RICHMOND RSL Sub-branch received a donation for its upcoming museum on June 26 with a framed commemoration of a Navy man’s service.
Petty Officer Laurie Crockford was the father of Richmond resident and dedicated Rotarian Barry Crockford. Mr Crockford senior served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1922 to 1946 and died in 1980.
Mr Crockford presented the framed medals and photo of his father to his club, Kurrajong-North Richmond Rotary, for safekeeping.
However the club’s president Geoff Agnew knew an even better place for them – the Sub-branch’s new museum, and so presented them to the Sub-branch’s president Ron Gray.
The medals will be displayed in the refurbished Les Kay Memorial Hall, being set up as a museum of military memorabilia .
Barry Crockford and his daughter Joanne were at the presentation, which was significant as Joanne had to leave immediately after to fly back to England.
Mr Crockford is a former president of the Hawkesbury Chamber of Commerce, and was recently made a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow for monetary contributions to the club.
On Sunday morning, we went to the Richmond RSL Sub-branch to give them the photo and medals of Barry's Dad.
It went very well with about 25 sub-branch members in attendance.
Geoff and Karen Agnew, Barry Crockford, Roma Moon as well as Barry's daughter Joanne and a friend came to see the presentation.
Geoff gave details of Petty Officer Laurie Herbert Crockford (1903-1980) who served in the Australian Navy from 1922 - 1946. He then gave the framed photo and medals to Sub-Branch President, Ron Gray.
The framed photo and medals will eventually hang in the Les Kaye Hall currently being refurbished as the Sub-Branch's museum.
