David Keith West – The Man (written by Cherrill and Charlotte)
David was born on 8th March 1951 at home in Billingshurst, to Barbara and Stanley West. Brother Tim was born three years later. The boys shared a love of things mechanical and apparently digging deep holes in the garden. After the family moved to Horsham, David went to school at Trafalgar Infants, Greenway and then Forest Boys, with friend Kenny, he then became an apprentice Mechanical Engineer at Lintotts in Horsham, attending Crawley College, meeting friends Terry, and Francis, where he gained his City & Guilds Certificate. He won Apprentice of the Year, getting a watch and certificate, making his parents very proud. A highlight was the apprentices’s summer holiday to Lloret de Mar, the first time many of them had been abroad. There is a photo to prove it! Many in that photo are here today but the photo is not, luckily!
As a teenager, David discovered pop music and cars; he used to drive an old Ford Popular around his Grandfather’s farm, long before he was old enough to take his driving test, which he passed first time. His love of cars stayed with him all his life; their style and look rather than just their performance, although he did love a turn of speed when the opportunity arose. He never did develop a sense of direction to go along with his driving, so thank goodness for Sat Nav!
His musical tastes broadened to a love of American soul, and Tamla Motown, shared with Francis, and he loved to dance at the Starlight Ballroom, Crawley. He and his friend Laurie, whom he met at Crawley College, would go to Laurie’s house during their lunch break from College to play records. He then discovered and loved jazz funk and modern jazz and recently embraced music streaming to access and play the latest jazz discoveries, and went to various jazz festivals.
His other interest was art and design. His last two pieces of art are displayed here today. He was a very visual person and had an eye for style and was always well turned out, well groomed and stylish, from his choice of spectacles down to his choice of shoes.
He retrained in mid life and qualified as an Interior Designer and managed some local projects, also working part time for Don in his generator business, before the College asked him to became a Tutor, his high standards and helpful feedback made him a popular tutor with his students. He only retired this Spring. His love of mid 20th century design was fulfilled when he achieved his long term aim of refurbishing and styling a neglected 60’s house, when he and Cherrill moved to Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight, a place of many happy family holidays. They both enjoyed the project, as did their family and friends when visiting. After 3 years, the pull of Sussex meant that a return was inevitable and Chichester became their new base, and its amenities were much enjoyed.
The main loves of his life were Cherrill and Charlotte. He met Cherrill in the mid 70’s just as the disco boom happened and there was much music and dancing in their lives. They married in 1982 and were soul mates and each other’s best friends. Charlotte was born in 1987. He was a new man from the beginning, and happily became a house husband as it made sense as Cherrill’s career as an HR Manager was taking off. David was a true feminist and ahead of his time in supporting her. In the 1990s unlike today it was an unusual sight to see a father at the school gate. David never minded this, and embraced being a care giver to Charlotte, helping with homework, playdates and preparing dinner over 15 or so years. David was an unwitting feature in many of Charlotte’s after school games, including ‘Spying on Charlotte’s dad’ with lifelong best friend Holly. School holidays were filled with walks on Wiggonholt Common, bike rides on the Downs Link, visits to Southwater Countrypark, trips to Goring by Sea as well as not so glamorous adventures to ‘Do It All’ and ‘Timber World’! David will be remembered for giving many a pep talk to Charlotte after fallings out with friends or worries about studies, always encouraging her potential – never pushy – calmly helping her to see her abilities and that the world would be her oyster once she got to uni and out in the world. David was a true ‘cool dad’ – and Charlotte is proud to have had him as her father, never embarrassing but stylish and kind. Whilst Charlotte and David clashed more than Charlotte and Cherrill ever would, this was because they were so similar – wanting to be in charge, the same high standards, strong views, but also sharing the same outlook on life, interests and sense of humour. David was pleased that Charlotte had found a match in Joe – intelligent, creative and a fellow ‘new man’ - and after many years together, decided to get engaged only a month ago. He will be missed at their wedding, but was able to celebrate in their engagement.
A quiet and private man, he was self-contained, and very happy to spend time in his home and with loved ones. But in the company of friends, old and new, he was cheerful, chatty and confident, and he did enjoy good food and wine. He enjoyed the Sussex countryside, whether it be the South Downs or the coast, whether it be on a family walk or alone on his mountain bike.