Derek Cudmore on Tue 11 Oct 2005.
For many years he worked at BStE TA Centre and came to SACF camps assisting the MTO.
At his funeral on Mon 24 Oct 05 at Rushmere St Andrew Church, Ipswich, SACF were represented by SSIs Roger Austin and Donna Catt, Capt John Catt and Maj John L Raybould TD.

Eulogy by Lt Bob Becker RN:
'I first met Derek when I was around 14 yrs old so I've  known him for some time and grew up knowing him. Derek was the easiest man to know, straightforward and uncomplicated.
Derek was modest, unassuming and giving; his roots were of the country and of a previous age - in many ways an age of innocence. To this extent he displayed some admirable qualities - his gentle sense of fun, his kind-hearted view of everything around him and his affection for his family and friends.
Here today we may still feel our loss, in part feel assailed by grief, as is natural. But Derek was a man who cared not for fuss, but looked for peacefulness and happiness around him. So we should therefore perhaps not be sad but celebrate a life that was long and one that was well spent.  A life in which Derek had the rare fortune in his middle years to begin again, when he found not only the woman with whom he would see out his life, but acquired step-children and family, and by and by, with the more recent additions to the family, new friends whose company, and in turn, whose children, he cherished so much.
There was no extravagance or pretence about Derek. So long as he had his Jane, his home, his garden, his family friends and football, he had everything. He was fortunate in that he had achieved all that he desired and never lost sight of how happy he was in his home with my mother.
When Derek was ill, he was more ill than many realised. He fought his illness the way he lived his life. No fuss, no drama, without sound or fury, but instead with dignity and calmly. His was a quiet courage. And towards the end, whilst we thought that we understood the seriousness of his condition more than Derek did, we now see that Derek knew more than we realised. But to the end, he remained thoughtful and considerate, thinking only of shielding Jan from the inevitable. In the final analysis, he probably was afraid, but he kept this from his dearest love, his best friend, his wife. As he was wont to say, particularly in their last times together, he loved her more than she would ever know, but she knows.
Derek was a devoted husband, a loyal step-father, and a dear, dear friend with his innocent yet organized and open approach to life, his sense of humour, his personal slant on the English language, his simple but sensitive values and the joy and the affection he received through his friendships.
These are the things that counted and still count. Derek would not want us to grieve too much, or be sad too long, so it is fitting that we remember him from time to time for the lovely man that he was.
Perhaps we may remember him on a Saturday afternoon when Ipswich win - though I think he deserves more often than that.
Perhaps we may remember him when family are gathered together.
Or, simply, one may remember him on a quiet afternoon when alone in the garden - because that’s where he would be.'    JLR

Sgt John William Frederick Hunns on 24 Feb 2008, aged 70, after a long illness, bravely borne. A former Suffolk soldier, he then served with HQ 6 R Anglian and
the Home Service Force in Bury St Edmunds, regularly attending Suffolk Army Cadet Force camps.

