PO(SA) Hugh O'Donnell Crossed the Bar Sitrep 3 (910)

Sitrep 1 Funeral Arrangements.

Sitrep 2 Major changes to Funeral Arrangements

It is with so much sadness that I report that PO(SA) Hugh O'Donnell RFA(Retd). (Member number 0628) crossed the bar on Monday 2nd March 2020 aged 76. after a battle with cancer

Sitrep 3, A message from Hugh's widow.

Sitrep 3:- “Dear All

Since Hugh’s sad passing I have received so many condolence cards, messages of sympathy and wonderful tributes to him.  In addition yesterday I received a most beautiful flower arrangement from ‘Friends and colleagues at the RFAA Solent Branch’.  All this has been of enormous comfort to myself and my family and is so very much appreciated.  I hope to thank you personally in due course but meanwhile my heartfelt thanks go to you all. 

 I hope you are managing to stay safe and well in these difficult times and send my very best wishes to you all.

Bridget “

Thank you so much and I look forward to seeing you again when normality returns. 

Best wishes

Bridget

Sitrep 1 and 2. On advice from the Funeral Directors and the Parish Priest at St Patricks RC Church Hugh's family have reluctantly decided that the Church Serviceat St Patrick's will be cancelled but the cremation, at Wessex Vale Crematorium Southampton (HERE for their Website and HERE for a Map) will go ahead. When circumstances permit, a memorial service for Hugh will be held, details willl be sitreped on this page in due course.

Family flowers only but donations in lieu and in Hugh's name should be made to The Mission to Seafarer's (HERE for their Website)

Old shipmates and colleagues will be most welcome to attend the memorial service and those attending will be invited to join Hugh's family for refreshments afterwards.

Read more: PO(SA) Hugh O'Donnell Crossed the Bar Sitrep 3 (910)

SQM Anthony Vidler, Crossed the Bar

It is with so much sadness that I report that Senior Quartermaster Anthony (Frenchie) Vidler, RFA(Retd). (Member number (0363) Crossed the Bar on Monday 2nd March 2020 aged 80, after a long battle with illness.

The arrangements for his funeral are quite complicated. According to the Funeral Directors, the Co-op at their Callington Branch (HERE for their website and HERE for a map) Frenchie will be given a simple cremation (No service or mourners) at either Bodmin Crematorium (HERE for their website and HERE for a map) or Exeter Crematorium (HERE for their website and HERE for a map), the date is yet to be settled. This is because his sister Michaella lives in France and due to Corona Virus travel restrictions will be unable to attend. She is however hoping to have a Memorial Service, in Plymouth, venue date and time to be arranged in due course when travel restrictions will be lifted, the Funeral Directors have been realy helpful and have agreed to keep me informed of developments

Read more: SQM Anthony Vidler, Crossed the Bar

COMRFA's Cascade Brief

 This is what Gunline and Force 4 have evolved into.  It is sent by email to all serving personnel and is aimed at them, but it gives Association members an insight into how the service is run now and how things have evolved since most of us have retired.  The RFAA will have a page in the next edition.

Issue	Date	PDF	Rmks
01/2020	Jan 2020	01/20 Cascade Brief (3.24 MB)
02/20	Mar 2020	COMRFA Cascade Bulletin March 2020 (5.03 MB)

The file is in "Portable Document Format" (PDF) and you will require a PDF Reader to view it. You can download and install a free reader from Adobe's website here https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/

CPO(D) Mick Halkiadakis, Crossed the Bar (240)

It is so much sadness that I report that CPO(D) Mick Halkiadakis RFA (Retd) crossed the bar on Wednesday 4th March 2020 after a battle with cancer. He was 82 and had been living in Spain (Benalmadena Pueblo) for some years since he retired. He was over in UK very recently and had been admitted to the South Tyneside Hospital in South Shields prior to his return to Spain.

Mick was not a member of our Association but was very much part of the RFA Family.

I have spoken to Val, his widow, and she tells me that Mick's Funeral and cremation took place on Saturday 7th March 2020 near his home in  Benalmadena Pueblo (HERE for a map)

On behalf of the RFA Association I extend our sincere condolences to Val, his two children, his grandchildren and great grandchildren and to all his family.

Read more: CPO(D) Mick Halkiadakis, Crossed the Bar (240)