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IN MEMORIAM

 

 

 

Alan Joseph RIDGE 

 

19th May 1934 – 1st May 2007

AAS Arborfield Intake 49B C Company

 

 

1952

2007

 

 

 

 

It is with sincere regret that I have to let you all know that Joe Ridge 49B, a colleague and fellow Armourer of C Coy, passed away while visiting Germany a few weeks ago. I spoke to Jenny, his wife, when she found my tel no in Joe's papers and she has told me that a Commemorative Service will be held at Christ's Church, Denmark Road, Bedford at 2.00pm Saturday next. (7thJuly)

I expect to go and I am sure that any ex AAS guys will be welcome. I will endeavour to find out some more details. I have talked to Tony Plummer (49A/B, his close friend) today - he is sailing from Spain to Portugal at present and does not expect to reach his destination until the end of the week. He expects to be back in the UK too late to attend.

Joe had an older brother at Arborfield AAS a year or two earlier. Joe left the Army around 1964 and when I last meet him around 1968/69 at Mildenhall, Suffolk, he was undergoing Teacher Training. I didn’t get his full Army story but I understand he had a rather colourful time learning foreign languages while he was taking extra leave in Germany.

Jenny, his second wife, is interested in hearing from anyone who knew him during his last years serving in Germany around 1959-64. He was with 25th Regt REs at Osnabruck and thereafter at a REME Wk/Sp at Kunsebeck and Bielfeld BAOR.

I knew Joe well and enjoyed his enquiring mind. It brings home the fact that our days are limited when one of your own intake passes on and that we should not get too stuffy about the near future and enjoy every day as it comes. Maybe I will meet up with some of you there.


Max WARWICK 49B

 

Please extend the sympathy of Maggie and myself to Jenny and the family. As you say, we are none of us getting any younger and many of our friends are not in the best of health but that is no excuse for not making the most of what we are blessed with.

From your description of Joe, he sounds like a man who was full of life and therefore someone who leaves behind a legacy of pleasant memories for those who knew him and shared some quality time with him. May he rest in peace.


Greg PECK 53A

 

The loss of a member of the Arborfield Family is felt by all of us, and on this web site, originally dedicated to the 49ers, there will be many who will have very personal memories of Alan.

Mavis and I send our condolences to Alan's wife Jenny and their family.

May his God take our brother Alan into his care and keeping, and we ask him to spread a cloak of comfort around those for whom these are sad times.


Trevor STUBBERFIELD 52A

 

 

 

The service, conducted by The Reverend Adele Rowlands, reflected Alan’s interest in music and literature.  A prolific writer of prose and verse, an example of his work was read at the service by Clare Thomas.  Readings were made by Daisy Ridge, Sylvia Ridge and Mary Corbould.  During the service several pieces of music were played by Philip Bond.  Hymns included Morning Has Broken and Guide Me Oh Thou Great Redeemer in recognition of Alan’s Welsh heritage.  Arborfield Old Boys present included Alan’s older brother Graham 48A and Max Warwick 49B.  At the service a collection was held for Keech Cottage Hospital, a hospice for terminally ill children, based in Bedfordshire.  The sum raised was £207.

Details from the Order of Service supplied by Jenny RIDGE

 

 

 

 

 

Passing Hours.

 

Is youth a passing phase of life,

Of happy carefree days?

Or does it stay a latent part,

Unseen in words or ways?

 

Must youth depart as time creeps on,

As days give way to nights,

To leave but memories of it’s joys,

Revived in fancy’s flights?

 

Or can it stay an active force,

Sustaining mind and soul,

To keep ones spirits flying high,

Until the final goal?

 

The answer lies in mans own power,

To keep or lose at will,

Such things as youth has given him,

Before his heart lies still.

 

 

 

The verse  is by  A/T  R. A. Mills and is reproduced from the first edition of

‘The Arborfield Apprentice’, Volume 1.  No 1. printed in December 1944

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                      Appreciation and Alan’s Project.