Obituaries

Menell James Mann - 22162726 from 1949 to 1951

Scribe: Russell Mann (Son)

Menell James Mann (Jim) was born on Monday 6th April 1931 at The Queens Hospital on Bath Row in Birmingham. Like most children, when the war started, he was evacuated out of city and his Mom went to work in a munitions factories at the BSA in Small Heath and later Walkers factory in Digbeth where she operated a 10 foot capstan lathe.

After the war Dad finished his schooling at Ostler Street in Ladywood and started as an apprentice electrician for an electrical company in the city’s Gun Quarter.

In 1948 Jim met Hilda and they married later that year. Their first daughter, Daryl, was born in 1949. Dad and Hilda would later have two other children, Russell and Samantha.

He was called up for his National Service joining the REME in 1949 and started at the Ellesmere Workshop. We recently found his exercise book from the Vehicle Mechanic course he attended there. Out of interest there are notes on the front cover which are probably known to REME personnel including: No 4 ABTC, B VEH-MECH and Course T5L.

Dad was later stationed in Kent and spent time in Libya, North Africa and had mentioned places such as Tobruk previously.

He would talk about North Africa and Montgomery and how the direction of the war changed when a large tank battle was won against the Germans in WW2. However, for Dad there were no real hostilities whilst he was there other than his armoured car being ‘bricked’ by the locals on a regular basis!

Dad loved his time in the army as it gave him an opportunity to develop his personal skills and build a camaraderie within a team setting. He often mentioned that his uniform was a Canadian issue, whatever that meant. He also learned to swim in the REME but most significantly he learned to drive, but he didn’t have to pass his test!

Jim’s love affair with cars and driving had begun and during the next 69 years he had over 50 cars! In the early days he did most of the repairs, maintenance and servicing before graduating to buying new cars in the early 1960’s.

Upon leaving the REME Dad worked at Morris’ Commercial cars in Saltley but moved into selling in the late 1950’s. After several jobs including running an electrical wares shop in Belfast, Dad joined the West Midland Gas Board (WMGB) and remained there for over 25 years moving to a Sales Manager position until he retired.

In the mid-seventies, Hilda passed away and Dad re-married to Patti, who also worked at the WMGB. Dad and Patti moved to Javea in Spain for 10 years before returning to the UK and living in Ludlow and Wisbech. Patti passed away in 2013 and as Dad began to develop dementia and he relocated to Worcester to live closer to his daughter Samantha.

Unfortunately his condition worsened and he entered the Willows Nursing Home in Worcester and spent over two happy years there before passing away on 14/03/2020.

Due to the Pandemic situation there were only 6 at his funeral but we are hoping to give him a proper send-off later this year.

Owing to Dad’s age there may not be too many comrades or colleagues around who shared REME times with him but he always smiled when his time there was discussed.

Menell James (AKA Jim) is by survived by children: Daryl, Russell, Samantha and Gail plus their spouses Elaine and Darren. Grand children: Nicky, Leanne, Stephanie, Stuart, Greg and Alison. Great Grandchildren: Daniel and Hollie.

Major (Retd) Robert Gardner TD

Scribe: Anne Gardner, his sister.

Robert sadly died on 31st October 2020 after a short illness. He was born in Cardiff in 1939 but the family moved to Glasgow in 1943 after his father died. When Robert was 10, the family moved again, to Stirlingshire, and Robert took up the bagpipes, that became so important in his life.

After school Robert went on to study for a degree in mechanical engineering in Glasgow. Whilst there, he joined the Pipe Band and the REME section of Glasgow University Officer Training Corps.

He also met David Sleight there, who later joined the Regular Army and became a lifelong friend.

After graduating, Robert was commissioned in the TA, joining 157 Infantry Workshop (TA) in December 1961. As well as TA service, there had to be a proper job and Robert’s career as an engineer was notable. He started work at Scottish Stamping in Ayr and became a specialist in die stamping. Thence to the Birmingham area, and Garringtons, which specialised in hammer forging. Their hammers were heard for miles.

In the TA: he served as a subaltern with the Holywell Platoon of 118 Recovery Company (HQ in Prestatyn), continued as Captain with 237 Sqn RCT Wksp at West Bromwich and 35 Signal Regt LAD in Birmingham. He was promoted to major in 1980, as BEME with 30 Engr Bde (V). In 1988 Robert finally retired from the TA.

After Garringtons, Robert removed to High Duty Alloys in Redditch and finally to SDF in Kidderminster. He was much respected in the forging industry.

