Obituary of John Derek Haikings

HAIKINGS, John Derek, age 88, passed away on January 14, 2017 at Parkland at the Gardens, Halifax. Born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, he was the son of the late George and Elsie (Clough) Haikings. He was evacuated to Canada in September 1940 at age 12 under the Children’s Overseas Reception Board scheme to escape the German blitz and the expected invasion of England. Arriving at Halifax’s Pier 21 on the RMS Nova Scotia, he spent five war years with two Nova Scotia foster families; Mr. & Mrs. K.A. Forbes and their son Ken of Halifax and Mr. & Mrs. A.D. Pickett and their son Eric of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. He returned to England through Pier 21 in July 1945 aboard the S.S. Pasteur. Looking for adventure he join the Royal Navy. He served on a fast destroyer, HMS Verulam, on the Palestine Patrol intercepting illegal immigrant ships during the last year of the British mandate in what is now Israel. Leaving the Royal Navy in 1949, he attended Leeds College of Technology, but was determined to return to his beloved Nova Scotia. In 1952, he returned to Canada as an immigrant again arriving in Halifax at Pier 21 on the ship, Queen Frederica. After working in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and British Columbia, he attended Acadia University in Wolfville and received his BSc in 1957. He joined the Federal Department of Public Works, Halifax office, in 1959 serving 34 years as a Project Manager in Marine construction. During these years he travelled to almost every harbour on the Nova Scotia coastline carrying out dredging and construction projects. From 1970 to 1972 he was involved with the beach oil cleanup in Chedabucto Bay after the tanker ‘Arrow’ oil spill, and northeastern Cape Breton after the sinking of the oil tanker ‘Kurdistan’ in 1976. He worked in construction in Stephenville, Newfoundland, and from Meat Cove to Cape Sable Island, N.S. Retiring in 1993, he was awarded the medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canada Confederation for service to Canada and Canadians. He retired with his wife to Annapolis Royal. He was proud of his Yorkshire and Viking heritage. He was a member of the Order of Good Cheer, Port Royal Branch No. 21, Royal Canadian Legion, Historical Association of Annapolis Royal and the Kings Theatre Society. He enjoyed many years of retirement travelling to his hometown annually. He also loved to watch the antics of wildlife on his property at Annapolis Royal. He is predeceased by his wife Margaret Longley, of Bridgetown and sister, Anne. Survived by two sons, Michael (Lynn Huntley), and David and two granddaughters, Elizabeth and Abby, of Halifax. Visitation will be held from 3-5 and 7-9 PM on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 from the Kaulbach Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Annapolis Royal. The funeral service will be held 2 PM Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at St. George and St. Andrew United Church, Annapolis Royal with Rev. Elizabeth Becham officiating. Reception to follow in the church hall. Interment will be held in Riverside Cemetery, Bridgetown. Donations in John’s memory may be made to Prostate Cancer Canada, Atlantic Region, 1809 Barrington Street, Suite 810, Halifax, N.S. B3J 3K8 . Online condolences may be sent to www.kaulbachfamilyfuneralhome.com