Mr Iain Winning

Resident of The Royal Star & Garter Homes, 1998-2016

Iain Winning was the longest serving resident at The Royal Star & Garter Homes, having lived in our Richmond and Surbiton Homes since 1998. We are very proud to have been able to provide the specialist care that Iain needed, and to share in the life of Iain and his family for many years.

Iain was born, in 1927, and schooled in Renfrewshire.  A gifted linguist, fluent in French and German, he earned a scholarship to Cambridge University in 1945 to read Modern Languages. However, Iain was called up for National Service and served in the Army until 1948, where he relished the opportunity to use his languages in their native countries.

After basic training and his first postings, Iain transferred into the Army Intelligence Corps in June 1946. He served with 415 Field Security Section, on the Dutch Border and in Germany, progressing to the rank of Sergeant.

After being demobbed in 1948, Iain was approached twice to join MI5. However, he chose the challenges of a career in the commercial sector as a merchant banker instead. He enjoyed the opportunity for world-wide travel and collecting memorabilia from his glamorous ‘Jet Age’ flights overseas.  Iain settled in Kew with his wife Vivien, where his family became supporters of The Royal Star & Garter Homes and attended many fundraising events at the Richmond Home.

Iain became a resident with The Royal Star & Garter Homes in 1998, after sadly suffering a stroke.  The Richmond Home was a good solution to meet Iain’s care needs, whilst helping him remain part of the local community he knew so well.  Living with The Royal Star & Garter Homes helped to preserve the military links which were so important to Iain, his father having served in the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War.  His father had manufactured prototype wheelchairs for the veterans of the First World War, one of which came to the old Richmond Home.

The Home also played an important part in Iain’s family life.  Iain loved entertaining friends at the Richmond Home and hosted family parties there, including a blessing for the wedding of his daughter, Louise.  It was a wonderful way for him to celebrate a key milestone in the family’s  life and fulfil his role as ‘the father of the bride’.

Iain sadly passed away on 7^th June 2016.  He will be remembered and much missed by his loving family and friends, and everyone at The Royal Star & Garter Homes.  Earlier in the year, Iain had generously shared his story in the Charity’s newsletter, supported by Louise, who spoke warmly of the Charity:

“The quality of the care and the kindness have always been at the heart of The Royal Star & Garter Homes.”