Page 175 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

Mike Kasai passed away on 29 July 2020. Mike enlisted into 17/21 Lancers on 14 Sep 1955 and transferred into the APTC on 14 Feb 1964. He reached the rank of WO2 (QMSI)
and was discharged in Mar 1978.
Mike had no next of kin or family when he passed away and the following eulogy was very kindly written by Mr Stuart Holden for which we are most grateful.
Mike Kasai walked into St Luke’s church in the summer of 2009. My wife Christine was the church administrator and met him when he was in a distressed state having recently lost his wife in July that year. She listened to him and gently pointed him in the direction of another widower in the church and also suggested that the Saturday morning coffee break held at St Luke’s might be helpful to him.
I was a volunteer at that coffee break for about a dozen pensioners, when Mike walked in; he soon became a regular, relating to other old soldiers, putting the world to rights and engaging in lively discussion!
As I got to know him, he shared his life experiences in the Army and how he met and married Phyllis later in life. They had no children, but it was clear he had been devoted to Phyllis.
Mike was born in Stepney East London; his father was a Japanese merchant seaman and his mother was a Londoner. Sadly, his father died when Mike was 2 years old, his mother was homeless and unable to care for him so Mike was received into the care of London County Council. Mike then lived in several residential
children’s homes until he finally joined the Army which brought structure and stability to his life. He travelled the world, was a boxer and physical training instructor. When he retired from the Army he worked in the middle east before returning to Britain where he had several jobs with security firms.
My memories of Mike were of a man who had looked after himself very well after a difficult childhood, had been devoted to his wife in later life, had a good story to tell, enjoyed the horses , and underneath the prickly surface was a soft-hearted man who cared deeply about doing the right thing .
I smile when remembering him!
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MIKE KASAI
EX WO2 (QMSI) ROBERT TRENHOLM
Robert Trenholm, passed away on 17 January 2021. Robert enlisted in the Royal Engineers on 21 August 1958, transferred to the APTC on 1 May 1959 and was a
member of the APTC Gymnastic team; he was discharged as a WO2 (QMSI) on 01 August 1973.
Robert Kindly left a donation in his will for the RAPTC Association for which we are most grateful.
Tony was born in August 1933, and passed away at home in Montrose, Scotland on the 27th Oct 2020.
A service took place at St Margaret’s R/C Church Montrose and he was buried in the small country churchyard of Inverkeilor on the outskirts of Montrose on the 5th Nov in the presence of his family.
He was born in Woking, raised and schooled in the town. He joined the RADC as a National Serviceman in November 1954 and re-enlisted as a Regular in September 1955.
On transferring to the APTC in October 1955 he had a number of postings both in the UK and
overseas, with 2 tours in BAOR and one in Malta. His final appointment was in the UK. He was discharged at his own request in August 1977 as a WO2 (QMSI).
On leaving the army in 1977 he took an appointment at the Grosvenor House Hotel managing the gym and swimming pool.
In 1978 he went to work for the ruling family of Dubai running their office in London. This included overseeing all their properties in UK and Ireland and taking care of all the requirements of the family. Annual visits to the Emirate were most enjoyable and he continued in this role until his retirement in 1993.
Although a keen swimmer his passion was gymnastics and he was at the heart of army gymnastics during the very dominant years of the Army Gymnastic Union. He was a member of the AGU which won the Adam Shield competition (The British Team Championships) on a number of occasions.
During this dominant period of gymnastics, he was persuaded to take on the position as editor of the Gymnast magazine in 1967. The BAGA had no money at that time and Tony funded it himself for many years. His role as editor included duties as reporter, production manager and post boy. Not one to parade around, he just got on with jobs that needed doing.
He, along with others, was responsible for erecting the winner’s podium for the Women’s European Championships (an all-night affair) in 1973. During the arena inspection by the Chairman of the FIG Women’s Technical Committee, the formidable Madam Nagy, Tony used his smile, diplomacy and charm to answer all her exacting questions and queries.
In his love and passion for gymnastics he acted as archivist for all gymnastic stories and events.
Following the death of Nik Stuart he organised annual dinners for the remaining gymnasts calling themselves The Brown Gym Club and was instrumental in setting up the Nik Stuart Room in the Gymnastic Centre, Poole Road, Aldershot. Well worth a visit.
Tony was a strong supporter of the Corps Association and was a regular attendee at the Scottish and North East Dinners.
The family wish to thank all those who sent cards and letters of condolence. They were very much appreciated.
ANTHONY BERNARD STEDMAN (TONY)