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Brian managed to attend this farewell party by procuring a lift from another Corps member. The invite was the impetus needed to overcome his illness and Brian was once again his usual self, which revived his interests with the APTC.
Family Life
Brian met Mary Greene at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, where he shouted at her for walking across the parade ground. She told him where to go and a match made in heaven began. They married on 24th March 1973 and Mary became Step-mum to Wendy (deceased), Michael, Glyn and Anita. They then went on to have two more daughters, Nicola and Rebecca. Life with Brian was never dull and even through his illnesses he kept his infectious sense of humour.
He had an overwhelming need to help anyone and everyone, which often led to him getting himself into trouble. He once carried a lady’s pram off the train at Preston, only for her to declare she was not getting off at that stop. He often helped people off the bus with prams and Mary and the kids would wave to him as the bus left, leaving him to walk the rest of the way home.
But the family’s favourite story is when we were on a day trip to Lytham St Anne’s. Brian saw a group of less abled children getting on their bus. He asked the driver if they would like an ice cream to which he replied, ‘course they would.’ He instructed Mary to do a head count and then proceeded to order 40 cornets from a very excited ice cream man. The cones were lined up on the counter, but the bus drove off! Brian plus cones tried to chase them down the road but they were soon out of sight. He came back to the ice cream van and said ‘Sorry, we only need four now!’
Nearly everyone Brian ever met, he invited to the house for a cup of tea, which led Mary, to make impromptu meals for people calling to see him. He always kept in touch with his army friends and one of his greatest pleasures was reliving his past adventures with the military. My recollection when visiting and before I could sit down, was his commanding voice resonating: “Mary makes us a brew!”
The house was rarely empty with army friends, family and even a group of visiting Mormons, whom he befriended. Mary and Brian loved going to Fulwood Barracks and the children loved to watch them getting ready for one of the many social events they attended. In later life, he loved being around his grandchildren; Corinne, John, Chloe, Jacob, Adam, James, Daniel and Eve. He was so proud of all their accomplishment and last year welcomed his rst great-grandchild, Anna.
Brian loved to travel and he and Mary had some fantastic holidays in America, Dubai, and visiting Rebecca in Japan. They cruised from Osaka to Seattle, visiting Korea, Vladivostok Gr Alaska. Another cruise took in Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore and Shanghai. They also visited Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Malta, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and visited the Pyramids in Egypt. Subsequently, there are people all over the world that know all about our family! It didn’t matter who or what you are; he’d engage in a verbose conversation as though you were his best friend.
He was a lifelong Preston North End fan and loved watching and talking about athletics, football and cricket. He loved nothing more than a cup of tea - “Mary, ‘mek’ us a brew!’ - And an episode of Coronation Street. Few people in this world have had such a lasting impression on others as Brian. His family thought him a great person whose absence has left a void in all of their lives. The family believe that he is up in Heaven, sharing his pearls of wisdom with Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews.
Association Life
After returning from the farewell party in York, Brian revived his interest in the APTC and was instrumental in forming the APTC NW branch. He coerced Stan Meadows as Treasurer, Jim Blackley as Secretary and Billy Ferguson as a committee member and went on
to form the North West Branch, going from strength to strength. Billy Ferguson recalled the rst ever meeting of the Northwest Branch Members in 1987, which took place in Shuddehill, Manchester at a public house called ‘The Swan with Two Necks’. In attendance were: Jim Blackley, Brian Stead, Bill Ferguson, Stan Meadows, Peter Muncaster and Lou Costello. It is believed that either Peter Muncaster or Lou Costello may have been considered for selection as branch Chairman, but Alan Duxbury, (who was about to change his SMAA uniform for a Saville Road suit was approached and selected. Alan I believe was his lifetime friend.
A few years down the line and Brian stepped in to take over from Jim Blackley in his hour of need. With the help of his good lady, Mary and other members of the family, they made a formidable team and raised the standard to which we all enjoy today. He was always on hand to help any veteran and their family members whenever he could.
In 2010, Brian was acknowledged for his hard work for the APTC by being invited to become a trustee of a new Royal Army Physical Training Corps Association Executive Committee. He was extremely proud of this role, a role he thoroughly enjoyed. But after over 25 years’ service to the branch, Brian Stead called it a day. His contribution to the North West Branch had been quite outstanding.
“If there was ever a Corpsman, who deserved, but never received recognition for service to the Corps in Her Majesties honours, then Brian was most assuredly that Corpsman.”
Service Summary:
UK BAOR UK MELF UK
E. Africa UK BAOR UK BAOR UK
28/5/1953 – 28/9/1953 29/9/1953 – 26/11/1953 27/11/1953 – 25/1/1954 26/1/1954 – 8/5/1955 9/5/1955 – 26/7/1962 27/7/1962 – 4/12/1964 5/12/1964 – 14/7/1969 15/7/1969 – 3/1/1972 4/1/1972 – 7/1/1974 8/1/1974 – 18/8/1975 19/8/1975 - Discharge
STANLEY MAURICE CLARKE
16 Jun 1918 – 1 Apr 2016
Obituary received from Olga Clarke
At the age of four Stanley Maurice
was placed in a Church of England
Children’s home by his father due to
a change in family circumstances. He
left school at fourteen and went to
work as a gardener on a large private
estate in Worcestershire. At the age
of eighteen he enlisted for the Royal
Worcester Regiment and initially experienced ring ack-ack guns on the south coast of England. Being very t he volunteered for the Army Physical Training Corps and was selected, joining the Corps at Norton Barracks in 1939. He rose through the ranks, becoming a sergeant, seeing service across the continent. A contemporary sergeant alongside him was Denis Compton, they were frequently called upon to take squads to venues to display the nest APTC to encourage volunteers.
After demobilisation Stanley found employment as a PE teacher at Epsom College and was also retained in the Territorial Reserve service. In 1948 he met Olga while dancing at an Epsom venue and they married on 20th August 1949 and their tandem took