Robert’s love of the bagpipes continued throughout his life. Interesting that, in 1967, a unit based in Prestatyn had a piper to play for them. In 1998, at a farewell Dinner to Col George Illingworth as Col REME TA, the Prestatyn Mess again echoed to the skirl of the pipes during after Dinner games. Robert had joined the Birmingham Scottish Pipe Band when he moved into the Birmingham area and, when he died, he was Pipe Major of The West Midlands Fire Service Pipe Band. His piping was well known to local British Legion branches and the REME Association; he tirelessly supported both.

Robert was very active all his life and he had many interests. Until he became ill, he kept himself fit by playing squash, circuit training, cycling and swimming. In his 70s he took up flying.

Robert was full of life and fun, kind and considerate and helped many people over the years. He is greatly missed by his family and his many friends.

Former Corporal William Frank Richens

Former Corporal William Frank Richens 21187696 passed away 6 April 2021 aged 91. Service dates 21 January 1948 to 20 January 1960.

It is with great sadness that I have to inform the Corps of the passing of William Frank Richens, aged 91, on 06 April 2021.

Corporal (Acting Sergeant) William Richens was born in Acton on the 13 January 1930 and spent the early part of his childhood in Perivale. He was evacuated to Cornwall during the war years and spent happy times there, returning to Perivale where he started an apprenticeship at the Hoover factory.

Bill, as he was known, served proudly with REME both regular and reservist from 21 January 1948 to 20 January 1960 as a Fitters Mate. As a Class 2 tradesman, Bill was posted to Egypt in 1950 returning to the UK in 1953 when he transferred from Regular service to become a Reservist. Following the campaign by former service personnel, Bill was subsequently presented with the Suez Canal Zone Clasp to the General Service Medal in 2003.

During his time in the Army, Bill became a qualified football referee which he continued to practice after he left the Army.

After completion of his service Bill worked for an electrical shop as a salesman and quickly became a manager. He later went on to become the window dresser for the company and travelled all over the south of England. In 1967 he changed his career, and with his wife Pat, he ran a Newsagent in Pinner. Bill and his wife gave many a young person a job as paper girls and boys and given his military training instilled discipline and loyalty into them with a good amount of humour added. Many of the paper boys and girls have said that Bill had played a major part in their growing up, with one going on to join the Army and attaining the rank of Major General of which Bill was very proud.

Bill was a staunch member of the REME Association’s Surrey Branch for many years, supporting the Branch in any way that he could. He joined the Pinner United Services Club in 1997, which was to play a huge part in his life, becoming President for 12 years and was made Life President after this term.

After Pat passed away in 1996, he continued to live on his own and it was only in his last few years did he need help. He finally came to Clifftops Care Home in Swanage to be near his family.

Bill loved the Army and may have made a full career of it, but as a family man he placed them first. He was fastidious in his appearance and a stickler for time keeping and made sure his family was the same.

Bill leaves behind his two daughters Daryle and Paula and their families.

Maj (Retd) John Norman TD

John Norman sadly passed away, quite suddenly, on Thursday 22nd of April 2021 whilst in hospital undergoing investigations over internal blood clotting issues. Subsequently his cause of death was certified as an Internal Haemorrhage. He was aged 88 years old having been born on the 29th of July 1932 in Pontypool, Monmouthshire, South Wales. He was educated at Park Terrace Primary and West Monmouth Grammar schools leaving at the age of 16 in 1948 to enter into a Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship with Girling Ltd. A major manufacturer of braking systems, in Cwmbran. He completed this apprenticeship during which he attained the award of a Higher National Certificate. During the course of his apprenticeship, and whilst on a Drawing Board in the Drawing Office, he happened to be in a location which had a view of an attractive girl typist. This led to a romance and eventual marriage to Janet on the 25th of July 1953 - the day after completing his apprenticeship.

After this the Conscription Services caught up with John, and he commenced his obligatory 2 year term of National Service. Because of his trade qualification, his service commenced with REME in May 1956 when he completed Basic Training at 2nd Training Battalion in Honiton, Devon. After this and, as was the practice then, he was creamed off as potential officer material and attended Eaton Hall Officers Cadet School. This was followed by his commission, on the 5th of January 1955, as a 2nd Lieutenant and a posting back to Honiton on an appointment as a Platoon Commander in “D” Company and later to become 2 I/C “A” Intake Company. Throughout this period he was a regular member of the rugby team representing Eaton Hall and 2nd Battalion. At Honiton he was fortunate to have his wife, Janet, move down to the area to be with him.

