Tributes to Fred Asbury
From ex-colleagues at CERL

Peter Worthington
Fred was a wonderful colleague and friend. Always kind and helpful, a pleasure to be with. I have known Fred many years firstly at CERL and later at Probus. The drive to CERL was a unique experience when Fred was driving with heads bowed when overtaking. Nonetheless he was still driving almost to the end.
A long and full life well lived, a fine example to us all.
Roger Townsend
For most of our time there, Fred was the oldest man in our Section and Division. As such he was a Father figure to us all. His cheerful disposition, knowledge of our industry and willingness to help and advise our younger members were all tremendous positives to our overall work and lives together.From my viewpoint he had a good life and his final departure came only after a month or so after going to a nursing home, so he probably had a good death. It is certain that we will all remember Fred and smile. We will do so because without doubt we all liked and respected him as a tremendous asset to us all.
David Gooch
Very sad news. Fred was a lovely chap.
Edmund Morgan-Warren
Sorry to hear this news. Fred was a very genuine chap, and always good company.
Thank you Roger for sharing this tribute to Fred. I'm sure you speak for us all.
John Darbyshire
When I first joined the Division, (some of) Jack Barford'sadvice to me was: "If you get stuck, just have a word with Fred". Fred was a "gentle" man in the truest sense of the word and will be remembered by us all.
Barry Brindley
So sorry to hear of Fred’s passing. Fond memories of him at CERL. He was a great guy with a wonderful sense of humour and was always so helpful with good advice.
Ed Metcalfe
I agree, a very appropriate tribute to Fred. He always had time and patience for us new arrivals in Materials Division in the seventies. I remember talking to Fred at the King Billy meetings and was always impressed by how active he was in U3A etc. A lovely man with a long and full life.
Stuart Brooks
My abiding memory of Fred is climbing to the top of the stairs by the lift shaft and seeing Fred happily puffing away on his pipe while considering problems associated with Esshete1250.
Well done Fred - good innings.
Birendra Nath
Roger you have penned a very fitting tribute to Fred.
It is sad to lose a friend and colleague even though I recognise that he had a long happy life and was in remarkably good physical and mental health right to the end. He was always so cheerful with a very genuine smile!
I recall him getting his notebooks out as he talked about his work on Alloy 800, Esshete 1250, etc. when I saw him as a part of my induction! He was never too busy to answer questions on austentics!
No wonder he was so popular on the U3A lecture circuit! Fred was a true gentleman and he would be sorely missed. We will no doubt raise a glass to him in King William!
Clive Horton
I’m very sorry to hear this sad news. Fred was indeed a lovely person and I totally agree with the tributes listed here. Fred did Materials Division proud.
David Goddard
My memories of Fred:
In1959 I joined CERL as a shy eighteen year old. I was placed in Fred's Group. I still have my memories of the kindly, helpful and positive guidance he gave me then. Fifty-eight years later Fred, seemingly unchanged (except for the addition of a beard), is addressing our Probus Group on 'Reflections of humanity in churches' illustrated with his fine photographs. A long and full life. I shall remember him for his voice, quiet, authoritative, but always with that little smile in it.
David Curry
Sad news indeed. Fred was a lovely man - cheerful, encouraging, friendly and helpful. I’m sure he’ll be remembered fondly, and missed, by all who worked in CERL Materials.
David Raynor
I was very sorry and saddened to hear about Fred's death. I used to travel with him in a car club from Horsham for many years and fondly remember some of his little eccentricities. He was always telling us about his early morning cuppa from his "Teasmade" machine and often kept us waiting whilst he emptied his tea leaves onto his camellias before setting off for work. He was always reliable and pleasant -- a thorough gentleman. The world would certainly benefit from more people like him. He will be sadly missed.

Peter Skelton
We have never received so many fond remembrances forcolleagues who have left us. Fred was a fine gentleman of the old school.
There can't be too many people whose garden retaining walls were strengthened by surplus lengths of Ni-based-alloy bar embedded in concrete. And thanks Fred for taking those superb photographs at the King Billy. I am sorry we couldn't agree over whether ‘mu-marks’ were preferable for micrographs, or stating the magnification in the caption. And I am really sorry that I never got round to testing that piece of Alloy A286 you gave me.

Denys Vaughan

When I joined CERL and came to live in Horsham Fred & Audrey were the first persons we met and Liz and I are very grateful for their many kindnesses. Along with Ted Smith and Terry Barnaby I became a member of Fred's car club. In those days it was sometimes easier to travel to Leatherhead on the back road through Rusper but inevitably with time the journey became boring. To counteract this Ted Smith, who had a competitive nature, devised a variation for the return journey. This involved putting the car into neutral at a particular point at the top of Rusper hill to see who could cruise the furthest before coming to a halt.
Fred was a founder member of the Probus club of Horsham Forest and was instrumental in enrolling most of the local CERL staff into the club. For many years Fred was one of the organisers of the club's monthly walks and it was fortuitous but appropriate that on the day he died the club walked from the Stepping Stones Inn over the Denbies Estate. This was one of Fred's favourite walks and possibly one which he pioneered.
Fred was always interested in our vintage car which was built in 1927 the year he was born. We were hoping that it would be possible to celebrate their joint centenaries together but it was not to be.