Albert Eley (4 May 1937 - 29 Aug 2015)

In loving memory of Albert Eley who sadly passed away peacefully in his sleep on 29th August 2015 at 78 years of age.
Albert will be sadly missed by his loving wife, Christine after 53 years happy marriage, sons Peter and Robert and their wives Maureen and Patricia, along with grand-children Joanne, David and James.
Albert was born in Chaddesden on the 4th May 1937 and has brothers Frank and Geoff, sisters Irene, Pauline and Maureen.
Albert trained as an apprentice French Polisher, a trade that both his brothers also pursued.
After his National Service in which he was briefly involved in the Suez crisis, Albert made his own way back to Derby from Malta where he was based, via Sicily and through Italy and Europe using the rail transport. An early indication of his adventurous nature.
After his marriage, he bought a small cottage in Darley Abbey and there his two sons were born.
Finding it hard to make ends meet, he left his trade for an new opportunity in Insurance sales and quickly rose though the ranks with his down to earth and caring nature that his customers appreciated. On promotion to a new area, he moved the family to a brand new house in Ripley and later to a larger detached house in Swanwick.
Looking for more independence, he decided to set up his own Furniture restoration business .
The business thrived and eventually on Albert's retirement, his son Robert, who had also been working in the business, took the business over.
On retirement , Albert and Christine pursued his love for adventure and travel, and took his motorhome onto the continent, travelling France and eventually settling in the Costa Blanca in Spain, where he would spend 9 happy years, making many friends, with his fun-loving attitude to life.
Albert loved to sail and wind-surf, and enjoyed the outdoor life, especially by the waterside.
Albert had a fascination of mechanics and would be intrigued to find out how things worked, and this led him to make and fly model aircraft.
Albert loved all kinds of music and was keen to learn musical instruments, although his talent did not match his desire in this area, although he had the greatest respect for those that had this talent.
Albert would help worthy causes and when the 1st Ripley Scouts built there magnificent new head-quarters he laid the wooden floors and put in the fixed benches that are still heavily used today.
When Albert returned to England, he settled in South Normanton, and was active in several clubs of people with similar interest and age.