In April 1956 his term of National Service came to an end and he was able to rejoin employment with Girling Ltd and fulfilled a very respectful career with them until retirement at the age of 59. During February 1957 Janet and John were delighted to be joined by Baby Penelope (Penny) and, in August 1959, by another daughter – Sue. Together, all continued as a close knit family and very much loved by John. This family unit increased over some years to include 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons. During John’s service with Girling Ltd, in the 1960’s, he was transferred to a new factory in Birkenhead in a supervisory capacity and his family moved there for a period. Later in the 1960’s John was appointed a Technical Director of “Brakes India” a licensee of Girling where he was involved in the setting up of a new manufacturing unit in India. This appointment lasted over a period of 2 years during which Janet stayed there with John. In 1972 John was appointed into another distinguished position to serve as a Technical Vice President to form a new Company in Cincinnati USA. This position lasted nearly two years,

and again, his dear wife supported his venture. John eventually retired from working with Girling Ltd in 1991 at the age of 59 after 43 years of continuance service.

In May 1957 John elected to reconnect with REME by joining the local Territorial Army (TA) at Raglan Barracks, Newport and was appointed Workshop OC to 638 Regiment (RA) until April 1960. Following his civilian transfer to Birkenhead, he was able to obtain a transfer to serve as the Petrol Transport Workshop OC with 102 (Cheshire) Transport Column RASC (TA) from May 1960 until April 1966. From May 1966, John was back in Wales at Raglan Barracks to serve as the OC of 104 Light Air Defence Workshop. On the 10th of January 1978, John was awarded the “Territorial Decoration” (T&AVR) medal (AKA TD). During his TA Service he had achieved promotions from 2nd Lieutenant through to Major and received personal tributes of high esteem.

Upon his retirement from Girling Ltd and the Territorial Army

John was able to enjoy his main hobby of Model Engineering, using his machining skills he was able to build a 5” Gauge Locomotive, a 4” Scale Traction Engine and Baler and a 3” Scale Traction Engine. All of these were complete working models and were often seen at Steam Engine Fairs throughout the UK. He was witnessed once showing the latter traction engine at one of Arborfield’s Open Days, and watched the REME Band’s Concert in the Park still wearing his boiler suit with coal dust and grease adorned. He was known to have provided help to the REME museum using his knowledge regarding steam engine boiler testing and certification. He was an avid and very popular member of the Model Engineering Club in Newport, Gwent, South Wales.

Despite living in Raglan, John became an active member of the, then, Swansea and District Branch of the REME Association and subsequently an inaugural member of the Wales Branch. During his time with the former branch, he was adopted as the President in the place of the late Colonel (Retd.) Harry Bowen. He dutifully held this office until recommending that the position be passed on to the current Wales Branch President Lt. Col. (Retd.) Syd Thomas.

John Norman became a member of the Broxhead Club in 1985 and remained so until his recent death. He was a regular attendee at the annual dinners until advancing years prevented him from travelling. which started his love of military music both hearing and playing it. At 16, he decided that he would follow an engineering life and enlisted on the AAC Arborfield 67A entry (B Company) and immediately became a solid member of the College Corps of Drums. It was during our middle year at Arborfield that I became mates with Dave and shared some hairy times in his dilapidated Morris Cowley. Four or five of us would club together to buy 10 shillings of petrol (50 pence for 1.5 gallons) and then all of us would tear up and down Nine Mile Ride hoping it wouldn’t conk out.

Dave’s first posting as an Aircraft Technician (Airframes & Engines) in 1970 was to Mobile Platoon, 70 Ac Wksp REME, Middle Wallop. There, we continued to try and coax his Ford Anglia to greater things by fitting a Cortina engine, but without changing the gear ratios so it would break our necks up to 30mph but could never go faster than 55mph before internally haemorrhaging. We would take it back to Rochester and leave it with his elder and wiser brother Michael to fix! It was on the first of these trips that I met and, three years later, married his sister Christine.

In Mobile Platoon, Dave went on many exercises supporting AAC Squadrons including Ex HARDFALL where his love of Norway began, a place he would visit several times. In July 1972 he married Jennifer and very soon they were off to Omagh, Northern Ireland to join the 17/21st Lancers Flt LAD where they did a two-year tour. This was followed by a dream tour in Singapore with 11 Flt AAC LAD, which was cut short by withdrawal from the colony in 1975. After two tours with AAC flights, he was destined to come back to ‘the factory’ and was posted to 73 Ac Wksp REME, Celle. It was in 1976 that Claire, his only child was born in BMH Hanover. It was the day before my son was born on the same ward where Jennifer and Dave’s sister, Christine (my wife) were in adjoining beds for a couple of days. Dave and I spent that evening at a local Octoberfest celebration trying to remember which great party we’d all been at 9 months previously! Dave was always up for trying something new and on one visit we found him up the plum tree in the garden of his Celle MSQ ‘tickling’ every flower head with a feather to pollenate them. The tree groaned with fruit and he made a wonderful portlike wine from them. When 73 closed down, the family moved to Detmold and to 71 Ac Wksp REME. Dave had played hockey at Arborfield and again at Celle and his game kept improving until he was part of the team that won the BAOR 4 Division Championships. A member of a competing team told me he thought field hockey was a ‘girls’ game until he came up against Dave and the 71 Ac Wksp team. Dave was fearless on the pitch, whether it was played on artificial grass or on

