Causes champion Craigie dies aged 89
A church reader who gave decades of service to a Black Country town has died aged 89.
Charles Bedford, known by middle name Craigie, was a postmaster at Dudley Post Office HQ from 1969 until retiring in 1980. Born in Belper, Derbyshire, he championed causes in Kingswinford where he lived since the 60s.
He was president and trustee of Kingswinford Community Association and a co-ordinator of a Neighbourhood Watch near his Court Crescent home.
He died of prostate cancer at Oaklands Care Home, Wartell Bank, Kingswinford, on May 3.
Margaret Hickman, 77, said she and husband, Don, befriended him and his wife, Dorothy, after attending St Mary's Parish Church, Kingswinford, weekly. "Craigie was a committed Christian and he was still going to church every week right up until January when he was first taken into hospital," she said.
He was licensed as a Church of England reader and did this at St Mary's. Dorothy and Don died in 1992. Mrs Hickman and Mr Bedford holidayed in destinations including the former Yugoslavia, which he enjoyed so much he joined the British Yugoslavia Society.
Mr Bedford, who began work for the Royal Mail at 14, was a life member of Kingwinford and District Organ Society. He served more than six years in Egypt in the Royal Corps of Signals. Four years ago he was presented with a plaque for services to the community by West Midlands Police. His funeral is at St Mary's tomorrow.
