Page 177 - RSDG Year of 2023

not until 1995. Under FM Sir John Stanier both sets of investments and accounts were wisely combined into a single SCOTS DG Trust. Lt Gen Sir Norman Arthur created the Regimental Museum at Edinburgh Castle out of the informal display room beside Home HQ and paved the way to establish the Council, both of which were taken forward by Maj Gen Charles Ramsay. The Museum Trust was established and the Regimental Shop incorporated as a limited liability company, all with sound advice from Stephen.
Although separate entities, joint meetings of Trust and Council were usual, often coinciding with the Association AGM, Cavalry Memorial or a dinner. The 2000 SCOTS DG weekend gathering at Catterick, with Stephen present, added a Council Dinner the evening before those triple meetings and a joint Branch dinner, plus a Church Parade and Service the next day. Maj Gen Jonnie Hall included London, Chester and South-West in the meeting schedule. It was not unusual to find Stephen and the Regimental Secretary, Lt Col Roger Binks, engrossed over how best to present accounts to satisfy both legal points and Trustees demands, especially for the budget in support of the Serving Regiment and distribution of donations from the Regimental Shop.
As respite from these meetings, where possible Stephen would find an opportunity for a round of golf with the Haldane, Borwick or Trotter families, amongst others. He was a member of Formby Golf Club and Treasurer of Royal Birkdale, where Gillie was Lady Captain in 1998, the year of the British Open. Although not in the top playing echelon Stephen was appointed Captain of Royal Birkdale 1999/2000.
Stephen was indifferent in his choice of music, enjoying Gilbert and Sullivan, but with a passion for military piping. For a decade from the early 1970s, Gillie had arranged events for The Home Farm Trust, notably an annual Last Night of the Proms at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool. With Stephen’s assistance, one memorable booking featured SCOTS DG Pipes and Drums playing alongside the Orchestra for the first time. This legacy later manifested itself through his son, Tom, when Universal Classics and Jazz awarded a valuable contract for three CD publications during the Colonelcy of Brig Melville
Jamieson and support from Brig David Allfrey. Spirit of the Glen was recorded in UK in 2007 and won a Platinum award. Tom visited Iraq in 2008 when Journey was recorded in Basra, with the resultant Classical Brit award.
Stephen kept the Regimental Trustees up to date with statutory changes to charitable giving and audit arrange- ments. His role shifted from Auditor to Examiner and the simpler Gift Aid scheme proved invaluable during the Regimental Museum expansion and move within Edinburgh Castle, with the bonus of a major National Lottery grant and staunch support from the Regimental family.
As much as he enjoyed visits to Home HQ, with the inevitable soup with chilli sherry in the Castle Mess, Stephen decided to retire from the Regimental role in 2011, coinciding with the handover of the Regimental Secretary and structural management changes initiated by Brig Simon Allen. However, he continued working with other clients for the next twelve years.
The Lewis family had frequented Abersoch on the Llyn Peninsula for holidays, although Stephen avoided the sea, preferring golf and land-based activities. He and Gillie had two daughters, Sally and Ros, and a son, Tom, with eight grandchildren and they took holidays together.
Latterly Stephen was struck with an aggressive and rare cancer, but undeterred occupied himself with crosswords and his habit of following the horses. He might have changed his accountancy allegiance from finance to turf, had the opportunity arisen.
Working up to his last days, Stephen died on 30 June 2023. His charming warm-hearted, witty, informed and generous nature, with a penchant for colourful socks and waistcoats, was admirably captured in Tom’s profes- sionally edited memorial video featuring his brother Anthony and Gillie’s grandchildren.
In his own professional and self-less way Stephen Lewis served the Regiment extremely well and made a lasting contribution.
RJB
EAGLE AND CARBINE 175