Former WO1 (ASM) David George Rowney

Scribe: Captain (Retd.) Ian (Noddy) Crawford

It is with great sadness and shock that I report the loss of my brother-in-law David who died suddenly of a heart attack on 9th April 2021 aged 70. He was known as Dave throughout his days at Arborfield as an apprentice then during a full career in REME Aviation.

He was born in Rochester, Kent and attended Chatham Technical High School for Boys. He was interested in the military from a young age as his father had been a Royal Marine during the war and who had rebadged to REME before demobbing. Dave joined the Royal Marine Cadets in Chatham becoming an excellent flautist,

asphalt. He went on to play hockey for BAOR.

The family then moved back to Bulford and shortly afterwards bought their first house in Warminster. He had several postings over the 1980s and 90s to Netheravon-based LADs including 658 Sqn AAC and latterly 2 Flt AAC. While there, he had trips to Norway on several winter exercises, he was also an active member of various Sergeant Mess Committees. Over this time, his inner thespian was aroused through the medium of the Athenaeum Variety Group (AVG), a Warminster amateur dramatics group where he became chairman, a role he held for many years. He is fondly remembered as a great organiser who made the group more professional and organised, devising new ways for setting up the wings so that props weren’t needed and making many after show speeches. Never one to let pass an opportunity to dress up or putting on the slap, he played various parts from baddie to the dame, and wrote and directed the last ever AVG pantomime, Babes In The Wood. AVG brought pleasure and fun to many old folk’s homes around Warminster, often he would play one of the chars serving tea and biccies! He was truly multi-talented: great at directing, set building, acting, running the group, getting things done. He was dedicated and reliable, only wanting the best for the AVG.

Then in 1981 it was back to SEME and Middle Wallop on No. 53 Artificer Course and return to BAOR for a stint at 1 Regt AAC living in Hildesheim. He continued the movement by joining Hanover Amateur Theatre Society (HATS) at BMH Hanover where he wrote and directed the Princess and the Pea and was in several plays. In one, a review, he played Mr. Darcy and in another, Alfonso, an Italian gigolo (perfectly as he had the looks!). He enjoyed managing and acting very much and so did his audience. The family came back to Warminster when he commuted to the aforementioned Netheravon units where he enjoyed trips to California on Ex TRUMPET DANCE, Canada on Battle Group support at BATUS and more trips to Norway.

Memories recounted to me by all those who knew Dave said he was a real team player, full of fun and the perpetrator of many an escapade, often requiring some considerable setting-up. One alternative Christmas party he formed a ‘Magic Semi-Circle’ to perform a 3-part trick that included a pack of cards, a disappearing rabbit and him being cutting in half. The rabbit escaped and his blood-soaked leg looked so real, a civvy member of staff had an attack of ‘the vapours’. He was a fiend at all sorts of games including Bridge and Uckers (Ludo on steroids) and would cheat like mad but overtly and loudly so as to bring a certain flamboyance to the otherwise placid pastimes. All agreed, he was a true Bon Oeuf. In his last posting before leaving the service at the end of 1992, he was the WO1 (ASM) AETW Support Service at the Aircraft Engineering Training Wing, Middle Wallop where he ensured the training aircraft and equipment was in excellent condition for trainees. He left the service after a 26-year career. Dave joined Steelcraft Fabrication Ltd in Amesbury as the Production Manager and remarried shortly after leaving the army moving to Durrington near Salisbury where he set up house with his wife Lorraine. He had learned a huge amount about the commercial side of engineering, steel fabrication supply chains and Just-In-Time production processes while there. This experience led him back in the aircraft world in 2004 to take on a new role when he joined Augusta Westland Ltd as a Business Improvement Manager. He was involved in procurement, governance, quality management and continuous improvement, and crash-worthiness testing of internal equipment on the EH-101 Merlin, CH-149 Cormorant, USMC Marine One AW 101 and AW149 for a range of contracts until he finally retired from work in January 2016.

