Obituary - Harold Swain, M.B.E.; D.F.C 1921 -2013

Harold joined The Boys’ Brigade in Dorchester, Dorset in 1934.

As the present Captain of the Dorchester Boys’ Brigade, it’s an honour and privilege to pay tribute to Harold’s outstanding service to The Brigade – spanning 79 years, thirty of which as Captain of the 2nd Dorchester.

That we are now in our 121st year in the town is due, in large measure, to his leadership and devotion. Many of you will remember, I’m sure, the words of our Object:- The advancement of Christ’s Kingdom among Boys, and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect, and all that tends toward a true and Christian manliness; and our Motto from the Book of Hebrews – Sure and Steadfast.

There are no finer words that I could use to describe Harold’s dedication and assiduity. The impression he made on all of us in our formative years was invaluable and remarkable:

• The standards he set. The motivation he engendered.
• The life skills he taught us. The behaviour he instilled.
• And his constant effort to ensure we strove to reach our potential.

I recall personally, as a young man, being very proud to be accompanied by Harold, as my Captain, when attending Buckingham Palace to receive the Duke of Edinburgh’s award

That wasn’t the only time he went there however. He had in later years, so deservingly been awarded the M.B.E. for his services, and duly made his way to the Palace to receive his medal from Her Majesty. Arriving with little time to spare, he asked if he might use the loo before the presentations commenced. Hurriedly, he was conducted to a nearby room and it was only afterwards that he was informed that that was The Queen’s Toilet. Boys’ Brigade Officer and Gentleman he was, I’m sure he would have put Her Majesty’s seat down upon leaving.

His dedicated service was marked even more so by the fact that, in his earlier years, he had contracted Polio leaving him with restricted mobility. The measure of Harold was such that, notwithstanding this, he never faltered, he was always there for us Boys, on parade nights, games nights, church parade, annual camps, on the sports field and in the hall in the myriad activities he arranged for us.

And his memory lives on in the minds of Boys who passed through The Boys’ Brigade – many years later I was in Worcester with the Carnival Band when one of the old boys shouted out excitedly – Look, Harold’s here, too! I looked across and saw a small bright blue, 3-wheeler car parked on the procession route, our hopes dashed upon inspection of the interior revealing the presence of no newspapers, no discuses, no cricket balls that he was renowned for carrying, and would thrust into my hand when I chanced meeting him in the street with the words, “For the Boys, Anthony”.

As Boys we had not fully appreciated that we were in the presence of a war hero – having volunteered to join the RAF in the war years, he flew 45 sorties with the Pathfinder Squadron over Germany at the height of the war, returning home safely each time against the horrendous odds of so few ever making it back. For his valour and meritorious service he was awarded the DFC.

Harold was not only a modest man; he was not only a war hero but to so many young men, myself included, he was a true Inspiration. On behalf of The Boys’ Brigade and the countless numbers of young people who benefitted so much from his example, I salute him.

We pray that Madge and all of the family will find comfort in knowing the high esteem in which he was and always will be held.

Tony Day

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