WWII veteran Roy Maxwell died in hospital on 4 April 2023 at the age of 101.
Roy Maxwell was born in Rhyl, North Wales on 21.2.1922 and was brought up on his Grandfathers Farm. He married Tegwedd and they had a daughter Jane. In 1976 Jane had Roy’s granddaughter Bianca in Iran and Roy and Tegwedd travelled out to spend a month with them.
Ever since he was a young boy Roy wanted to be in the army and aged 17 he joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers moving two years later to No4 Commando. As part of No4 Commando, he landed on Sword beach on D Day in 1944.
After the war Roy had a series of jobs working with his brother in law in construction, a garage, a department store and a builders merchants. When the builders merchants was sold to Jewson’s Roy stayed with them until he retired.
In later years when Tegwedd’s health did not allow her to travel, Roy enjoyed many holidays with his cousin in Spain and when he was 87 he made his first trip to Australia, travelling on his own to see an army buddy from No 4 Commando, a trip he made every year until he was 97.
Jane Daneshfar-Nia, Roy Maxwell’s Daughter said “Sadly Dad passed away after a 9 week struggle, during which he put up a phenomenal fight to try and get back on his feet and back home. He is now free of pain and is at peace. Thank you to everyone who has supported us through these difficult weeks. Bianca and I will be forever grateful for his love and support and will miss him more than words can say.”
Bianca Daneshfar-Nia, Roy Maxwell’s Granddaughter said, “I have always been so immensely proud of Grandad. He is loved by so many, and was a true gentleman, a man of integrity and a wonderful Father and Grandfather. He loved to travel, and we greatly appreciate all of the support from the Taxi Charity, that allowed him to have such fantastic experiences in his later years.”
Brian Heffernan, Chairman of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans said, “Everyone loved Roy. He joined us on many trips of commemoration to the Netherlands and Normandy and he was known for his charming and polite nature. He had a wonderful smile and always had time to talk to people. We will never forget the sacrifice he and his fellow WWII veterans made for our freedom. Stand down Sir, your duty is done.”
To find out more about the support the Taxi Charity offers to veterans or to donate visit www.taxicharity.org
About the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans
The Taxi Charity is run by volunteer London black taxi drivers and has been supporting thousands of veterans since 1948. It is the only Forces charity that focuses on providing fun and entertainment and arranges free trips (for veterans from all conflicts) to the Netherlands and France, for acts of commemoration and days out to museums, concerts, or social events across the UK.
2023 is the charity’s 75th anniversary, a remarkable milestone for a small, niche charity peopled by enthusiastic volunteers.
The charity received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021, an award approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the equivalent of the MBE for charities.
To fund and facilitate their work, the charity is reliant on donations, grants and sponsorship and launched a ‘75 for 75’ fundraising campaign to raise £75,000 in its anniversary year.
