It is with great sadness we report the passing of Keith Warren Eaglestone at the age of 79. An Institute member for 55 years, Keith leaves behind his wife Jenny, his two sons Warren and Adrian, and his three grandchildren.
Keith began his career in the early 1960s as an assistant at Cheltenham Weights and Measures Office. He then moved to Gloucester Weights and Measures Office working under Jack Rees, where he qualified as a Weights and Measures Inspector. After a few years he moved for promotion to Northampton, returning to Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards as a Divisional Officer working for Maurice Chapman MBE. In this role he was instrumental in setting up and leading the service’s Special Investigations Team.
After further promotion to Assistant County TSO, Keith left Gloucestershire CC to set up his own consultancy business. In 1998 he founded the Company Orpheus Investments Ltd which is still registered after 24 years, and which brought Keith many new challenges – one of which was a contract to work at Slough Borough Council, where an initial one-year contract ended up with him working as Trading Standards Manager for 14 years.
In that time, he and his team successfully faced many difficult issues. It was no surprise therefore that when the team applied for Charter Mark Status, it was awarded first time. Keith retired from Slough BC in March 2014 at the age of 70.
Those who had the privilege to work with Keith know all too well what a professional he was. He was a natural motivator and leader. He was inspirational and would get the best out of anyone. He was the manager and leader that others aspired to be.
Outside of work Keith’s passions – apart from his family – were cricket and golf. He was an outstanding cricketer, playing mainly for Cheltenham Cricket Club but always ready to help out other local teams.
One of Keith’s key strengths was the effort he would put into staying in touch. He preferred to do this by phone, not text. One would answer the phone to hear “Keith here, how are you?” If you called in to see him, it wouldn’t be long before a gin and tonic was in your hand followed by the clink of glasses to Keith’s “Chin chin”.
So Keith, wherever you are, chin chin – it’s been a pleasure, you will be missed.
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