A tribute by Major (Retd) Derek Wood MBE Little background information: Ex Boy Soldier 51 RSM 1Div HQ & Signal Regiment 72 Short Service Commission 74 Regular QM Commission 77 Resigned in 1986 and joined the Sultan's Armed Forces (Later titled Royal Army of Oman (RAO) QM Western Frontier Regiment 86-91 SO2 Logistics HQ RAO 91-96 Then he retired to his beloved home in Guernsey .Now resident in the island of his birth Eric became active in various local military organisations. President of the RBL secretary of the Guernsey Branch of the Royal Signals Association. He was a very keen fisherman, photographer, gardener, and his love of dining with lady friends . I first knew Eric when he was a SSGT then again as SSM in Bahrein I was a Sgt and life in the mess was hectic to say the least, because our families  joined after ( 6 Month Separation ) our wives became good friends and we visited each others homes for meals .We really did have some great times, we would not get away with it today. Eric Had a taste for cray fish and as I was working on a far away island and had frequent trips to and from Bahrein I had to have a cooler bag full of cray fish on each return trip. We on one occasion on a trip down town Bahrein on our return on foot to walk off a few bevies saved a donkey from the slaughter house and it became the Sqn Mascot Eric had Sig Barker made up to L/Cpl as the Donkey Keeper it had its own version of the Corps stable belt around its middle .A photograph appeared on the front page of the Wire Magazine with Eric and the Sqn OC presenting the Donkey and its handler to the GOC on a separate occasion saved a camel from the slaughter house but in the cold light of day with the camel tethered outside the mess, Eric ordered me to get rid .....to be continued...

Farewell dear friend.  We had some great times together and you will always be remembered as a true, loyal friend with a lovely sense of humour and passionate beliefs.  I bet you are still having fun.  John Willis