Archibald Thomas Ridout (Tom)
Archibald Thomas Ridout (Tom) 1922 ~ 2021
Loving husband of Ann, beloved father of Amanda, Lucy and Charlie and a much loved granddad of Thomas and Ella.
If you would like to donate to a charity in memory of Tom, these are the charities we have chosen:
Bournemouth and Wessex Talking Newspaper
Produces fortnightly recordings of news taken from different Dorset newspapers and delivers them free to visually impaired people on tape, CD or memory stick. Tom was a volunteer reader for this charity.
The Kingcombe Centre and Nature Reserve
A local nature reserve and activities centre run by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Tom was a volunteer advisor for this charity.
Service Details
This funeral is private at the family's request. However you are able to send a message of condolence or leave a donation if applicable.
Gallery
It was always a great pleasure to visit Worgret and talk to Tom about a wide range of topics including our mutual interest in schools. Ever the kind and courteous gentleman with a wry sense of humour; we will miss him.
Moira Laffey and Paul Jeffery
A beautiful man, and a fabulous grandad.
The most selfless man I have ever come across, with the kindest soul.
We will all miss you very much;
Rest peacefully Grandad xx
Tom, known as Tommy to us no doubt from Navy days, was a very dear friend of my father David Bett. Our two families have remained close ever since, spending great times together as we all grew up. I have great memories of weekends in Dorset, staying in the house (which I always thought was incredibly modern and cool) with us children playing, while the four adults chatted into the night. I know my mother Rosemary really appreciated the friendship that Tom and Ann gave her, especially after David, her husband, died. She looked forward to her visits from Jersey to England, always including a visit to Dorset. He was godfather to my brother and gave him great support also when he lost his father. Your family and ours are entwined over the generations and its our privilege to have known Tom. He will be missed. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts are with you all at this time.
It’s a very long acquaintance that has now come to a sad end. We have known and visited each other innumerable times in England and Sweden ever since 1946 when you, Ann, came to us in Sweden during the summer and we got to know Tom some years later. We have followed each other all through the years and have always had so much fun.
My thoughts will be with you all on the 3rd of September.
/ Margareta
Tom became a good friend to my family and me during his days as Bursar at Edinburgh House Prep School. When asked if he enjoyed being the Bursar, his reply that ‘one needed asbestos pants,’ said with a twinkle, summed up his acute acumen and wry sense of humour.
Such a kind and considerate man, he will be greatly missed by many.
Tom was a very special man to all our family. I knew him literally all my life and my parents, Paddy and Urcher, and my grand parents, Kathy and Cecil, knew him from when he met Ann. I loved the time I spent as a child in Dorset with the whole family and enjoyed my journeys from London with him on the train. I remember the joy of persuading him that Amanda and I could sleep in a home made tent in the garden!
He was always very kind and thoughtful and I feel privileged to have known him.