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Death Notices; Obituary
Obituary
Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Raymond Philip Stubbs
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Scribe: Andrew Stubbs It is with the greatest regret that I report the sad loss of our father, Raymond Philip Stubbs, on 4 September 2020 at Shrewsbury General Hospital. Our father was a career man, joining the Army Apprentice College at Arborfield (1950-53) and training as a General Fitter. On completion of his apprenticeship, he took up Regular Service as a Soldier in a variety of tasks and posts, starting off as a Gun Fitter and finished as an Artificer Weapons, until he was commissioned in 1974.
In 1955, whilst on operational service as a Corporal in Malaya (1954-57), he was Mentioned in Dispatches for gallant and distinguished service for keeping a number of positive pressure respirators in working order for the RAMC. He set a very high personal standard and was absolutely invaluable in enabling the medics to treat his Platoon Commander, who had polio.
Using his experience, our father wrote a report on one of these machines, which proved valuable both to anyone using them and to those involved in their local manufacture. He just saw it as his duty to serve.
After Malaya, he saw further service in Hong Kong, Germany and the UK, was involved in mechanical engineering and achieved promotions, which culminated in being promoted WO1 (ASM) at 27 Field Regiment Workshop (1970-73), Lippstadt in Germany. Throughout his career, he set very high personal standards in his leadership and demanded the same from his subordinates, who held him in high regard. Since weapons were his passion, he would encourage anyone who was interested to make use of the shooting clubs he managed. I spent many an evening in the indoor range firing a converted .303 Lee Enfield down a pipe range!
A keen dinghy and off-shore sailor, he taught me his skills at a very young age and I can recall many happy weekends sailing with him on the Möhnesee.
He was later commissioned in 1974, and returned to Germany where his first appointment was at 12 Field Workshop as a Platoon Commander (1974-76) in Osnabruck, Germany. He was the Workshop Technical Officer, being responsible for a mixed military and civilian staff who were repairing and servicing A, B and C Vehicles and power packs.
Our father was then promoted to Captain and became Officer Commanding of 2 Divisional Signal Regiment LAD (1976-79), this time in Bunde, Germany. This was a military unit in direct technical support of a mobile Divisional Signal Regiment, with both tracked and wheel vehicles. This was the last time he served in Germany.
Raymond returned to the UK, taking up the role of Officer in Charge of the Production Services at 43 District Workshop (197880) in Aldershot. He was involved in Production Control and Planning services and was a member of the official side-negotiating team for the Whitley Council and for production matters. While at this posting, he was responsible for the catafalque (a decorated wooden framework supporting the coffin of a distinguished person during a funeral or while lying in state) produced on the 1 tonne vehicle for Lord Mountbatten’s funeral in September 1979 and shortly afterwards for the catafalque used at the funeral of Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer KG, GCB, GCM, GCMG, KBE, DSO in November of the same year.
His final postings involved taking on Staff Office roles starting with SO3 HQ South East District, Aldershot (1980-82) and doing similar roles in resource planning and allocation and in control of contract repair funds for equipment support. As SO2, he was posted to HQ DGEME (EME2), Andover (1982-85), and was responsible for material resource planning, operational planning and equipment, and for equipment requirements.
While serving at the Vehicle and Weapons Branch (1985-88) in Chertsey, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, SO1, which became his last appointment before retiring in 1988. He was responsible for a mixed military and civil staff, providing support services to the engineering branches and conducting reliability, maintainability and recovery assessments, including the introduction to the Corps of the Foden 6x6 recovery vehicle. He had by then given the Corps over 33 years of service.
However, on retirement from Regular service, our father had already secured a SO3 (Retired Officer) as the Admin Officer at REME Technical Services (1988-94) in Dusseldorf, returning to Germany for one more time. He was involved in REME organisational matters, manpower and resources with a mixed military and German/UK civilian staff.
On retirement, and having settled in Telford with his wife Margaret, he continued to have links with the Corps through the REME Institution and the local branch of the REME Association where he eventually became Secretary, a position he held up to his death. He also volunteered his services to SSAFA and he was often seen around the region with collection box in hand outside shops all day! In his later years, he gave up his SSAFA role to dedicate his time to caring for our mother who was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease until her death in December 2018. I had the privilege of taking him to the National Arboretum for the 75th Anniversary of the Corps’ formation where he thoroughly enjoyed meeting many old colleagues. Sadly, this was the last time he had any connection with the Corps.
Our father, throughout his working life, was well respected and trusted by those with whom he worked. He did have a tendency to be a workaholic, firmly maintaining traditional values of loyalty, diligence and concern for a job well done. In this way, he maintained the spirit of the Corps.
He leaves three sons, Andrew, Trevor and Paul, and daughter, Janet, and their families: 13 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all.
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