richard “Dick” Arnott
Richard “Dick” Arnott
In memory of:
BORN
16/10/1943
SUNSET
13/12/2024
VENUE
Charles Prince Airport Club House
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In memory of:
9 Comments
Submit a Comment
I first met Dick when we joined Agricair in 2005, we worked together in the hangar, and shared an office for a number of years. Dick always seemed enthusiastic about his work whether it was fixing a plane, catching an animal, looking after a buffalo in Mazoe, growing bananas in Chirundu, and for the last 10 or so years building and flying model planes, but I believe he enjoyed the company of people most of all, always an absolute gentleman who said “good morning” no matter the time of day, and always had time for a cup of coffee.
I will always remember the long talks we had fixing the world’s problems over the many years, the assistance in the hangar and on the line, and when I was training and studying for my commercial pilot’s licence amongst other things, he was a good friend and will be sorely missed.
Brother Dick through the eyes of a young boy
Dick was about fifteen when I was born and I have a few memories that stick out and related to
practical advice. One morning, I must have been five or six, and was in Granny’s lounge. There
was a spot near the veranda door that was warm and sunny for a short while in the early
morning, it was a perfect place to play. I was repeating swearwords that I may or may not have
heard from an older sibling on the farm (who might that have been…?).
“Bloody, Bugger, Bastard, Bloody Hell, You stupid Bastard, some unrepeatable words…..”. Dick
heard me and said, “Johnny, those are “adult words” and you mustn’t use them until you are
grown up”. For years after that I never said any of those words in front of an adult.
Dick loved working with his hands and was very professional. Over the years he gave me many
tips in practical workmanship. Some time after the “adult words” incident, Dick taught me
something that I have carried throughout my life. I was playing in the same sunny spot in
Granny’s lounge with my Meccano set building “Flying Bombs”. The “bombs” were a few flat
pieces of metal held together with screws and shaped like an aeroplane. The screws were
haphazard and Dick showed me how to build the bombs more neatly. I asked him, “Why should
I build them like that, they’re just going to blow up anyway?” He went on to explain that a true
workman should be accurate, neat and always have pride in his work. Often when I am making
something I still remember this lesson.
All the members of our family had a wonderful sense of humor and Dick relished in absurdities.
He was the ringleader in endowing family members with animal names. Margie was “Ellie” the
Elephant, Dinese was a wallaby, so naturally her name became “Dish” (ask the older generation
about the dishwalla). Pete was a grasshopper, I was proud of being a nimble mountain goat and
I’m not sure if Dot was an animal. Dick, of course, was a big and powerful grizzly bear!
I have fond memories of Dick’s beekeeping, the taste of the fresh honey dripping from the
comb during extraction, Dick’s shack – with all the screws and paraphernalia, his cheerful
insults and passion for aeroplanes.
As I reflect on our lives, I am aware that many of us haven’t seen as much of our family as we
would have liked. I have been blessed with the wonderful opportunity of moving to a new
country, but there are times that I really miss the family. I am sure that Bernice and Alistair
have similar feelings, where they would like to pop over to their parents, cousins or “piblings”
2
(parents’ sibling) for a cup of tea. I think that we all agree that the strongest bonds are those of
family and the people that you grow up with. That is something that I miss greatly.
So what is Dick’s legacy? He was a delightful, warm person with a fantastic sense of humor. He
was a great husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, having touched many of our
hearts over the years. His immediate legacy includes his marriage to the wonderful Judy, their
remarkable children, Bernice and Alistair. Bernice and Alistair have in turn married Peter and
Monica, producing Josh and Alex. All of them have touched even more lives – lives of people
that Dick and Judy have never met. There are also all the other people that Dick and Judy
known or met over the years that carry a piece of them in their hearts. His legacy can be likened
to the ripples of a pond. Just as a stone thrown into water creates ripples that spread far and
wide, his actions and influence have touched the lives of others in ways that will continue to
resonate over time. Each decision or act of kindness have created lasting impacts that will ripple
through generations.
There is a quote by Mexican poet and Nobel Laureate Octavio Paz: "Each person dies twice: the
first time when they are deceased, and the second time when they are forgotten."
Dick, may you never be forgotten.
Our hearts go out to you all during this difficult time. Dick was an amazing person who made a lasting impact on so many lives. May the beautiful memories you shared bring you comfort and peace. You are all in our thoughts and prayers across the distance.
Sending you love, prayers, and comforting hugs as you navigate the loss of Dick.
From all the Whiteley’s in the UK.
Uncle Dick …
I will so miss your wonderful nonsense when I next make it back to Zim.
Aunty Judes, Bernie and Ali, thinking of you all so much.
Lots of love and big hugs.
Sending love to the family, you are in out thoughts and prayers at this sad time.
Lots of love Alllan, Alison and Jamie-Lee Manson-Bishop, Perth.
What a beautiful service. As Duncs said Uncle Dick was always a great favourite. He always had a joke to tell and a laugh to share which made him a joy to be around. He was much loved and will be sorely missed. R.I.P Uncle Dick.
His sister Dot is present in Zambia with her family and watching from the farm in Zambia. So sorry we were not able to be with you Dick and all your own family and all our family. We miss you and will always remember the good times we had together.
All our love, from Dot, Audrey, Alan, Daniella, Tracey and Renée
Thanks Duncs for a lovely service. Listening from Portugal and wishing I was there with you all. Love to all the family.
Love
Bernice
Dearest Judy, Alistair, Bernice and all the family
Barry and I wanted to say how terribly sorry we are to hear of Dick’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all and we know that Dick would have loved the celebration of his life, he would have chuckled at some of those stories. Barry and I loved our time on the farm with both of you Judy and we often talk of the laughs and experiences we had. Like the time Dick taught me to fish and I caught his cap, the dam wall and anything but a fish. Such a credit to his teaching ability.
Dick was a very special man, a true gentleman and someone who could brighten any moment.
We miss you both and always will. All our love Barry and Jax