Below is the eulogy by Captains Robert and Christine Campbell (Salvation Army):
‘Born on 3rd June 1937, John was the eldest child of John and Beryl who then went on to have three daughters, Kathleen, Tilly and Mabel. When he left school he first worked for Marlow’s of Brandon before being called up to do his tour of National Service. I think it would be fair to say that from that moment on, his life changed and after he completed his National Service with the Parachute Regiment, he signed up as a regular with the Suffolk 1st Battalion and served with distinction, as his role in the capture of the Eoka leader in Cyprus, which is well documented, reveals. He stayed with the Suffolks for twelve years before leaving the army and working at the Mount Pleasant Post Office in London before eventually moving to Thetford with his family and to live in the same house in Tudor Close for the next 40 years where he raised his children, Pauline, John, Linda and Wendy.
However his army days were not quite done, for like many men who have served in the armed forces there is an ‘esprit de corps’ unlike any other that can be found in civilian life and so John joined up as a Territorial serving with Headquarter Company, 6th Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment, in Bury St Edmunds, for a further 10 years and so completing his 22 years of service. Of course, the TA was only part time, one evening a week, weekends, exercises and camps, but it demanded much commitment, dedication, determination and sacrifice for as was often the case, having been on weekend manoeuvres and having had very little sleep, John would be back at work Monday morning and could be seen working on the building of Staniforth School and later working for many years for Blythe and Hazel Furniture Removers as well assisting Suffolk Army Cadets at Annual Camp.
Finally, he retired, if that’s the right word and became very actively involved in the Regimental Museum in Bury St Edmunds and the comment has been made that ‘there wasn’t a screw hole in the building John hadn’t drilled’. Likewise we can say the same here about our small charity shop as John set about putting up shelves, fixing hooks, moving, lifting and doing any other little task that needed attention. Nothing was too much trouble and John’s help and willingness to help was really appreciated. Even when he was unwell, nothing would stop him from doing all he could and he was determined to continue to the very end and just a few days before he passed away, he insisted he come here so that he could spend some time just sitting in the coffee shop sharing an occasional word and watching the world go by. As I said, we all see different parts of the mosaic that was John Hunns, his commitment, his determination, his loyalty, his friendship, his spirit but the one thing we all know is that he was loved, he was respected and he was well liked by all who knew him and he will be sadly missed by many.’   RC and CC

Below is the eulogy by Maj Stan Bullock MBE:
‘It is over 50 years since John and I met up and in the usual serviceman’s way we continued to meet and drift apart until I retired to become QM of the TA Bn at Bury St Edmunds and there was John still in uniform working at the same location.
John was a dedicated soldier and as far as he was concerned it mattered not who he served with or in what capacity he served, always providing his very best at all times.
John’s father served in the Suffolk Regiment. There is a picture of him and John’s mother in the museum; his father dressed in uniform on their wedding day, something John was so very proud of and we all knew he was a very, very proud Suffolk soldier for all of his life.
Always very smartly turned out, especially for Minden Day, he really came into his own dressed in a blazer with The Suffolk Badge very prominently displayed, flannels, black very shiny shoes, black beret with roses and of course medals. John loved Minden day and would be there for the preparation along with his colleagues on the Saturday morning and again early Sunday ready for the grand day and he was so willing to do anything, talk to anyone or help on any task he was asked. John loved to be with serving or ex-servicemen and enjoyed being a member of The Royal Anglian Club and of course his very special Suffolk Regiment Old Comrades Association. He would be sat at the bar on the 4th Tues of the month with his coke, always willing to help and even would call Bingo if asked, but the one thing he did not do was play Bingo ! He attended all the various functions that the Suffolk OCA organised bringing sister Tilley along for company and they always enjoyed the occasions.
John attended many of the Veterans Trips organised by the Association, travelling through France and Holland and into Belgium. He was always ready to march and parade as and when told. First on the coach and first up in the mornings, assisting the Old boys or anyone else he could help. John loved those trips and made many very good friends who all greeted him on arrival and made a great fuss on his departure.
I know John had a very difficult time as a young father but so typical of him he carried out the task lovingly and, with pride, he would talk of his family and would gladly exchange news with others of their activities and travels.
During the latter years John became very involved in the refurbishment of the Regimental Museum at the Keep. He, with a valiant few, would work for hours drilling up to 100 holes in those massive walls with a re-chargeable drill that he would take home and recharge for the next onslaught. Tim Davies actually let him have one day off during that period as John was having new windows fitted. He was happy.
Regrettably, as we are aware, John became very ill over the last year and although suffering considerably continued to attend the museum for his duties. He refused to admit that he was ill and we all let him think he had fooled us. My friend John Hunns, a loving father, a Soldier of the Queen a true friend to one and all. A gentleman who was never heard to say a bad word about anyone, ‘Stabilis’ was his motto.’   HSB

