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Clifford
'Cliff' Meatheringham |
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Clifford,
or 'Cliff' as most people knew him, was the son of Wilfred and Edith-Anne
Meatheringham. He was born in 1930 in Mattersey, North Nottinghamshire
and was one of two children, his sister Agnes still lives near the family
village today. |
In
1944 at the tender age of 14 he travelled to Scarborough to sign up
for the Royal Marines Band Service, he trained in the Isle of Man and
Burford, thereafter serving in Deal, Ipswich and Plymouth. His instrument
was Flute/Piccolo. He really was a very talented musician and helped
others along the way. He travelled the world mainly in aircraft carriers,
and played at some very special venues and occasions like Winston Churchill's
Funeral, the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, Edinburgh tattoo, and
Remembrance Day services in London, to mention just a few. Retiring
from the Royal Marines Band Service as a Band Sergeant in 1970, Cliff
joined the MOD Police based at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth. A few
years later he moved his family to RAF Kemble in Gloucestershire and
spent the rest of his working life there. Cliff always had a love for
nature and foraging, it's something he passed on to his family. He spent
many hours, whilst on duty, filling his Police helmet up with all sorts
of weird and wonderful things - mushrooms, nuts, berries and occasionally
baby animals. Sometimes he rescued young birds who had been injured
on the runway or dazed by aircraft. He was a keen gardener, and loved
sharing his produce with family, friends and neighbours. He loved making
jams, pickles and wine from the produce he found or grew, his family
enjoyed eating and drinking them too - some of which they will be enjoying
for many years to come.