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Bob (Taff) Wilson
(Below written by Dave Shephard and Dave Squires who attended Bob's
funeral on 1st February 2024 (along with Ken Ryan, Pancho & Rod
Wallace from 223)
It was in Bob “Taff”
Wilson's unique way that he told us early in 2023, that the NHS had,
after 12 years deleted him from their Christmas card list. His way of
telling us that his cancer treatment was at an end and there was nothing
else that could be done. Well, they were slightly premature because he
saw the festive season so they could have sent a card. Sadly, Bob
succumbed to the disease on the 17th January 2024.
Bob was only 15 and a half, a full
two years younger than me when we met for the first time in York Flight
in June 1971. I was first on the left as you entered our room; Bob was
third on the left and Rod Wallace 4th. Don Tanner was at the
far end also. Unbelievably our room had two future commissioned
officers, Wing Commanders no less, who would have guessed. I remember
his soft Welsh accent and his ample proportions made even bigger when
bedecked with his big bass drum. Taff was some character always with a
story to tell some longer than others, some much longer.
Our Commissioned Officers
What a loss Taff not
passing out with us, being back entried to 225 and finally leaving the
RAF while at Halton. This was evident at our 2004 reunion when he
received such a warm welcome and even volunteering to do the a write up
on the event. This was a well written piece with humour and a big pinch
of poetic licence, check it out on our reunion page. I only wish he had
written this write up for me.
What was a loss for the
front line was a gain for the RAFVR(T). Having been a cadet prior to
joining he went back to being a cadet and on to a commission, retiring
as Officer Commanding 3 Welsh Wing in 2011 due to ill health. Bob was a
commissioned for 31 years. Note he started on 3 Wing and finished on 3
Wing, although the latter in Wales. I can only imagine the scrapes that
he got up to with those cadets and how he would manage to talk his way
out of them.
In his book, Prisoner
Bob Wilson
010569 &534504
(N)ational (H)omeland (S)ecurity
Stalagluft Singleton
Quite a zippy title I am
sure you will agree, he mentions many times how educationally challenged
he is. Well BOB WILSON BA(Hons) PGCE< PGCSL, fCMgr FinstLM
TECHIOSH RAFVR(T) . I think you did well (I have no idea what most of
the latter is.) even lecturing in Management at the local University.
So it was that on 1st
February 2024, 5 members of 223, Ken Ryan, Paul Bedward, Rod Wallace,
Dave Shephard with Marilyn and Dave Squires attended Morriston
crematorium in Swansea. A large crowd had gathered, many in RAF blue and
the Air Cadets and RAFVR(T) officers formed a guard of honour and
performed a general salute as the hearse and the entourage approached
the chapel.
The coffin was carried
into the chapel to the sounds of the Bee Gees “STAYING ALIVE” which
brought a chuckle to those waiting. The fun wasn’t to end there, the
Order of Service written in Taffs unique style (attached) and the power
point performance with quips inserted to pictures on a slide show. No
prayers no hymns, just laughter. The chapel was full, with many unable
to get in, testament to the great man and what a loss to his community
and friends.
Taff would have been
proud of the wake, a large buffet for the 120 or so that attended at
Bonymaen Rugby Football Club, famous for Alun Wyn Jones 160 caps for
Wales and British and Irish Lions. Mr
Wallace had left for Devon so, more food for the rest. Shep retired to
their accommodation early having had his fair share of donuts, even
wrapping one in a napkin for later.
Ken and Pancho were
staying the night in Swansea swapping stories about Man Utd and Everton
and Man Utd v Wolves was on TV. I trust they kept the traditions of 223
in being the last in the bar. I left them in Swansea City centre and
drove home. I wont mention that Pancho travelled to Swansea the day
before and asked Ken to pick him up, from Fishguard a 3 hr round trip.
What a host….
The family requested
donations to MacMillan Cancer Support or Maggies.org a support charity
in Swansea although I believe this is nationwide.
If you have any
anecdotes, including Taff I am sure Bob Rodham would welcome them.
RIP BOB, It was a
privilege to call you a friend, thanks for the laughs
Ken Ryan & Pancho 4 or 5 pints to the good.
Dave Squires
(Please click on thumbnails above to expand)
Dave
Squires, Ken Ryan, Pancho, Rod Wallace, Marilyn and myself attended. Not
sure what happened to Jock Kerr although I think Ken may have contacted
him the following day. It was very well attended and only Ken & Dave
Squires got seats in the 'church' - the remainder of us including many
more people listened and watched from the foyer with even several still
outside. The whole event was based on humour with the coffin
carried in to the tune of 'staying alive ' (beejees'). The obituary was
full of humorous anecdotes which reflected his character very well.
After the funeral apart from Rod we went back to his local rugby club
where a large buffet was provided and the bar was open of course. All of
us 223 guys including Marilyn took the opportunity to have a good 'chin
wag' and thoroughly enjoyed swapping old stories - mainly about 'jankers'.
Dave headed home after the traffic reduced & Ken + Pancho spent what
turned out to be a heavy session at the grand hotel in Swansea. I got a
couple of texts from Ken of amusing incidents that occurred (details
later). Marilyn & myself had a quiet meal at a different hotel.
Spent the next day exploring the 'Gower'.
Dave Shephard |