Dave had damaged his left ankle abseiling from a helicopter a few years before retiring and over time he had it operated on and then fused, which prevented him taking the dynamic exercise he had been used to. However, he kept busy and only COVID stopped him getting about more than he would have wanted. He had enjoyed fishing since childhood and retirement allowed him to spend more time with his brother, Michael, fishing in many lakes and rivers around the country. He also continued with his lifelong hobby, developing his huge and eclectic music collection containing literally thousands of albums, from current bands and types of music, back to those from the 1970s. He was an excellent cook and would develop his own take on a particular dish. It would start with research into the history of the dish, next a trip to the most select food emporiums in and around Salisbury to buy the best quality ingredients. Then he would cook and test two or three variations on a recipe before he felt it met his high standard. An invitation to friends and family was eagerly awaited so to enjoy his unique three or four course feast, which was photographed and with an accompanying relevant story, poem or some musings, added to his take on a ‘Jamie Oliver’ cook book. We treasure our copy of it. He replaced running and jumping for digging and sowing by taking on an allotment where he spent many a satisfying hour finding that he had, along with his many other talents, green fingers, the fruit of which ended up in many of his feature dishes.

It was in 2016 that Dave asked me if I was going to the 50th anniversary. I asked him, ‘anniversary of what’, he answered, ‘of us joining the army’. I stopped in my tracks! What a shock. However, it was wonderful to remember we’d been great mates for nearly 50 years. To celebrate, we went to ‘our year’ AOBA reunion dinner in 2017 and to the next two as well. Seeing our friends for the first time in so many years, I’m glad we were able to experience that together. Dave had always been a family man enjoying time with his wife Lorraine, daughter Claire, step-daughter Sasha and three granddaughters from both families; Sienna, Olivia and Elsie who are all heartbroken. He also leaves behind his siblings, Michael, Christine and Trudy who, along with me, loved him very much and miss him terribly. The family’s abiding memory of David is a man who was funny, hard-working, loyal and trustworthy - a good soldier, friend and family man.

The Corps Communications Team

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REME ARMS SCHOOL

Professional Recognition Awards

Introduction

The REME Arms School is a City & Guilds qualification provider for Professional Recognition Awards (PRAs). As such, it can offer the Level 4 Licentiateship (LCGI), Level 5 Affiliateship (AfCGI), Level 6 Graduateship (GCGI) and Level 7 Membership (MCGI) awards in Engineering to personnel who meet the criteria set out below.

The awards are Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) accredited qualifications which enable candidates to demonstrate their knowledge and skills within any sector or role. City and Guilds are the experts in accrediting work-based achievement. Those achieving these awards will be entitled to use an appropriate, internationally recognised post-nominal: Licentiateship, Affiliateship, Graduateship and Membership. They can also help candidates working towards higher level qualifications.

Successful candidates will receive two certificates from a PRA: A City & Guilds award (which entitles the holder to use post nominals) and a Regulated Qualification Framework award.

These awards are part of the PRA scheme from City & Guilds that is recognised in civilian industry. They are vocational qualifications based upon your experience and expertise. The awards are offered under Royal Charter.

Licentiateship - Level 4 - £82.00

REME personnel who have attained 2 years substantive Cpl and have completed all 3 phases of the JNCO CLM training are eligible for the Level 4 Licentiateship (LCGI) award in engineering. Comparable to Higher Level Apprenticeships and Certificates of Higher Education.

Affiliateship – Level 5 - £98.00

REME personnel who have attained 2 years substantive Sgt and who have completed all 3 phases of the SNCO CLM training are eligible for the Level 5 Affiliateship (AfCGI) award in Engineering. Comparable to Diplomas of Higher Education and Foundation Degrees.

Graduateship – Level 6 - £113.00

REME personnel who have attained 2 years substantive WO2 and who have completed all 3 phases of the WO CLM training are eligible for the Level 6 Graduateship (GCGI) award in Engineering. Comparable to Bachelor’s Degree

Membership – Level 7 - £139.00

REME personnel who have attained 2 years substantive Major and who have completed all parts of the ISC(L) training are eligible for the Level 7 Membership (MCGI) award in Engineering. Comparable to Master’s Degree and Postgraduate Ceftificate.

You must be either currently serving in the Army or have left within the last 2 years to qualify for this award. These qualifications are available for all REME trade groups.

Benefits

The Licentiateship, Affiliateship, Graduateship or Membership PRA in Engineering identifies you as a highly motivated individual who can manage resources, handle pressure and tackle new challenges. They allow you to gain valuable recognition for your professional and academic development within the REME and are widely recognised in outside industry.

Application Inquiries to: Mrs Debbie Jefferies: debra.jefferies102@mod.gov.uk

Standard Learning Credits cannot be claimed for these awards.