"The following were members of this branch."
REST IN PEACE
Josie Williams 
Tony Rice. 
28th March 1939 - 11th March 2016
My friend Tony – By John Bosworth. a true scouser. Intelligent, articulate, well read and witty and – in his case - a right stubborn git. Shortly after Tony was born, world war 2 broke out though he claimed it wasn’t his fault.
Throughout his life he did all sorts of things – none of them boring. He served in the RAF for several years where he was a helicopter technician. After that he went to Scotland and ended up running a company of divers servicing the oil industry – not a job for wimps. Having left that lot he did a stint at mushroom farming during which he provided mushrooms to the Balmoral estate. And he spent some very happy years up in Aberdeenshire living the good life where – it apparently, he adopted a pregnant toothless sheep. Not sure why, but, well, wouldn’t we all?
He eventually ended up in Spain like the rest of us and tried his hand at various enterprises such as time-share and estate agencies. Soon he opened a bar in Caleta which is where he met his beloved Ursula and they spent many happy years together – eventually moving to Alcaucin.
Then Tony got cancer and recovered. Then Ursula got it and sadly died. In his lonliness, Tony started talking to people online and, through a mutual friend, met up online with Margery his childhood sweetheart from Scouseland. They were able to kindle an old flame and get together again and they have been together ever since. Sadly Tony’s cancer came back so they haven’t had a lot of time together this time around either but the mutual love and regard that Tony and Margery have shared has been a treat to see. Her patience and understanding these last months has been wonderful. He knew that he was a lucky man to have found such a loving and caring person to share his life once again.
Joyce and I met Tony some years ago when we were walking past his house and a voice came over the hedge saying ‘I know that scouse accent’ and we introduced ourselves. We quickly became close friends - he joined the Legion and the drama group and soon became a - mmm I struggled with what to put in here so you can just make up your own words or, the best I could come up with was ‘a pain in the arse’. As a guard in Aladdin he took acting to a whole new level.
Tony had a proper scouse sense of humour and we spent many an hour over a glass solving the world’s problems. We went through every battle ever fought and improved on – and in some cases changed – the outcome.
We devised better strategies for the starts of World Wars 1 and 2, the battles of the Somme, Dunkirk, the Bulge and Hannibals crossing of the alps with his elephants. Of course we were able to sort out what was wrong with Europe, America and the world generally. I don’t know why we never became politicians.
Now we have to bid farewell to Tony who, around our neck of the world, was known as that droll, witty, and often outspoken man who lived along the track. He was never described as boring.
When we leave here I hope that you will accompany us to Bar Atila where we will drink a well-deserved bumper toast to our friend Tony.
Bob Jarrett
September 1943 – March 2016
The 5th March was a very sad day in Los Romanes when after a very short illness Bob passed away peacefully. The service to commemorate his life was held in Velez-Malaga & as befits Bob the chapel was overflowing with family & friends both civilian & military together with a number of ex “Red Devils”.
Bob leaves behind a very loving family wife Debbie, 2 sons Bobby & Terry, 11 Grandchildren and 16 Great Grandchildren.
Bob was a very popular member of the community both with the English & Spanish speaking. With his command of many languages he had helped many of the ex-patriot community with their medical & legal problems. He was always ready to help & assist normally without being asked. Bob was never happier than when he was helping those in need.
Bob had had a very interesting career, starting in the early 60’s, firstly in the Parachute Regiment where he had served overseas with 3 PARA in Bahrain ,British Guiana, Kenya, Denmark, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, USA & the Far East to name just a few. He had also seen active service in the Radfan, Northern Ireland & the Falkland Islands. During his service he was selected to be a member of the world famous “Red Devils” the Parachute Regiments free fall parachute display team. He also served with the “Joint Air Transport Establishment” whose role was developing advanced military parachuting equipment.
After 22 years military service he started a successful clothing business along with other ventures in the UK before moving to Spain where he met his wife Debbie.
Outside his family one of his other loves was animals Bob was an accomplished dog trainer who had been asked to judge at a number of local dog shows. At this year’s Axarquia Animal Rescue’s Annual Show there will be a trophy in remembrance of Bob for the “Best in Show”.
Bob was always an action man being a biker, a very accomplished skier, snowboarder & skydiver and had pursued these activities into later life. He was small in stature but a giant of a man who felt passionate on a number of matters he felt were important.
The world will be a smaller place without Bob.
June Bird.
June 7th 1936 September 29th 2016
I first met June at the RBL where she went with her friend Margery. I became involved in the El Valle Drama Group where June was also a member. We had quite a few laughs putting on various productions. She was a very feisty lady who knew her own mind at all costs as her neighbours will tell you. Pam and Rob who lived next door but one said she helped them no end when they first came to Spain to live and she did have a sense of humour and enjoyed sitting with a glass of wine putting the world to rights. . She sometimes would ring me and ask me to pop round and put her computer right, just a little slip she would say, and when I went, no picture. Well I only pressed a couple of buttons she would laugh and look what happened.
I became very close to June when she first took ill with dementia, and it was really upsetting for us to see her put into the Residencia Senior.
As in a lot of things you find black humour, and June in a nursing home was no exception. Like the time Gilly and I took her to the psychiatrist. The first time he said do you know where you areJune, to which she replied, yes here.Where is here. He said. You should know because you are here. Second time, same psychiatrist said I am the doctor you saw before June. Oh no you are not, the other doctor was much better looking than you.
Gilly and myself had quite a few laughs with her such as being dragged down on the floor as she was being ambushed and another time when she informed Gilly and myself she was marrying the younger prince of spain She said she was told to behave, no more affairs as she was to be part of “The family”. We took her out on a few occasions for her to eat her favourite of chocolate ice cream and needless to say had a lot of laughs. She loved her family and could remember way back in her past, but not her immediate past or present. She was very poorly at the end, but would still squeeze mine or Gillys hand.
She was not a religious person that we were aware of, so |I will say just a little poem which I know she would have loved.
The Comfort and Sweetness of Peace
After the clouds, the sunshine,
after the winter, the spring,
after the shower, the rainbow,
for life is a changeable thing.
After the night, the morning,
bidding all darkness cease,
after life's cares and sorrows,
the comfort and sweetness of peace.
Helen Steiner Rice
Read by Margaret Heron.
Friend.
