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them through France down to Avignon on their honeymoon. However the College did not favour meeting a married man’s salary and they agreed that it would be wise to look at him returning to gardening as a career choice....He responded to an advertisement for a second gardener with the National Trust at Polesden Lacey, Dorking, Surrey which was successful. During his work there, he built the open-air stage in the grounds upon which very many Shakespearian concerts were performed and are still being given annually, to national acclaim. Their son Stephen was born in 1952.
In 1959 Stanley sought to improve his career status and he gained the position of Head gardener to Lord De L’Isle at Penshurst Place, Tonbridge, Kent where he stayed until retiring in 1983. During those working years he enjoyed leisure times too, by ringing the bells in the village Church, singing in the church choir and the Penshurst Choral Society was keen to have his baritone voice join them. Under his leadership as Head gardener the gardens bloomed, became open to the general public and young gardeners were trained.
In 1983 Stanley retired from Penhurst Place having taken out a mortgage on a fairly derelict cottage a few miles from Royal Tunbridge Wells in preparation. Stanley used his physical tness in rebuilding the cottage and Olga at last had the chance to nd out if she had green ngers like him in their very large garden. They were both active singers still and travelled with Choral Societies across the continent. Concerts often being recorded and one in Cologne Cathedral was being broadcast. Stanley found time to learn how to bowl as well as sing and these two leisure activities kept him really t and well.
In 2005 at the age of eighty-eight it seemed a good time to emigrate to Scotland where Stephen, who had married a lass, called Joan from Edinburgh. A love of the highlands had developed from many years of holiday making there. Stanley maintained a reasonable tness from bowling, there were few opportunities to continue singing but his new highland home provided him with room for a lathe upon which he demonstrated considerable expertise. When the years took their toll and mobility became dif cult, Stanley found independence on his sporty scooter which was a great joy. As the years passed, he became frustrated by not having as much energy although he remained good humoured and was mentally intact. He had aspired to reach a hundred but it was not to be. After only two months in hospital he died in Olga’s arms with Stephen beside him.
The old soldier’s engine had run its course.
RAYMOND ISSITT
19 Aug 1926 – 27 Aug 2015
By Eric Cleaver
In the course of one’s career many friends are made and often create the grounds to be remembered. Sadly in most cases movement from one location to another means new contacts, new tasks and the creation of a fresh environment that causes the passage of one group of friends to become the ‘Ships that pass in the night’.
One of my own personal friends who remained a true friend (Pal), was Raymond Issitt who passed away in December 2015. Ray served most of his APTC life with 3rd Parachute Regiment becoming involved in every aspect of the Regiment’s life. He took up pole vaulting to help 3rd Para compete in the inter-unit athletics, already at this time an accomplished soccer player; he turned his attention to hockey. It was not long before he found Golf and was readily bitten.
Within a couple of weeks Ray was playing the game off an of cial single gure handicap. It was in this game that Ray Issitt created a most memorable contribution to the foundation of the game loved by so many of the Corps today. Ray became the rst ever other rank in the long history of the game to win the Army Golf Society Championship which not only created waves but, caused the AGS to form a single association and so the Army golf Association came into being.
In 1966 I was the MAA at HQ Western Command with responsibility for the Command School of PT in Oswestry. The SMI at the School was about to retire and Ray Issitt was mooted as a replacement, I snatched him before anyone else could. In collusion with HQ South Western District we suggested that some form of Golf Skills course might be possible. The SO (1) Trg agreed on condition that he was included on this rst course, in total the course for 12 students was over- subscribed on the day it was rst publicised , eight of this rst course were Staff Of cers from the HQ. Golf courses at Command Schools became the norm. Brian Edwards became the second (R) APTC winner of the AGS and he spent many years following Ray’s path and often travelled to Command Schools sharing his teaching skills. Towards the end of his career Ray was recommended for MA Commission but, after a lot of thought he decided to become a Professional golfer and was offered the post at the Sennelager Army Golf Club from where he was ‘poached’ by a local Land Owner to develop Golf and promote the game in the German community. More on the family and personal life of this great friend has been written by his son Scott (himself no mean player) next time you are ‘teeing’ off say, thanks, Ray.
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY IN THE LAST YEAR
Jim Ellis Beech Died 18 Jun 15
John Travers Died 16 Jul 15
Colin Ponting Died 25 Jul 15
Derek (Legs) Carraher Died 18 Aug 15 Ray Issitt Died 27 Aug 15
John Pancott Died 10 Sep 15 John Dixon 01 Oct 15
Jeff Archer Oct 15
Ron Harrison Nov 15
Brian Stead 7 Dec 15
Tom Jones 12 Dec 15 Mike Gibson 15 Dec 15 Steve Morris 12 Mar 16
The following people have passed away since the cut off date for the MBS submissions, but we felt it was only right to mention their passing rather than wait till next year.
Stanley Maurice Clarke 1 Apr 16
George “Mack” McWilliams 10 Apr 16 Sidney Heyward 15 Jun 16