Yesterday I attended the funeral of dear old Jock along with Mike Tellick and Mike Scurfield, and the service was conducted by Graham West. Jock had been my S/BM in Staff Band 64-66 and was BM on HMS Eagle where Mike Tellick served a 22 month commission in the band.

It is a measure of the love and respect which Jock garnered in his long life of almost 95 years that the chapel at Hawkinge crematorium was completely full and an annex was required to accommodate all those present….more than 100 in my estimation. Sadly, as I am now virtually completely deaf, I could not hear the tribute that was read by Graham but I noticed a few shoulders moving when there must have been some humour! A novel innovation, that was new to me, was the two large TV screens which at a salient point in the service displayed a rolling selection of photos from Jock’s career and gave an insight into his private family life.

Jock had been a keen golfer and there were clearly many who knew him from playing and, as the reception was held in Folkestone Bowls Club, I suspect he also played bowls. After retiring from RMBS Jock became a primary school teacher in Dover and Mike Tellick and I chatted to a few lady teachers sat next to us who had been on the same school staff with him and remembered him with respect and affection.

Altogether a long and productive life of a true gentleman who will be sorely missed by many.

Adrian Brett