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In Memorium - To The Green Fields
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
There is an old Egyptian saying that if you continue to
speak the names of the dead, they will never be forgotten
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SSgt Fred Kirkham entered "The Green Fields Beyond" in January 2006 at Scarborough. He left behind his wife Sylv and their three surviving sons, Gary, Andrew & Kevin. Those who knew the family will be aware that their eldest son, Mark, died many years ago in a traffic accident whilst Fred was serving the Regiment as a superb Recruiting Sgt in Scarborough. Fred's innate ability to "talk himself related" within minutes of him meeting perfect strangers led to him spending the last 5 years of his 27 1/2 years service in the Scarborough Recruiting office. Prior to that he had been a Recruiting Sgt on Merseyside and for a brief period in Lancashire. Fred was a Yorkshireman to the bone and his ready and at times quite appalling sense of humour, led him to declare, when the Regiment recruiting solely from Liverpool, that "the Regiment was manned by scousers and led by British Officer's and NCO's". Fred was the first to admit that the scousers ready and lightning quick wit made him feel at home. During his time with the Regiment, from 1950 to 1978, Fred saw active service in Suez and Korea (1952 - 53). Fred received a belated GSM for the latter service a few years before he died. Amongst his many postings were Catterick, as a Gnry Instr when 1 RTR was responsible for the RAC Training Regiment, and Northern Ireland, 1974 - 1978 plus 3 tours in Germany, 1951-52, 1960-65 and 1969-70. 1 RTR owe Fred a great debt, as I say he was a great character and a staunch member of the Regiment to his dying day. I am proud to say Fred was my friend for 40 years both during our service and during the many years since our leaving the Regiment, a true example of Regimental spirit. If anyone should be on the Regiment's Role of Honour it is SSgt Fred Kirkham, who, in his mind, never actually retired from his long and honourable service with 1 RTR. Peter Morrison.
Pete Moon: An horrific crash involving eight Lancashire people has left an army veteran dead. The stunned family of Peter Moon from Leyland are today coming to terms with his death in a devastating road accident. Mr Moon, 48, of Alder Close, died instantly when his car smashed head-on into two other vehicles on Schleswig Way, Leyland at 10.40am on Saturday. Today his heartbroken daughter Gillian and ex-wife Christine described the terrible shock of losing him. Christine said: "I didn't want to believe it was him until I went and saw the body. It was such a shock. I just don't know what to say." It is thought that Mr Moon may have passed out at the wheel of his red Rover 114, possibly after suffering a heart attack. A post mortem examination is being conducted to establish what happened. He veered into oncoming traffic hitting a Renault Clio and a Range Rover, sending the Clio spinning off the road. The Clio was driven by John Strange from Riversedge Road, Leyland and contained his wife Denise and three children. Mrs Strange sustained broken ribs and the rest of the family were treated for shock, cuts and bruises. Driver of the Range Rover Wendy Sharrock, 39, from Lydiate Lane, Eccleston, was treated for shock and her two-year-old daughter sustained bruising. Mr Moon was a keen fisherman who had served 19 years in the Tank Regiment but was retired. He had won campaign medals for Cyprus and Northern Ireland. Daughter Gillian described her dad as an caring animal lover, whose military discipline shone through even after retirement from the forces. She said: "He was always there when I needed him. He was a great support. He would help anybody. He got on well with people and would help them if he could. "He was fond of animals, especially cats. He was definitely a cat man. And he really enjoyed fishing." "He was an army man, he still had army habits. When he walked you could see the march was still there and his clothes always had to be a certain way. And he had quite a loud voice. He was good fun." Despite their loss, the Moon family were still thinking today about the other people hurt in the crash. Ex-wife Christine said: "I just feel so sorry for the people in the other cars, that they were involved and got hurt. I am glad they are all right." Insp Clive Cope of Lancashire police said: "The accident happened when a Rover 114 was travelling along Schleswig Way towards Buxton when the vehicle, for no apparent reason, veered on to the opposite side of the road." - From Chris Moon.
The Honoured Dead
Actor Peter O'Toole said that "at our age we say goodbye to more friends than we make"