Page 134 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2019

132
REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
One of his many other talents was Tank Gunnery and this led to his second ERE posting to the RAC Gunnery Wing at Hohne where he again proved to be a great ambassador for the Regiment. On return, and as a newly promoted Warrant Officer, he had a short spell in the Training wing before being appointed SSM of C Squadron where ‘Team Fletcher’ once again proved to be exactly what we had all come to expect them to be - outstanding!
It was C Squadron’s loss and the QM(T) Department’s gain when he was next appointed as RQMS(T). He spent, it seems, quite some time absent on official sporting duties during this time and his other nickname of “Dry Net Fletcher” probably ex- plains why! But for some medical reasons Ken would have gone on to be RSM of the Regiment, something he would, no doubt, have excelled at. He spent his last months in the army back in the UK helping out at Home Headquarters where, once again, his talents were called upon and put to good use in helping both the outgoing and incoming Regimental Secretaries.
Ken continued to work hard after he left the army but wasn’t prepared to quite let go of his dedication and love for his regi- ment and its soldiers. He was Chairman of the highly success- ful East Midlands Branch of the Old Comrades Association for 11 years and then the Northern Branch until 2015. Sadly, Ken’s health started to decline and particularly so in the last few years. He remained stalwart, and retained his amazing sense of humour, right up until his death in February 2020. The turn- out at Ken’s funeral service was a clear indication of the respect, admiration and indeed love for this true Lancer. His widow Val and two children Jenny and Andrew will remain ever grateful to those who attended to pay their respects to this great legend of a man and true Lancer.
JGA
Capt Gerald Caldecott
Gerald Caldecott was educated at Wel- lington College, where he captained the boxing team. He went on to Sand- hurst, where again he was Captain of Boxing. He was commissioned into the 12L in 1958, when they were stationed at Wolfenbuttel, Germany. Following Germany, he went to Cyprus, Tidworth and then Omagh in Northern Ireland, where he met Olivia Herdman, who be- came his wife in December 1962. They had two sons, Charlie and Nicky. After
a year in Bovington, Gerald was stationed in Osnabruck, Ger- many. These were carefree days, with a lot of polo played under the commanding officer, Robin Brockbank. Gerald was in the regimental team and they had numerous successes travelling to many tournaments, notably Hamburg and Berlin.
Gerald, known as “G Man”, was very particular about his ap- pearance. He was always immaculately turned out, whether in civilian or military dress. When he lived in the Officers’ Mess, brother officers were always pinching his kit because they knew they would invariably find what they needed. Eventually he re- sorted to buying a padlock and fixed it onto the door of his room to deter unwanted visitors.
After leaving the army, he sold horse supplements in Yorkshire before moving to Northern Ireland, where he ran a family stable. He enjoyed hunting with the local hounds (Strabane and Don- egal) and fishing for sea trout in Connemara.
He and Liv then retired to France in 2005. They were attract- ed by the lifestyle and climate, a notable improvement on the persistent Irish rain. In France, Gerald received wonderful healthcare, a great benefit after having been diagnosed with Par-
kinson’s. He bore the illness courageously, with fortitude and enduring humour.
Gerald Caldecott, born 18th January 1938, died 22nd November
2019.
Tpr Jordan Holmes
ODC & NPC
Tpr Jordan Holmes was born on the 4 May 1993 in Scunthorpe. He joined the Army Reserve in 2013, training as a REME Crafts- man, before deciding to join the Regular Army and specifical- ly the Royal Armoured Corps. He completed his training and joined RL in June 2016.
Tpr Holmes started his career at the regiment with 2nd Troop, D Squadron. His great sense of humour and pride in his job were immediately noted and he was often at the centre of any joking or laughter in the troop. In his first eighteen months at regimen- tal duty, he deployed on several major Squadron and Regimental exercises, developing his mounted and dismounted soldiering skills.
Between March and September 2018, Tpr Holmes deployed to Cyprus on Operation TOSCA 28, where he served with distinc- tion as a member of the Operations Company. It was universally agreed that Tpr Holmes was one of the hardest working troopers in the squadron over the course of the Tour.
In October 2018, he moved to the SQMS Department and it was a job into which he put his heart and soul. His performance was testament to a young man discovering his own capacity to lead. He regularly demonstrated initiative to make the Squadron’s life more pleasant when deployed and whilst training in Catterick.
The sudden loss of Tpr Holmes on 21st June 2019 was a tremen- dous blow to the Squadron and to the Regiment. Tpr Holmes will be remembered for his banter, his energy and his commit- ment – he was a man with many friends, not just in the Squad- ron, but across the Regiment. A Lancer through and through.
Tpr Holmes leaves behind a loving fiancée, Jodie, and their child whom he never met. Logan Jordan Holmes was born on 22nd December 2019.
Capt Patrick Hibbert-Foy
Patrick Hibert-Foy, the former senior stewards’ secretary who advised the stewards’ panel at Aintree to void the 1993 Grand National, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 76. A former Captain in the 9/12L, Hibbert- Foy took up his first job as an assistant starter in 1971 before joining the rota of stewards’ secretaries eight years later.
He became senior stewards’ secretary
in April 1994, a position he held until 2002, before becoming a racecourse steward and also a member of the BHA disciplinary panel from 2005 until 2012. Hibbert- Foy advised the panel of racecourse officials on all major occa- sions, including 50 Classics, and officiated at the 1993 Grand National, when the start was disrupted by animal rights activists and was subjected to two false starts with the recall system fail- ing on the second occasion. “Having served as a starter for many years, I was fully conversant with the rules,” he told the Racing Post in 2003. “Immediately I saw the video replay I knew there was no other option than to advise the panel to void the race. I was aware of the responsibility – there was close to £60 million
riding on the race.”