Ted Wood 13/10/1937 - 22/12/2013 RIP
Ted as we like to remember him; laid to rest at Bulmer 3rd January 2014.
OBITUARY
It is with great sadness that I have to report that our President Edward Wood (Ted) died on December 22nd 2013 following a long illness bravely borne.
I would like to thank everybody who attended Bulmer Church on January 3rd for offering their support to Muriel and her Family and the Sudbury Branch of The Royal British Legion.
At Ted’s Funeral Family and Friends spoke of a very determined man from a very young age saying he wanted to be a Pilot and indeed he joined the RAF becoming a Squadron Leader flying Vampires, English Electric Lightnings and Hunters during his 24 year career. On leaving the RAF Ted became a Flying Instructor and also flew for a Commercial Airline. Later in life he and his wife Muriel moved to Gladwells Farm near Nayland and ran a Bed and Breakfast business there before eventually retiring to Bulmer.
Ted was active in Bulmer helping to raise funds for the purchase of Coe’s Meadow for the Village.
He was active in the British Legion over a period of 20 years and in February 2006 he became Branch President a position he held until March 2011 when he stepped down in order to give more time to his then new role as Suffolk County Vice Chairman. Unfortunately Ted’s illness became such that he gave up his County role and when in August 2013 Peter Maybury wished to stand down from the Branch President because of his own health reasons Ted agreed to fill this role a position he held until his death.
Although his illness was progressing Ted gave the Welcome speech on behalf of the branch at the Remembrance Concert hosted by the Ormiston School Sudbury in October which was a very successful event and in November Ted’s determination came through when he read the Lesson at the Remembrance Service in St Gregory’s Church Sudbury and laid the Branch Wreath on the War Memorial.
The Funeral was attended by his many colleagues. Members from The Royal British Legion Royal Air Force and 41 Club formed a Guard of Honour. The coffin was led by Standards from the Suffolk County, E Group, Sudbury TRBL Branch and Sudbury RAFA Branch. At the Graveside the County Chairman Colin Hawkins said the Exhortation followed by Matthew Byham playing Last Post during which the Standards were dipped. After the Silence I then said the Kohima and then the Standards were marched off. This was all carried out at Ted’s request to me.
Ted will be sorely missed by all Organisations that he was involved with.
Stuart Hume
Branch Chairman
