As many of you know Noel, Pattaya resident and senior member died in Bumrungrad Hostpital on 18th November.

He was born in Newbury Berkshire, my home town and I have known him for the best part of 30 years.

Those of you who knew Noel either personally or by his posts on this forum may be interested to read the following obituary which was published in the Newbury Weekly News today, 14th December 2006.

"Noel Thomas, or "Dewi" as he was known to his friends and family in the UK passed away on 18^th November 2006 whilst undergoing surgery at Bangkok's Bumrungrad Hospital.

He was born and educated in Newbury attending St Bart's School. The family moved to Dolman Road where he lived for much of his childhood with father Mike, mother Audrey, brother Wyn and sister Mair.

On leaving school he joined Prestcold as a trainee accountant and studied in the evenings to obtain his professional qualifications. In 1981 he made the move to Rank Xerox working at their offices in Uxbridge and Marlow and after several promotions achieved the position of Leasing Manager. The company deployed him in this capacity in Zurich where he worked for 18 months and then in Hong Kong on an assignment setting up a leasing division.

The recession of the early 90s brought an end to his career at Rank Xerox. During his working career he had been financially astute, a trait inherited from his mother Audrey, and he made the decision to move abroad permanently and make Thailand his home.

Dewi had a particular affection for the people and the country having enjoyed holidays in the Kingdom. He bought a house in Pattaya on the Eastern Seaboard of this tropical country and chose to live his life effectively in early retirement from the age of 39. He quickly integrated with the expatriate community and built a network of friends many of whom attended his funeral last month.

He was active as a journalist in Pattaya. He would contribute humorous articles describing his take on Thai society to local publications and was a prolific contributor to Internet Discussion boards with local interest. Above all he gained a great deal of respect for his tireless charity work raising funds for the Camillian Centre in Rayong, a hospice for sufferers of HIV Aids. Such is the respect shown to him for his work the appeal has now been renamed "The Noel Thomas Jaidee Appeal".

Appropriately it was the principle of the Camillian Centre Dewi's good friend, Father Giovanni Contarin who conducted the Christian part of the service on 25^th November in Wat Bunjantanaram a Thai Temple in Pattaya, Thailand, the country he had made his home for the last 13 years of his life.

Dewi was survived by his fiancée Wan, Audrey, Wyn and Mair."

I only met Noel on a couple of occasions but he was a nice guy.

So sorry to hear of his passing.

I have just searched this board and read many of the posts on the subject. I see he made quite an impact here.

Bob, a very fitting obituary; though knowing Noel as long as you have, if you dig deeper into your photo collection perhaps you have a more fitting photo; one in which Noel would perhaps have chosen for himself as a farewell parting?

Regards,

Steve.

Edit: Just come in off the piss! :-)

Chopper - let me just take a look to see if I can find that picture.....

Ah yes....

Thanks for that.

Really nice to read, a lot of us who have not met Noel have only recently heard the real extent of his good deeds in Thailand.

Its now nice to know a little more of the man.

redrus

*Just seen the photo.... :D