Page 131 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2017

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 129
WOI (RSMI) A C Loveland
Alan arrived with the 17/21L at Wolfenbüttel in 1973 from The Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Armoured Corps, where he had achieved the rank of SSM. He was fortunate to be posted to 4th Troop, A Squadron, where he quickly estab- lished himself as a popular, larger than life character. As was the cus- tom, everyone had a nickname in the troop and because of his big ears
“Lugsy “was an easy fit and it would stick throughout his army career. Not only did he have an easy-going nature and a great sense of humour but he was also a very competent driver and as it turned out D&M was to be his forte.
Alan was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1975 and served with the Regiment on its Northern Ireland tour November 1975 to March 1976. Two years later he was again promoted to Corporal still with A Squadron. He was a keen sportsman and turned out for most of the squadron teams but rugby was his real love. He was a regular member of the Regimental team for a number of years and on leaving the Army was to be found coaching his son and the youngsters at his local club, Camberley RFU.
On the move to Bovington in 1977, he found himself serving in Light Track Troop and in 1979 was posted the RACTR in Cat- terick. He returned from ERE in1981 and was promoted to Ser- geant, joining B Squadron. In 1984 he moved from B Squadron to 4th Troop D Squadron as a troop leader whilst there he man- aged to win the troop leaders match at the annual skill at arms meeting. In 1986 he went to the D&M School on the instructor’s cadre and passed with flying colours and was later promoted to Staff Sergeant. Following his tour at the school he was welcomed back to B Squadron as SQMS.
It was whilst serving with B Squadron in Cyprus that he met and later married Ms Deborah Jane Hicks at Havering on 16th December 1989. This marriage was soon blessed by the arrival of twins - a son, Peter Mark and a daughter Claire Louise, who completed his family with his daughter Sarah Louise from his first marriage. Promoted to W02, Alan returned to the D&M School on 2nd April 1990 and was fated not to return to the Reg- iment. Further ERE postings followed, TD&PW in 1993 and back to the D&M School in 1994 as WOI RSMI. Alan left the Army in 1996, a great character and a most loyal member of the Regiment and later the OCA.
On leaving the Army, Alan, Debs and their children settled in Camberley, Surrey. He had a variety of jobs, including Depot Manager for Somerfield; Project Manager and Team Leader for VT Ltd, later BAE Systems, introducing the new MAN vehicles, including Panther and Warthog to the Armed Forces all over the world. He was the treasurer for 1075 Squadron (Camberley) Air Training Corps in the little spare time he had. His final em- ployment was as a lecturer for Farnborough College of Technol- ogy, returning to what he enjoyed the most, teaching new and enquiring minds all about the mechanics of vehicles, whether tracked or wheeled.
Alan was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2015 and battled hard against it. He lost the fight on 5th February 2018, surrounded by his family. Alan’s funeral at the aptly named Roy- al Garrison Cavalry Church in Aldershot was attended by over 600 friends, regimental and civilian and family, who enjoyed remembering this larger than life character, who will never be forgotten and whose exploits will go down into the annals of the Regiment.
Never short of an encouraging word and an offer of a beer. I can see him now in the Senior Squadron bar embarking on rugby
mayhem and mischief as only Lugsy could do.
JMH