Page 176 - RAPTC Year of 2019

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TRIBUTE TO LT COL (RETD) DON J GLYNN APTC
Mr Dave Smith
On 15th October 2014, Don Glynn bade a sad farewell to his beloved wife June. Shortly after this tragic loss Don was diagnosed with terminal cancer and advised that
his life expectancy would be just three to six months. Rather than see her dear Dad living by himself at this difficult time, with the utmost consideration and compassion, his wonderful daughter Joanne and her amazing husband Jamie took Don into their own home to provide palliative care for him in his last days. I can only imagine that Don must have decided to wear his Corps vest every day because incredibly, and defying all expectations, he soldiered on for five years until he sadly passed away on 4th December 2019. Throughout this time Joanne and Jamie were always there for him and Don could not have wished for any better end of life care. On behalf of the family, Don’s son Sean has submitted his eulogy for inclusion in the ‘Beyond the Gym’ section of this copy of the MBS Journal. The eulogy outlines Don’s immensely successful military career with many personal stories and anecdotes from his service and family history.
Many of you reading this article will remember Don with deep affection and great respect and will be well aware of his long and distinguished service in the Corps after transferring from the Royal Artillery into the APTC in 1954, receiving his commission in 1975 and achieving the ultimate appointment to Senior Master at Arms in 1985 before his eventual retirement in 1987. However, I would like to take this opportunity to also acknowledge his immense contribution to the Corps Association, both in service and following his retirement, and in particular to the York (Eboracum) Group, later to become the North East Branch.
The origins of the North East Branch date back to York in the late 1970’s when a band of retired Corpsmen, namely Major (Retd) Jack Mansi, ex QMSI Alec Spoors and ex SMI Ron McNeill, instigated informal meetings for retired Corps members every Friday at Bettys Tearooms in York City Centre. At
this time Captain Don Glynn was Master at Arms for the North East and North West Districts and encouraged attendance at these gatherings through his regular written submissions to the MBS Annual Journal. In 1978 the group took on the title of the Retired Members York Area (Eboracum) and in September of that year held the first formal reunion dinner in the name of the York Group. These gatherings grew in popularity and in 1984 the annual reunion dinners were able to relocate to the WO’s and Sgt’s Mess at Imphal Barracks in York.
In 1988 Don succeeded Jack Mansi as Branch Chairman, the beginning of an enduring tenure of more than twenty years loyalty and commitment to Branch matters lasting until he eventually stepped down from the role in 2009. Under Don’s energetic leadership and astute guidance the Branch grew in strength and success with the reunion dinners attracting healthy numbers each year. Also during this period Chairman Don managed to wear out five different Secretaries and three Treasurers.
As the millennium year of 2000 approached, the York Branch evolved into its current designation of the North East Branch and, with Don being long retired and resident in Scarborough, it made sound logistical sense to relocate the reunion dinners to his home town of Scarborough where they continue to be held to this day. After relinquishing the role of Chairman in 2009, Don continued to be an integral part of the Branch attending the annual reunion dinners and often bringing along his wonderfully skilful water colour paintings and prints as raffle prizes or to sell to members to raise funds for the Branch. I’m not sure he realised that on one occasion Cass Clay, having had a little too much liquid refreshment, was very magnanimously distributing them to members free of charge.
Sadly, in the latter years of his life Don became too ill to attend the annual Branch gatherings and regrettably the Branch were never able to formally and personally thank this wonderful man and great friend for his exceptional commitment and outstanding contribution over so many years.
The Corps Association Branches provide a regional focus designed to develop and enrich the feeling of comradeship and espirit-de-corps, particularly for retired members. Without the voluntary commitment and dedication of committee members
such as Don, the Branches would not exist or operate in any meaningful way.
Don Glynn’s altruistic dedication to the role of Branch Chairman for more than twenty years is unlikely to ever be surpassed and is testament to his incredible devotion and
deep affection for our great Corps which he loved so much and served with impeccable honour and such great distinction.
Don Glynn with his presentation clock after serving 21 years as Branch Chairman