Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 120

Image details

Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
Book page
Chapter head
Chapter key
Chapter number
Full title RAOC Gazette
Page number
Publication date 1978
Real page
Colour No
Grey No
Early date 1978
Late date 1978
Transcription death has taken away the benefits of a well-earned second
retirement, All who knew Peter will mourn his passing and
wish to extend heartfelt sympathy to Wendy who has been
such an untiring and willing helper throughout, and to their
family both here and in the USA-
MAJOR E. C. RIDLEY
BRIGADIER F. 5, GOODWIN writes: —
His many friends in the Corps will be very sad to hear of
the untimely death of Clifford Ridley, Clifford was an extremely
popular man whose kind and patient understanding of other
peoples problems, both young and old, endeared him to many
throughout his Army Service. This fine trait was obviously
recognised in Scarborough where, following retirement, he had
settled down with his wife Chris and son Simon, and was
thoroughly enjoying a successful career in the antique business,
He had made many more friends both socially and in business,
who were equally shocked at this sudden loss of a trusted and
dear friend. Our thoughts and sympathy are with Chris and
Simon in this time of sorrow.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL G. R. S. LOVE
LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEOFFREY ROBERT STUART
LOVE died on the 6th of February at his home in Perthshire
aged eighty eight years. Commissioned in 1914 he retired from
the Corps in 1948. A regular subscriber to THE GAZETTE over
the years it is perhaps fitting to record what THE GAZETTE
said of this popular all round sportsman in the edition of
April 1927, after congratulating the then Captain Love on
winning the Northern Command Squash Rackets Champion-
ship. t4
It is of course as a cricketer and tennis player that
Love is most familiar to us, and, though many will not need
the reminder, perhaps a few words may be said about his
performance in these branches of sport. In the former game
his forte is bowling, but he can also, as we all know, bat a
bit. He has played regularly for the Corps team from 1920
to 1926, and was a member of the Depot team which won the
Portsmouth Garrison Cricket Cup in 1924. He has played
also for Middlesex County, for the Southern Command in
1924, and the Northern Command the following year, for the
US (Portsmouth) and for such first class clubs as the Hamp-
shire Hogs, Hampshire Rovers, Trojans and Yorkshire Gentle-
men.
His great season in Lawn Tennis was m 1922 when during
the Corps Week at Roehampton he won the RAOC Handi-
cap Cup and, in partnership with Colonel H. S. Bush, the
Handicap Doubles, the same pair being runners-up in the
RAOC Open Doubles.
During his service in Kantara in 1919, he was perforce
confined to football in which game he captained the RAOC
league team, and to swimming in which he won the RAOC
Officers* race, while three years before he established what is
regarded locally as a record by swimming across Milford
Haven and back."
CAPTAIN R. W. SIDER writes: —
I first met Brian Thomas when 1 was a WSO and he joined
the RAOC Planning and Work Study Unit. We immediately
struck up a friendship with our common interest being soccer
and we were ardent supporters of the local German side
Borussia Moenchengtadbach. Brian's vast knowledge of all
aspects of Ordnance were truly amazing. In addition, he was
a great authority on stamp and coin collecting. He was for-
ever cheerful and had one of the keennest sense of humours I
have ever encountered His services as a hockey umpire were
in constant demand. His sudden passing has been a great
loss to the Corps, and to me, a personal friendship which I
treasured has been severed. I am sure that all members of
P and WSU and other members of the Corps who knew Brian
as I did join with me in offering his wife Jean and family our
very sincere sympathy in her tragic loss.
PRIVATE JOHN REIDY
CAPTAIN J. J. BOLLERS writes: —
I first^knew Private John Reidy when he served at COD
Bicester in 1973, He died on 16th February of injuries sustained
in a traffic accident at Wulfen, BAOR. He was always a cheer-
ful, willing and reliable soldier.
He supported all Unit activities and was very popular
among his fellow soldiers and the civilians of Wulfen Station.
A devoted family man he will be sadly missed by his wife
Sheila and daughter Michelle, and by his family in Middles-
brough.
All members of Wulfen Station join me in sending our
condolences to his wife, Sheila and her daughter.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
BENSON.—Staff Sergeant Ian Benson, his wife Margaret and
children thank all friends and colleagues for the floral tributes
and letters of condolence sent on the tragic death of their eldest
son Andrew, aged eighteen, who died on the 21st February 1978,
and was buried at Rheindahlen Military Cemetery on the 27th
February 1978.
WOl B. D, THOMAS
WO\ J. GREENHOUSE writes:—
It was with a deep sense of loss that I learned of the
sudden death of Brian Thomas. Brian died on the evening of
9th February 1978 at the early age of forty one.
I first met Brian in early 1959 while I was undergoing
National Service training at Blackdown. Our friendship was
renewed and firmly established during the three years we spent
together as instructors and close neighbours at Blackdown between
1965 and 1968.
We met briefly over the years, on several occasions. We
had kept in touch and were delighted to renew, once again,
an old friendship, when Brian joined us at Guildford in 1976,
Brian's vibrant personality was obvious to all he came into
contact with. He always set the highest standards and from
this we have all gained much.
Brian f Thommo * to his many friends) will be sadly missed
by us all at Guildford and by his multitude of friends through-
out the service.
To Jean and his sons David and Mark we offer our deepest
sympathy,
— 338 —
RAOC Assurance
Association
18 Chequers Square, Uxbridge, Middlesex
Tel. (STD 0895) 53444
2 $ Discount - special scheme
Motor Insurance. Available to all
Corps members.
Life Assurance — protection iot
your family or saving for the future.
House Purchase — buying now or
in the future. Which Building Society
to choose and how much to save,
Preferential Interest rates available
to regular savers.
Book number R0246a