Passing away of Alan Gordon, Alan will be sadly missed by Ann, his wife and two daughters Jennifer and Angela, and by all his friends and colleagues. Military Survey and our Branch owe him a real debt of gratitude for supporting, recording and writing about our history and the part we have all played, and continue to play, for our country.

Our Branch’s most sincere condolences have already been passed onto Ann and his daughters, and we extend our thoughts to all his close friends. Biography

As attendance at funerals is severely restricted at the moment it is unlikely that arrangements are likely to include any of us, but any further information will be passed on. If you wish to really show your appreciation of what Alan has achieved you should order his book “The Regiment that Mapped The World”, this way his memory will live on. If not already done so you can order by emailing your intention to purchase as indicated in the attachment.

Alan’s funeral will be on 12th February at 4pm at Charlton Park Crematorium; however, due to Covid restrictions it will be family only. We have organised a live Webcast for those who wish to watch the service online and would be grateful if you could let any members of the REA or anyone else who you think would like to watch the service know and give them the link. People can either contact Maddocks directly and ask for the Webcast information or use the link below. https://sjmaddocks.co.uk/
We are also asking for donations to Bowel Cancer UK, again you can access the donation page via Maddocks website, https://sjmaddocks.co.uk/ and go to Current Funerals – Alan Gordon, or use the link below.

https://alangordon.muchloved.com

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Passing away of Audrey Kidney. I have been informed by Andrew Kidney that sadly his mother passed away at his home at Christmas time. She was the widow of Jimmy, whom many members will have known, and who died in 1999. Audrey had been one of our Widow Members ever since and had lived at Andrew’s home at Frome for some time.

Andrew, had received Noel’s latest newsletter, which brought back many happy memories to him also as he remembered Cyprus, Singers and then onto Barton Stacey, as a very young child and later as a lad.

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Passing away of David Smith.  It was with heartfelt sadness that Veronica (Ronnie to some) Smith informed me that her husband David, had passed away on Christmas Day at the Yeatman Hospital in Sherborne, Dorset. David had a fall at home causing Multiple Brain Haemorrhages on the 17 November.

There will be a private family funeral and a celebration of his life in the summer subject to Covid 19 restrictions at that time.

(Many will have known Veronica who had worked in the Repro Section at RSMS for about 30 years, and she and David were good supporters of the Mess at that time.)

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Passing away of Fergus Simpson. Ron Birch has informed me that Rosemary Litterick had called him saying that Fergus had died a few days before Christmas at his home in SW England.

Fergus was not currently a Branch Member but he was very well known to many, having been the SSM in 84 Sqn at the start with various positions at SMS and other units. He attended LEO Dinners in the early years, before sadly “getting too old to Travel”.

Ron says, he must have been mid-nineties and had been married to Pat for over 75 years.

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Passing away of Chris Robbins. Ann, Chris’ wife informed me that he passed away on 26 December 2019. He had been suffering for many years with a very rare malformation of blood vessels in the spine. Later after having an operation to try and correct this he suffered from a loss of feeling from the waist down and movement became very difficult. Chris loved attending the various reunions until he was physical unable. If anyone wishes to send Ann their personal messages but has lost her address, they can be obtained through Rod Siggs.

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Passing away of Richard, George (Tim) Holt.  James Butterworth and Andrew Thomas informed us that Tim died of a massive stroke on Sunday, 29 December 2019, whilst on holiday in the Czech Republic with his wife ,Ada. Repatriation of Tim’s body has taken awhile as has the paperwork of course but the funeral will be at Sawtry Parish Church 'All Saints' Sawtry, Hunts. PE28 5RD at 11:45am on Monday 2nd March 2020.

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Passing away of Ken Goodearl. Very sad to say that John Keda informed us that Ken passed away during the last week of January or first few days of February. Ken had lived well into his 90’s and those that have read their recent newsletter will know of Ken’s national service in 1948/9 with 42 Survey Engineer Regiment, when it formed for the first time in Egypt and, by his own admission, spent more time on leave than working. But he did keep a diary and some photos, a copy of the map he worked on etc etc and in writing his life history for his family he included a little about his time in Egypt. John Keda had first contacted him following a chance.

