Page 11 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 55

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

The Last Post

made to the Corps, it is entirely appro- On completion of his apprenticeship
priate that our thanks for his life should his first posting was to the MoD in
be recorded in this Journal. Whitehall as Chef to the Chief of the
Kindly provided by David Saunders. General Staff (CGS) Field Marshal
Sir Gerald Templar.
Like so many former ACC Apprentices
At that time it was a requirement
I remember Bob Burniston very well,
that all members of CGS staff had
not least for ‘encouraging’ me to do more
to be crack shots. It was during this
press-ups, sit-ups and star jumps than I
posting that Colin was recruited into
ever thought possible! Didn’t do us any
the Intelligence services, remaining so
harm though, did it? What a great and
until the end of his military service and
memorable PTI. Editor
beyond, a fact unknown to anyone in the
Corps or his family until around 2010.
Gordon Stuart Buxton sadly passed
The second was taken in about 1979 and Colin quickly rose through the ranks
away in March 2020
shows him as a Captain in Rinteln with with postings to Tidworth, Norway,
Mum about to go, I think, to a civic func- Singapore before becoming Master
tion with the German authorities. Chef with the Royal Engineers in
Very best wishes, Andrew Copson Bassingbourne. This was followed with
a tour as an Instructor at the Army
Kenneth Crawley sadly passed away on
School of Catering, where I first met
23rd December 2019
him, both of us being on weekend duty
in the Officers’ Mess. I was taken by
Dave Dobson sadly passed away on
this relaxed, friendly and accomplished
1st February 2020
Warrant Officer Chef, never realising
that we would become friends for life. It
WO1 Colin Edward Drumey
was at this time that I met and became
March 1940 – December 2019
good friends with Colin, his wife Dottie,
Colin Drumey was born in Cannock but
Major Alan Copson and their daughters.
moved south in his early days, attending
25th July 1935 – 8th February 2020 Then he was off to Berlin as a WO1
both Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar
Dear Wally, my Dad, Alan Copson, sadly in the Berlin Infantry Brigade, where we
School and Enfield Grammar School
died on the 8th February 2020 after again met up, me as Master Chef of 1st
prior to joining the ACC Apprentice
a mercifully short battle with cancer, Bn The Green Howards. In Berlin Colin
Chefs’ Wing, the forerunner of the
which he faced up to stoically. He left was instrumental in forming ACC foot-
Junior Tradesmen Regiment ACC and
the army in 1985, having joined in 1960 ball and cricket teams made up from
the Army Apprentices College (ACC).
as a private soldier. His first posting was Chefs from all regiments serving there
In his squad at that time was WO2
to Aden, followed by the first of several at the time. We weren’t very good but
Norman Bryson, his future best man
postings to Aldershot. His career then it got our Chefs out of the kitchens
and lifelong friend, and also Maj (QM)
took him and his family to Colchester, socialising and having fun. One thing I
Ian Atkinson amongst others. He shone
Cyprus (Episkopi), Northern Ireland remember vividly was returning to the
as an Apprentice Chef quickly attain-
(Hollywood), Aldershot, Maidstone, pavilion after batting finding everyone
ing the rank of Apprentice Corporal.
Yorkshire, BMH Rinteln and finally, in fits of laughter as Colin had sat on
once again, Aldershot. His attachments my dentures and written them off!
were to units including: Prince Of At this time we worked alongside
Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire, Capt Gordon MacFarlane for the
36 Engineer Regiment RE, the Royal Silver Jubilee visit of HM The Queen
Corps of Transport and the Royal Army to Berlin. We also worked on the Berlin
Medical Corps. Although Alan retired Tattoo and BRIXMIS receptions in
from the army in 1985, it remained as the Russian Sector in East Berlin, in
something he spoke of often. He was addition to our Regimental catering
clearly proud to have served in the ACC responsibilities. Colin secured a dou-
and in the British Army. I attach a cou- ble posting to Berlin which seemed
ple of photographs, the first was taken in strange at the time. It was only on my
about 1971 and shows him in Cyprus (his 70th birthday that Colin told me of his
and Mum’s favourite positing) as a WO2 connection with the Intelligence ser-
taking an interest in some leather sandles! vices. Whilst carrying out some other
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