Post by Eric Roper on May 8, 2010 12:42:35 GMT 1
Andy, aged 58, passed away on Wednesday 21st April 2010. Andy had been fighting a losing battle with cancer for the past few years.
His funeral took place at 1000hrs on Friday 30th April at Blackley Cemetery and Crematorium, Victoria Avenue, Higher Blacklely, Manchester and afterwards at Victoria Avenue Ex Serviceman’s Association, White Moss Road,
Andy joined the 1st Battalion in Minden (Germany) from the Kings Division Depot (KDD) in 1969. After an initial period in ‘C’ Company, Andy transferred to join his brother Henry in the Corps of Drums where he flourished as a bugler and flautist.
While serving in Minden Andy completed a tour of duty in Northern Ireland during which he gained lifelong memories of life on the Shankill Road, Belfast.
During November 1971 Andy moved with the 1st Battalion to Weeton Barracks near Kirkham. While there Andy took part in exercise ‘Sun Pirate’ in and around the Virgin Islands (Caribbean). As enemy troops for the exercise the Corps of Drums were flown direct to the Islands. Many a happy day was spent acclimatising to the hot weather and digging in on the beaches as the ‘enemy’ waited for the rest of the battalion (who had sailed from Newcastle) to make an impressive beach landing.
During the posting at Weeton, the battalion carried out another tour of duty in Belfast, they were difficult times for all, and Andy was one of the infamous ‘Squirrels’.
Promotion awaited Andy on return from Belfast, and, the other good thing to happen to him while at Weeton was that Andy met his future wife Ronnie. They were married at Jarrow in November 1972 just prior to the Regiments posting to Hong Kong.
Andy took great pleasure from the lifestyle in Hong Kong and the different culture it epitomized. Andy was a keen sportsman and while there he represented the Regiment and won his ‘colours’ for athletics.
In November 1973 Ronnie gave birth to their son, Andrew and by June 1974, Andy, on promotion, was posted as an instructor to the KDD York.
Andy and his family rejoined the battalion in Colchester during 1976 and was posted to ‘D’ Company. In June 1977 the battalion exercised in Fort Wainwright in Canada, and it was while on that exercise that Ronnie gave birth to their second child, a daughter, Julie.
Soon after, as part of the United Nations force, Andy along with the battalion undertook a six month tour to Cyprus.
Although Andy enjoyed the army way of life; his thoughts began to centre on his family life. On the completion of his enlistment period Andy transferred to the reserve on 14th August 1978.
On entering civilian life Andy joined the Royal Mail in Manchester where he worked at the Newton Street sorting office. After a couple of years Andy wanted to branch out on his own and opened a Newsagent under the name of Dillon’s. However, having only one pair of eyes and being unable to watch everywhere, Andy gave up that life and took a job as operations manager for Tootsies Tobacco Company. That was followed by a spell on the Market Police. In 1987 he joined the Daily Mirror at their new printing site in Chadderton, Manchester. At first Andy worked on Security before moving inside onto the print line. Andy was happy at the Mirror and life was good.
He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, but most of all, he relished the opportunity it afforded him to spend quality time on holiday with Ronnie.
Andy always told me how much he enjoyed the Army and often spoke of the good mates he found whilst serving. One friend, Tommy Tickle, said of Andy:
“He was a great friend, a fantastic drummer and a tremendous soldier”.
Andy will be sadly missed by all that knew him.
Clive Henry Beckett
(Brother and friend)
His funeral took place at 1000hrs on Friday 30th April at Blackley Cemetery and Crematorium, Victoria Avenue, Higher Blacklely, Manchester and afterwards at Victoria Avenue Ex Serviceman’s Association, White Moss Road,
Andy joined the 1st Battalion in Minden (Germany) from the Kings Division Depot (KDD) in 1969. After an initial period in ‘C’ Company, Andy transferred to join his brother Henry in the Corps of Drums where he flourished as a bugler and flautist.
While serving in Minden Andy completed a tour of duty in Northern Ireland during which he gained lifelong memories of life on the Shankill Road, Belfast.
During November 1971 Andy moved with the 1st Battalion to Weeton Barracks near Kirkham. While there Andy took part in exercise ‘Sun Pirate’ in and around the Virgin Islands (Caribbean). As enemy troops for the exercise the Corps of Drums were flown direct to the Islands. Many a happy day was spent acclimatising to the hot weather and digging in on the beaches as the ‘enemy’ waited for the rest of the battalion (who had sailed from Newcastle) to make an impressive beach landing.
During the posting at Weeton, the battalion carried out another tour of duty in Belfast, they were difficult times for all, and Andy was one of the infamous ‘Squirrels’.
Promotion awaited Andy on return from Belfast, and, the other good thing to happen to him while at Weeton was that Andy met his future wife Ronnie. They were married at Jarrow in November 1972 just prior to the Regiments posting to Hong Kong.
Andy took great pleasure from the lifestyle in Hong Kong and the different culture it epitomized. Andy was a keen sportsman and while there he represented the Regiment and won his ‘colours’ for athletics.
In November 1973 Ronnie gave birth to their son, Andrew and by June 1974, Andy, on promotion, was posted as an instructor to the KDD York.
Andy and his family rejoined the battalion in Colchester during 1976 and was posted to ‘D’ Company. In June 1977 the battalion exercised in Fort Wainwright in Canada, and it was while on that exercise that Ronnie gave birth to their second child, a daughter, Julie.
Soon after, as part of the United Nations force, Andy along with the battalion undertook a six month tour to Cyprus.
Although Andy enjoyed the army way of life; his thoughts began to centre on his family life. On the completion of his enlistment period Andy transferred to the reserve on 14th August 1978.
On entering civilian life Andy joined the Royal Mail in Manchester where he worked at the Newton Street sorting office. After a couple of years Andy wanted to branch out on his own and opened a Newsagent under the name of Dillon’s. However, having only one pair of eyes and being unable to watch everywhere, Andy gave up that life and took a job as operations manager for Tootsies Tobacco Company. That was followed by a spell on the Market Police. In 1987 he joined the Daily Mirror at their new printing site in Chadderton, Manchester. At first Andy worked on Security before moving inside onto the print line. Andy was happy at the Mirror and life was good.
He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, but most of all, he relished the opportunity it afforded him to spend quality time on holiday with Ronnie.
Andy always told me how much he enjoyed the Army and often spoke of the good mates he found whilst serving. One friend, Tommy Tickle, said of Andy:
“He was a great friend, a fantastic drummer and a tremendous soldier”.
Andy will be sadly missed by all that knew him.
Clive Henry Beckett
(Brother and friend)