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Passing away of Rob Traynor. Ricky Braybrooke, very recently returned from a very smokey Oz, informed us that RobTraynor passed away peacefully at home in Wrougton, Swindon, on January 27th. His Family are pleased to announce they have carried out his wishes that his body is donated for research. There will be no funeral or memorial service. However, donations in Rob's memory to the Prospect Hospice, may be sent c/o Mead Family Funerals, 10 St John Road, Wroughton, Wiltshire, SN4 9ED  

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It is with great sadness that I have to inform you all of the death of Michael (Mick) Gowlett, who passed away, peacefully, earlier this afternoon. Mick had been our Branch treasure for some time and then supported Tony Keeley in acting as the independent auditors of the Branch’s accounts. Always an active member of the Branch he will be sadly missed. The family very much hope to arrange Mick’s funeral at Highclere before Christmas, and I will inform all as soon as this date and time are confirmed. Condolences can be passed via Mick’s stepson Derek Gandy email:- derekgandy@icloud.com

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Passing away of Ray Gourd died peacefully on 8 November, age 99. Ray will have been known to many who were at Barton Stacey in the 1970s through to 1985. He was responsible for the administration of the camps but for many will be particularly remembered for skippering numerous adventure training sailing trips. Always patient, calm and good humoured, even in adverse conditions, it was always a delight to sail with him, and frequently exciting as he culled the best out of yacht and crew.

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Passing away of Steve (Taff) Wright - I was informed, by Carol Winship (wide of Dave), of the death of Steve (Taff) Wright, a well known character and printer. He also died after a short illness from cancer on Wednesday 11th September.

Subsequently, the following message was posted on facebook from Dafydd:- Reference details of Steve (Taff) Wright’s funeral, please see message below.

Thank you so much for all the messages of love and support, following our sad announcement that Steve passed away last week, after a short battle with cancer.

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Passing away of Elaine Johnstone – Elaine, was the wife of Alex Johnson, and she died after a short illness with cancer on Saturday 31st August at West Berks Community Hospital, Newbury.

Alex told me that Elaine had been suffering from mesothelioma, which is a cancer in the lining of the lungs. It was caused by asbestos that she breathed in between 30 and 50 years ago!

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Passing away of Lt Col John Dowsett died on 6th August 2019. John was an air surveyor who began his career at Chepstow in 1970. He was a very popular individual who was always smartly dressed and a good rugby player who represented the Regiment. As a S/Sgt he did a tour as the Survey Specialist with BRIXMIS and latterly was commissioned into the Education Corps where he did exceptionally well, retiring as lieutenant colonel.

John, like many who had begun their careers in Mil Svy but had changed Corps, still maintained and interest and good links with Mil Svy. He had been a member of the Branch for a number of years and often attended our Branch functions and the LEO dinners.

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Passing away of John Murdoch. It is not known what technical trade John was, but he was a boy entrant and served during the period Oct 1944 to Nov 1953 and finished in the rank of Sgt.

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Passing away of Peter McMaster –Passed away at home in his sleep on the weekend of 18/19 May 2019. Peter, a former Major in Military survey and also a former Ordnance Survey Director General between 1985 and 1991 and their CEO.

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Passing away of Jim Fraser who sadly died back in July, last year. Jim, was a printer who I last knew of back in the late 60’s and early 70’s whilst in 22 Litho Sqn. He was a good footballer and if my memory serves me correctly played for the Regiment.

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Passing away of Bryan Tidy, of Chepstow group 64B, passed away on 22nd December 2018.

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Passing away of Ralph (Jock) Stockley, an Air Surveyor in the 60’s era of 47 Sqn at Barton Stacey, sadly passed away after a short illness in Nottingham hospital.

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Passing away of Tony (Boris) Borkowski, even more well known due to having served a full career as a Field Surveyor and then as the Map Reading guru at RSMS for a number of years, sadly passed away early evening on 29th April. He had been suffering for quite a while with a cancer which he tried to carry on with life and ignore. We often saw Boris at our Reunions and AGMs (which he had hoped to make this year again but was obviously too poorly), and living locally he was often seen in Newbury with wife Sue.

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Lost Friends

Full Obituaries List

Registry of Defeated Sappers of Ordnance Survey 1829-1892 13 Company