A guard of honour, all wearing Suffolk ties, formed up in the Salvation Army Citadel in Thetford. The coffin was draped with the Suffolk flag on which rested John’s beret and medals. In attendance was the black draped standard of the Bury St Edmunds Branch of the Royal British Legion. Nearly £400 was collected for the Royal Anglian Regimental Museum in Bury St Edmunds. Col Tony Taylor, his 6 V Bn R Anglian Regt CO, Maj Stan Bullock MBE, representing the Suffolk Regt and 6 V Bn R Anglian Regt, Maj John L Raybould TD and SSI Christine Forsdike, representing Suffolk ACF, attended the funeral. The hymns were 'Onward Christian soldiers', 'Abide with me and 'The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended'. He departed to the tune of the Regimental March of The Suffolk Regiment, Speed The Plough. John is survived by his children, grand children and great grand children.   JLR

Afternote Apr 08: From the Dec 07 'Castle' (by Lt Col Dan Baily):
I regret I did not know until I saw the notice of his death that Douglas James had served as an admin officer with the TA for many years.
But I knew him years before that (can it really be 40?) when he was Orderly Room Clerk and then Orderly Room Sgt of the 1st Bn after we had returned from Aden to Celle in 1965-68. At the time I was the Intelligence 0fficer and then Adjutant to the late Lt Col Tim Creasey, a staff-training education in itself (partly going back to Creasey's own post-war experience as Adjutant to the legendary and awe-inspiring Lt Col 'Uncle Bob' Turner-Cain, CO 1 R Norfolk in Schloss Neuhaus).
CSgt James was a real tower of strength in the key job as Chief Clerk, especially to me in those days before there was a JDSC (Junior Defence Staff College) to teach young officers 'joined-up writing' and before Asst Adjutants became the fashion. No PCs on every desk either. Everything was handwritten, typed onto 'skins' by Lillian (Mrs John/QM Tech) Bedford on an immense Adler manual typewriter, checked by the Adjutant and then by the Chief Clerk and run-off on the Gestetner duplicator. Ah, those were the days ! I can still remember the reproachful but triumphant look on the Chief's face when he could come back with an error he had found. Doug took immense pride in the Battalion and everything he did at its hub. He was immensely conscientious and painstaking but never 'boring' or pompous about his work and he had a sardonic sense of humour that leavened the weight of the never-ending bumph in the trays. It was always good to see him first thing in the morning (he always seemed to be first in) and I for one will value my memories of him.

Col Alan Munro TD on 9 December 2007, aged 80 - 'one of a kind'.
Tributes have been paid to a 'kind, energetic man who loved life and would do anything for anybody'.
Although he was probably best known in Bury St Edmunds as the former head postmaster of the town's post office, Col Munro was also involved in a number of clubs and organisations, including the Rotary Club, East Anglia Parachute Regimental Association, Post Office Veterans, the Fellowship of Head Post Masters and Friends of Kevelaer, Bury's twin town in Germany.
His wife Sue, 55, said: 'He always had everybody in tears with laughter. He was an excellent organiser. Someone wrote on a card: "Wherever he is, he will be organising something". He was always busy doing something. He loved life - he was one of a kind - a real character. There was quite an age gap between us and someone once asked why I was married to him. I said because it was never boring. He was always on the go, doing something, telling me about something he had done or someone he had met. It's amazing how many people he knew. He was very much an outside person and very sociable.'
As a Friend of Kevelaer, twin town of Bury St Edmunds, and with the help of RAF Honington, he managed to export a traditional-style telephone box to the German city.
Col Munro retired 20 years ago but kept very active, working out in the gym 5 times a week, as well as enjoying walking in the Lake District.
After his WW2 service ended in 1949 with the 5th Scottish Parachute Bn, Col Munro served with two TA regiments, rising to 2nd in command of the 2nd Bn Lancastrian Volunteers and later as the commanding officer of the 4th Volunteer Bn, Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
Col Munro also represented the Army as a marksman in rifle contests across Europe and America.
He is survived by his wife Sue and children Andrew, Richard and Deborah.

With acknowledgement to Paul Bloomfield of the Bury Free Press newspaper.   JLR