Graham Kenneth Edmund McCall

20th December 1920 – 27th August 2020

GKE McCall was born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, the only child of Albert and Marie McCall.

He attended Ratcliffe College from the age of 9 until coming up to Queens’ College, Cambridge in 1939.  His memories of his time up at Cambridge were always positive, despite the interruption to his studies caused by WW11.

He served in R.E.M.E in Italy, France and Belgium attaining the rank of Major and married Lea van der Stock in Antwerp, Belgium in January 1947.

They both returned to Yorkshire where Graham joined his father at Churchill Redman eventually becoming Managing Director after the death of his father. The business grew and Graham and Lea eventually moved to Northwood, Middlesex.

They had one daughter, Andrea Lea, born in 1952.

In 1981 Andrea emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, and soon after that Graham and Lea decided to follow.

Graham and Lea bought a home at Mount Eliza, Victoria in 1984, a leafy seaside suburb about one hour from Melbourne and lived a full and busy life.  Graham had brought with him his pride and joy, a 1957 Bentley Continental which enabled him to travel around Australia and enjoy the wonders of Australia. They were both avid supporters of the Arts – from ballet to opera to drama and the fine arts.

His daughter became a Member of the Victorian State Parliament in the mid 1990s and he became very interested in the Australian political scene as well as being a rock and support to his daughter. 

Lea died in 2011 and Graham continued to live in the family home until a fall in October 2018.  He then moved to a facility close to home.  He died peacefully at the age of 99yrs and 8months on 27th August 2020 amid the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic.   He would have been disappointed he did not beat Bradman’s innings, but pleased he achieved such a great age!

He is missed deeply by his daughter and remembered fondly as the quintessential English gentleman. 

Andrea McCall

2nd March 2020