CHARLES DETTMER
4/04/2008
My friend Charles Dettmer died on November 8, 2007, in Pickering House. He had been there only six days after six weeks in Epsom Hospital. He was aged 85, and had suffered five heart attacks and a stroke.
He had stayed remarkably fit and up until he went into hospital was still driving his car.
During the war he served as a staff-sergeant in the Commandos and lost an arm in the Salerno landing in Italy.
He had an interesting career, freelancing in Cambridge and Coventry, then on the staffs of the News Chronicle, Evening Standard, Evening News, Daily Telegraph, The Times and , finally, the Financial Times, where I met him. He retired in about 1987.
Charles was a strong character - a highly competent news sub-editor, who had worked on sport earlier in his career. He certainly did not suffer fools easily.
At his request there was no funeral and he was cremated quietly and privately. Friends will meet for a memorial dinner soon.
by Jim French