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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
Every year this publication came out, my Dad would hand it over to me with great pride and point me to
the amazing things that today’s RAPTC members are doing. He would always add with a smile that he’d checked the obituaries and he wasn’t there so he must still be alive. Well, he’s here now. What a life and right at the heart of it his family and the Corps.
Born in July 1934, he was the middle child of three and grew up in Perth, Scotland as part of a loving & warm family. He was no fan of school but found his place in sports, gymnastics and the Boys Brigade which were to prove a solid foundation for his military career. After serving his apprenticeship as a Coach Builder, he enlisted in the Black Watch in October of 1955 as part of his Military Service winning best recruit for his intake and his ability in the gym saw him sent to Aldershot and the APTC. They liked him so much they kept him and he transferred to the Corps in October of 1956.
HIs first posting was to the Depot Seaforth Highlanders at Fort George, near Nairn, Scotland. Apparently, it had to be a Scottish Regiment because, according to some instructors at the PT School, no-one else would understand him with his, at the time, broad Scots accent. There he met his future wife Nan with whom he was madly in love until her sad passing in 2003. Accent tamed and now married, he went on to serve around the globe to Malaya, Germany (twice), Hong Kong and the Falklands with regiments including the Green Jackets, Gurkhas, 13th/18th
and 14th/20th Hussars, the Royal Marines and the Queens Division. Always 100% dedicated to his work, he was awarded a BEM in 1966 for his services to the Gurkhas during his tour in Malaya from 1962-1965.
Along the way he collected coaching and teaching qualifications in football, boxing, swimming, gymnastics, skiing and athletics and was even sent to what is now Loughborough University to study Sports Science on a summer programme. He was an inspirational teacher who understood the way people learn and never gave up on anyone. Skiing, both alpine and cross- country, came into his life in the 60’s in Germany where he trained teams for his regiments and later could be found on various cross-country skiing training camps around Europe and Scandinavia with international coaches and athletes. He also became an expert climber, mountaineer and canoeist and with the rising profile of Adventurous Training in the services, was commissioned in October of 1974.
Initially, it was back home to the mountains of Scotland to Ballachulish and Kingussie, then AMTC Silberhutte (Germany), Ripon and York with a short detour to the Falklands which he really enjoyed. He ended his career at home in Scotland and in 1989 retired to Nairn where he lived happily between the golf course and the gym for the rest of his life.
If you ever met my Dad you would know he was incredibly friendly and ready to share a dram and a story of his adventures and
joy in the PT Corps. He collected friends wherever he went and was intensely loyal and proud of them all. We were very touched by all the letters and cards we received from far and wide expressing their love and admiration for my father on news of his passing. I know he loved you all right back and was incredibly grateful for your friendship and all the great times you shared together in the RAPTC.
One last wee story. Somehow my Dad roped my Mum into helping a member of the PT Corps who was struggling to ski and learn the basics on a mountain in Bavaria. “Are you wearing your Corps vest?” she asked. “No” the student replied. “Well that’s your first problem...” my Mum said, “... it has superpowers”. She was right. So, if you have the honor to be wearing the cross swords and crown, just remember you have the superpower to do great things and enjoy life more. My Dad certainly did and now he has his obituary in the Corps journal. Life complete.
John Gardiner, BEM, RAPTC died at his home with his son John on August 16th, 2021 aged 87.
BEYOND THE GYM
JOHN GARDINER BEM 1934-2021
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY IN THE LAST YEAR
Name
Enlisted
Transferred
Discharged
Rank on Discharge
Passed Away
Andrew Horn Steve Monk Steve Fowler Andrew Hyde Pat Clash Peter Scales
N/K 07/12/70 N/K 15/04/72 09/03/60 10/10/61
02/08/84 31/07/81 02/08/91 31/07/81 16/06/66 16/02/67
18/03/89 Sgt 24/10/95 WO1 06/03/03 WO2 09/04/94 WO2 29/04/85 WO1 09/04/84 WO2
Jul 22 Aug 22 Jan 23 Feb 23 Mar 23 May 23
Dennis Arnold
02/10/56
27/10/66
12/05/83
WO2
Jul 22
Gerry Moon
23/02/49
01/04/52
09/04/74
WO1
Aug 22
Dougie McGill
22/06/66
25/05/70
N/K
Major
Feb 23
David Cherriman
03/11/61
15/3/71
02/11/83
WO2
Feb 23
Tony Edwards
26/03/79
27/07/90
28/09/96
Sgt
May 23