Page 162 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2016/17

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY IN THE LAST YEAR
Lisa Clash 3 Jul 16
Bob Hawkes 30 Jul 16
Bernard Edward Chynoweth Peters 10 Nov 16 Denis Hassall 3 Dec 16
Bob Marshall 22 Dec 16
Percy Frederick Flower 17 Dec 16 Joseph Madden 28 Jan 17
Jimmy Loane 5 Feb 17
It is an honour and privilege to be asked to give this address in memory of Bob, many of you here today have known Bob for much longer than me but what draws us together is the bond of
friendship, fondness and love that we all had with him and for him be at work or at play.
Robert Louis Stephenson said that “ The man is a success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children; who has lled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than when he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.
Over the next few minutes I hope that I do justice to Bob, his achievements, his love and commitment to his family and his loyalty to us his friends and to the human race. I rst met Bob at the Morfa camp lunch after the Remembrance Sunday Service some 25 years ago. If I’m perfectly honest in those days the Remembrance Sunday lunches were enormous fun and went on quite late and all you remembered if you were lucky was ordering a taxi to take you home!
Now before I say anymore I should say that Bob had a stock phrase when Treina would expand on various subjects that he wasn’t particularly interested in he would say “Don’t tell them your life story” well Bob the boot is on the other foot now so here goes!
You have heard brie y from the Vicar about Bob’s early life and that he joined the Army as boy soldier in 1962. He excelled at various sports including rugby and running and it came as no surprise that he transferred from the Royal Army Service Corps then the Royal Corps of Transport to the Army Physical Training Corps and was posted to Tywyn.
So what about the unwavering, determined and brave Bob?
As you have heard Bob was an adventure training instructor who enjoyed canoeing, climbing and hill walking. He was an exceedingly good instructor and was considered hugely able. Mike Elsmore recalls that on one climb in the Llanberis Pass known as Cenotaph Corner Bob had made his mind up to climb this particularly dif cult cragg. It was a very cold and wet March day and he, Mike, protested that it was too cold and wet to climb it. It is a notorious, impressive and hard climb. Everything was set up including the safety ropes and Bob set off in boots! Reaching about 35 ft he was seen struggling a bit on the wet section which was clearly not recommended and suddenly seconds later Bob was dangling in front of Mike at almost ground level. Bob determined - read pig headed that he would continue and then proceeded to say that he had got the hang of it now and climbed. In half an hour he was at the top and it was my turn!
Serving at the Joint Services Mountain Training Centre at Morfa Camp was not easy the work was demanding with course after
course going through with very little spare time. However it was fun – most of the time!
So what about Bob’s time keeping?
A Ladies Dinner Night was arranged in the Sergeants mess. Bob and his good friend John Bull asked if they could canoe around Bardsey Island prior to the social function. They were given permission on the clear understanding that they would be back in good enough time to escort their wives to the function. Needless to say they did not appear at the pre function drinks or in time to sit down for the dinner. You can imagine how the wives felt! However at some stage the two vacant chairs were lled by two smiling sergeants. How they managed to gain entrance and get to their seats unnoticed remains a mystery to this day. Some say they slipped in quietly under the table and worked their way along to their places but that assumption may well be open to typical embellishment of the actual facts. However the incident caused much amusement and a good night was had by all.
That said there was a degree of speculation as to what sort of marital harmony ensued when their wives got them home! It might amuse you to know that a footnote is added to the story.
Losing their ght against the tide RNLI assistance was requested. As the RNLI knew our intrepid pair they were told to keep paddling and all street cred was lost!
Health and Safety
Many of you will know that Bob was always meticulous about Health and safety but it was NOT always the case. When the Lancashire Regt were climbing in Banff in Canada John Bull a Sgt then was running the Adventure Training package – they had a few ropes and waist lines and Bob then a L/Cpl had a quali cation called “Rock Climbing Instructor” and was required to check the ropes. John contacted Bob and told him what he planned to do and Bob said what colour are they? The response was ‘white’ – pass said Bob. Second question do you tow vehicles with them? Reply – not many but some are new. OK says Bob they’ll be safe and the kit was signed off to that effect!
So what about the practical and resourceful Bob?
Following service in Tywyn Bob was posted to Aviemore and Germany. It was at Aviemore that Bob’s car had a problem. One very cold and snowy dark night having nished a day’s work at Tulloch he and Mike Elsmore set out to drive back to Aviemore where Bob lived. 15 minutes into the drive complete black out, all the lights stopped working but the engine was still running. Bob had an idea in the glove compartment he produced a doctor’s style torch for looking down someone’s throat. And suggested that Mike should lean out the passenger window and shine the torch lighting the way. 45 minutes later they arrived at Aviemore with mild hypothermia and frozen eye lids and with customary good ideas suggested Mike should have a bath to thaw out - I should say he was quite comfortable in the warm driving seat!
EULOGY - BOB HAWKES
Colonel Nick Beard