Obituary - P A J (John) Turner

5th September 1925 – 13th June 2013
Past President West of England & Channel Island District 

John Turner was never a Boy in The Boys’ Brigade; he was appointed Drill Officer in the 12th Bromley Company on his demob from the Royal Marines in 1947. John always said that because he had no Boy service or experience he had to base all his BB work on the ‘little red book’ the BB Manual. He became Captain of the 12th and before coming to the West Country in 1968 was Vice- President of the London District.

I first met John at a Battalion Cross Country Run on Woodbury Common, it was a cold miserable afternoon and I was a marker out on the course directing the runners and making sure everyone was accounted for. On my return to the dressing rooms, wet and dirty in my old duffle coat, cap and boots, there was John, a big tall man, immaculate in suit and raincoat and highly polished shoes with not a hair out of place. If I was a typical Exeter officer what did he think of us!

John became a valued member of the Exeter & District Battalion and served as Training Convener, Parade Adjutant, Battalion Secretary, Displays organiser and Battalion President In all of these appointments he was meticulous in organization and detail.

On the wider BB scene he represented the Battalion on the District Executive and became President for the permitted three years – a role he performed with distinction. John and his late wife May were regular at District Fellowship weekends

At Devon Division level he organized parades to Exeter Cathedral when the Battalions of Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter marched through the city centre.

A keen supporter of the Camping and Training Centre at Broadleas he was fete organizer for 13 years and over the years did much DIY painting

John a founder and life member of the Stedfast Association (London) was a regular at the annual meetings.

Both he and May attended Brigade Council and travelled to venues in England, Scotland and Wales.

In his professional life John came to Exeter as the Director of the Regional office of the British Council and was well known in the City of Exeter. He was on Christian name terms with Chief Constables and Deans of the cathedral. He served on the Exeter committee of the Y M C A

It was a regret that he didn’t become a Company Captain; I’m sure it would have been a company to be reckoned with and because of Council Summer Schools he only camped with the Battalion on one occasion

A fitting and impressive thanksgiving service was held at Wonford Methodist Church (of which he had been a Steward for many years) on the 1st July followed by the cremation at Exeter Crematorium at which a Royal Marine bugler sounded Last Post and Reveille.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Gill and Keith and the family

Frank Flook