Page 122 - QDG 2022

120 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
in Wales. He enjoyed this immensely, not least because it enabled him to learn more about the country from which so many soldiers in the Regiment are recruited. Ollie took over as Adjutant when the Regiment was stationed in Omagh during the times of ‘the troubles’
proud father of Thomas, Charles and Sophie. Ollie joined Morgan Grenfell, subsequently Deutsche Bank Asset Management, in 1985, moving to Newton Investment Management in 2006. He was responsible for managing
in N. Ireland. This was a demanding role in
a difficult situation, which he fulfilled with compassion and huge competence. His
extensive knowledge of the Regiment, the
soldiers, and families enabled him to deal
with all the nuances and challenges of Regi-
mental life. Nevertheless, he continued to
enjoy his wide social life, even in those diffi-
cult and restrictive times. Ollie continued as
Adjutant when QDG moved to Wimbish and
then became Squadron Leader of the Guided
Weapons Squadron. At the time this was a
new concept for an armoured regiment. He
tackled the role with intelligence and great
proficiency, at the same time looking after the
men in his squadron and their careers with
empathy and understanding... once again
putting his detailed knowledge of the Regiment to good account. In Wimbish he was also able to pursue all his external interests, particularly field sports, and especially foxhunting, fishing and racing. Being close to Leicester- shire, he was able to hunt with the Cottesmore, the Quorn and the Belvoir during what may have been the last of the great hunting there. A verse from a poem that he some- times quoted summed up his love of foxhunting: ... ‘Youth make the most of your day while it lasts — no sunset can equal the dawn! I’d barter 10 years of a peaceable life, for a day when I rode with the Quorn...’ Ollie won a famous bet after an exceptionally raucous dinner night in the Officers’ mess when he brought his brave hunter mare into the mess and jumped a large sofa. He loved shooting and was able to shoot on the Army shoot at Thetford, where Regimental Officers, serving and retired made up the Saturday syndicate. In recent years he took part in the QDG shooting days in Somerset. Fishing became a lifelong interest, with salmon fishing trips from Wimbish up to Scotland, which sometimes involved
the portfolios and relationships of a number of large charities and other organisations such as livery companies. He was particu- larly proud of his longstanding relationship with the Falkland Islands Government: his client meetings allowed him to indulge in two of his passions, fly fishing and relating stories about the inadequacies of the RAF’s transport arrangements. If the turbulence of financial markets was not exciting enough, he retained his sense of adventure. Fishing, sailing, holidays with an extensive network of long-standing friends, and even some work trips, took him to many out-of-the-way places. Just a few of these took him fishing for tigerfish on the Zambezi in Zimbabwe and catching the same whilst breakfasting on the banks of the Rufiji in Tanzania, for
salmon in the Kola peninsula in Russia, sea trout in the Falklands, trout on Mt. Kenya, bonefish in the Bahamas, and sailfish and tuna in the Indian Ocean, as well as riding in Rajasthan, touring Iran in a minibus, hiking up the Ruwenzori in Uganda, sailing along the Croatian coast and cruising down the Nile. Although he finished his soldiering career with the Regiment, he never left the Regimental family. On leaving, Ollie joined the Regi- mental reserve of Officers, which entailed a two-week attachment back at the Regiment each year as well as the occasional training weekend. He continued to work tire- lessly and unselfishly for the welfare of the Regiment. He became a trustee of the QDG Regimental Trust in 2016, shortly afterwards taking over as Chairman. He worked diligently to completely overhaul and modernise the Regiment’s trust arrangements and combining the Regi- mental Comrades’ Association and Benevolence activities under one roof. In addition, he oversaw the transfer of all Regimental property to the Trust, thus safeguarding the
long-term ownership of the valuable pictures and silver held in the messes. He also estab- lished a workable framework for charitable donations to be made to the Regiment. For his hard work he was awarded the Regi- mental Medal in 2019. We and the living Regiment have much to thank him for, for his extraordinary contribution, which has put the Trust in such good order to the benefit of our Officers and soldiers both past and present. During his time in the Regiment, and subse- quently, Ollie was always good company, always able to see the funny side of life and to share a joke. Above all, he demonstrated all the best characteristics of a human being, a deeply loyal, dependable, and kind friend
who would forever look out for you and your family. He will leave a large hole in the lives of many, not least his own family. His was, truly, a life well lived.
all night driving to fish for only a weekend.
Sailing was another passion and Ollie took
full advantage of the opportunities the Army
had to offer, sailing in numerous regattas and
gaining a host of qualifications as well. In the
1990s he was a regular on a boat, crewed by
serving and ex-QDGs, that took part in the
Royal Ocean Racing Club’s cross-channel
races. He also loved skiing and took part
in many trips to the Alps with QDG friends,
known as the ‘Lemmings Club.’ A common
thread runs through all these activities. He
would try his hand at anything and took
part with skill and enthusiasm. But, as he
often remarked, the real joy was to be doing
something fun with good friends... and this could serve as his epitaph. Whilst in Wimbish, Ollie made the decision to relinquish a place at Staff College, which would have underpinned a successful army career. Instead, he left the Army to apply his intelligence, hard work, and enthu- siasm to a new and rewarding life in the city. A wise move in more ways than one, for it was in London that he met his much-loved wife, Victoria, and became the
Ollie was always good company, always able to see the funny side of life and to share a joke
He would
try his hand at anything and took part with skill and enthusiasm