Frank Bickerton

By County Press Reporter - Friday, April 25, 2008
A LEADING civil servant who was made a CBE for his work in central government and who saw the sinking of the Bismarck, died at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, on April 12, aged 90.
Frank Donald Bickerton, the eldest of two, was born in Liverpool on June 22, 1917. He was educated at Bray Street Junior School and at Liverpool Collegiate.
After leaving school at 16, he attended evening classes to gain Civil Service qualifications and moved to London to start his Civil Service career with the Ministry of Health.
This led to a career in public relations, which led to him becoming the director general of the Central Office of Information, a post he held for three years until retirement.
In 1940, Mr Bickerton joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and served in North Africa. He was aboard HMS Dorsetshire returning from North Africa when it received orders to hunt the Bismarck. He was to witness the sinking and the rescue of some of its sailors.
He met his wife, Linda, an Islander, on a blind date when he was based at Milford Haven during the war, just before he was sent to join the Italian campaign. They married in Penzance, in July, 1945.
After the war, Mr Bickerton resumed his career as a civil servant at the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance, the Ministry of Transport and the Central Office of Information. In 1966, he was made a CBE by the Queen for his work in the Civil Service.
Mr Bickerton, of Diana Close, Totland Bay, was a passionate Liverpool fan and a keen gardener. He also enjoyed sailing in his own motor cruiser.
Mr Bickerton is survived by his wife, two sons and four grandchildren. His funeral was held at the IW Crematorium yesterday (Thursday).
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Frank Bickerton

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