Page 137 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2019

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
A skier, shooter and keen player of squash, rackets and cricket, Bobby Neame was president of Kent CCC in 2003-04. As befitted a brewer, he was also a convivial host with a keen sense of fun.
His first marriage, to Sally Corben, was dissolved and he married secondly, in 1974, Yvonne Mackenzie, who survives him with their daughter, and a son and two daughters of the first marriage; another son predeceased him.
Bobby Neame, born February 25 1934, died November 15 2019
The Daily Telegraph
Capt Edward Spencer Nelson
Capt Edward Nelson died on the Mon- day 20th May 2019 aged 85 after a long period of ill health throughout which he remained cheerful although a great deal less mobile than he had been during his very active life. He was commissioned at Mons Officer Cadet School in Septem- ber 1953 in to the 12L, with whom he served in Malaya, and on completing his Short Service Commission he joined the Yorkshire Hussars, and in 1957, the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry
with which he served for 12 years.
Edward was in many ways the quintessential non-riding cavalry officer. He was charming, amusing, had a very good eye for a pretty girl and competed at the highest level in fast sports. He began motor racing in 1964, racing E-type Jaguars in Great Brit- ain where he won at Brands Hatch and being placed at Mallory Park. In 1966 he raced E-types in the 1000km at the Nuerber- gring and the Circuito del Mugello road race in Tuscany where each lap was a gruelling and demanding 66.2km long. At the end of 1966 Edward acquired a half share in Colin Crabbe’s Ford GT40. Their best result was fifth place in the Lourenco Marques 3 Hours while Edward driving solo was also fifth in the opening round of the South African Sports Car Championship at Kyalami. After sharing Peter Clarke’s Ferrari 275LM in the Daytona 24 Hours to finish 21st overall, Edward embarked on a full season with the GT40 both in the UK and many of the major European races. He won the Preis der Nationen at Hockenheim and finished fifth in the Zeltweg 500 Ks on the old airfield cir- cuit. Returning to Mugello, Edward finished 13th overall and won the Group 4 Sports Car class, sustained in the intense heat by pausing on every lap in a village at the top of the Futa Pass for a bottle of Campari soda! In total Edward competed in some 48 international and important national races with his GT40 and probably covered more racing miles in a GT40 than anyone else. In 1967 Edward was elected to the British Racing Drivers Club giving his occupation as “Gentleman” although in reality he was in effect the MTO for the Daily Mirror Group rising through Managing Director of the Group’s commercial transport com- pany and finally as Group Hospitality Manager for the Maxwell Communication Corporation. He represented Great Britain in the 1965 and 1966 World Championships in the four-man bob- sleigh team.
In later years Edward took to riding a bicycle from his house in Pimlico to the Cavalry and Guards Club of which he was a frequent visitor and enthusiastic supporter having been a member for over 60 years. Edward was a loyal supporter of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers Regimental Association serving on the OCA Committee for many years. He was also a long-standing Committee Member of the Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association and the regular steward of the VIP enclosure at the Cavalry Memorial Parade. As his balance became less than perfect he took to a tricycle and was a distinctive figure riding in central London in his three-piece suit (with the ever-present
teddy bear in the top pocket of his coat) and protecting his head with a Coke.
In 1969 he found his pretty girl and married Sandra, with whom
he had a son, Amos and a daughter, Daisy.
Richard ‘Dickie’ Nicholson
MDAP
The Nicholson family have provided a succession of highly able officers for the Regiment for three generations. Richard was one of them. When he arrived in 1955 as a 2Lt, there were already three other Richards in the Officers Mess and he was told that he had better be “Dickie” - and the name stuck. He joined the Regiment whilst it was at Catterick fulfilling the role of train- ing National Service recruits who arrived from civilian life every fortnight. Not the most inspiring posting for a young officer, but Dickie immediately took advantage of all the sporting and social activities available to young officers in Yorkshire — particularly shooting on the nearby estate of his good friend from Winches- ter. He also skied in the regimental team.
When H M The Queen visited the regiment at Catterick — only her second visit since being appointed Colonel in Chief— Dickie was presented, recalling his fathers’ epic contribution to the war.
After completing its tour as a Training Regiment, Dickie moved with it to Sennelager as part of the British Army of the Rhine and commanded the Recce Troop. Shortly afterwards he devel- oped jaundice and sadly, from the Regiment’s point of view, left the Army. He was greatly missed. He was a “fun” person in every way, full of enthusiasm, a zest for life and a great sense of hu- mour. He never lost his interest in the Regiment and remained a true friend to many of us who served with him.
Soon after he left, he married Jane Stockdale and took over the family estate at Woodcote in Hampshire, in particular devel- oping the shoot. He worked for the family distilling firm, best known for its gin, and as the UK representative for Laurent Perrier.
It is worth briefly detailing, for future generations, his father’s epic contribution to the Second World War. Claud was an up and coming star before the war. He had been an Instructor at the Staff College, and Master of the Staff College Drag Hounds, and was commanding 16/5L in India when the war started. He was almost immediately promoted Brigadier to command his Bri- gade of Rifle Battalion’s which were sent to France in May 1940 to stem the German advance having broken through the Magi- not Line. The Brigades’ task was to hold Calais whilst the rest of the British Expeditionary force was evacuated from Dunkirk. Having accomplished their task, the survivors of the Calais Garrison became prisoners of war. Claude died as a prisoner in Germany in June 1943 and was awarded the unusual honour of a posthumous C.B. and described by Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Sommerville as “The Brigadier, a very gallant Brigadier”.
It is impossible to remember Dickie without recalling his fa-
thers’ epic stand at Calais in 1940.
Jim Payne
JLP
James (Jim) Gladstone Payne was a first cousin of David Barbour, who commanded the 17/21L in Munster, in the early 1950s. Jim was commissioned in to the 17/21L in 1951, when it was one of the training regiments at Catterick, and served there throughout his National Service. When 17/21L moved to Germany, he was left behind to complete his service.
On leaving the Army, he worked for the Vestey organisation, which led to his later marriage to Margaret Vestey. They settled
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