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John Jennings, Brian Pyle & Pete Harburn at Dave Cherriman’s Funeral
Long serving and loyal Branch members Maureen and John Nicholas are now resident in New Zealand and had planned one final visit to the UK to say farewell to their family and friends. Unfortunately, John was unable to travel due to his poor health but Maureen spent several enjoyable weeks driving the length and breadth of the country in her hire car. To coincide with her two-day visit to York, Dave Smith organised a get together for lunch which turned into six hours of eating, drinking, chatting, smiling, laughing and a presentation of farewell gifts and cards. A most memorable and moving occasion attended by Dave and Caz Smith, Dave and Cathy Warburton, Geoff and Shelley
Jean Ions with her daughter Karen and Anne Jennings at the 2023 Branch Reunion Dinner
Chapman, Pete and Lesley Harburn, John and Anne Jennings, Chip and Angela Rafferty, Tom Parker and Mandy Lumsdon (and Maureen of course).
There was a strong gathering of Branch members as usual at the Remembrance Service in York on Sunday 13th November. In all 21 members attended the Service and laid a wreath on behalf of the Branch to remember those Corps members who have passed Beyond the Gym and also to pay their respects to all those who had made the ultimate sacrifice in conflict which allows us to enjoy the freedoms of today. We will remember them. Following the service, members retired to our regular
haunt of the Maltings Pub to enjoy some refreshments and chat in each other’s good company.
The most cheerless part of writing these notes is to notify of the sad passing of members ‘Beyond the Gym.’ In this reporting period the following Branch members have sadly passed on:
Ex Sgt (SI) Andrew Horn passed away at home on 9th July 2022. He transferred into the APTC on 2nd August 1984, having previously served with the Royal Signals. He retired from the Army after 5 years’ service with the Corps on 18th March 1989. Pete Harburn attended the funeral carrying the Standard on behalf of the Branch.
Ex WO2 (QMSI) Steve Fowler sadly passed away during the night of 26th/27th January 2023 following his brave battle with throat cancer. Steve was a talented all-rounder and a great runner. He transferred into the Corps on 2nd August 1991 after previously serving with the Royal Engineers. He retired from service on 6th March 2003 after 23 years’ service, eleven with the Corps. There was a huge attendance at the funeral with 14 North East Branch members attending to support Steve’s wife Amanda and the family and Brian Pyle carried the Branch Standard.
Ex WO2 (QMSI) Dave Cherriman sadly passed away at Lister House, Ripon on 20th February 2023 after a long illness. Dave enlisted into 1 D & D Regiment on 3rd November 1961, transferring into the Corps on 15th March 1971, completing his service 2nd November 1983. Dave was well known for his swimming prowess and competed at the highest representative level as well as going on to coach swimming in later years. Again, there was a strong attendance from Branch members at the funeral with Brian
Dave Smith, Geoff Chapman, Lt Col (SMAA) Jason Hughes, Steve Collinson and Duncan Southern-Naylor at the 2023 North East Branch Reunion Dinner