It is with so much sadness I report that CPO(Chef) John Coombs, member number 0127, Crossed the Bar on Friday 29 July 2016 aged 84 following a long illness. His wife, Anne, also a member of the RFAA predeceased him by 5 months. Both John and his late wife were stalwarts of the RFA Association, Solent Branch, and as Branch Chairman Brian Waters writes “They were both such stalwarts and we owe them a great debt of thanks for their support over many years”.
Sitrep 2, Funeral Arrangments.
John’s funeral will be held at Wessex Vale Crematorium (HERE for their website and HERE for a map) on Monday 22 August at 11:30. Old shipmates and colleagues will be made most welcome
Family flowers only please but donations, in John’s name, and if desired, should be made to the Altzheimers Society (HERE for their website and HERE for a map), the funeral directors will also forward donations.
Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by Cooperative Funeral Care, Liss (HERE for their website and HERE for a map)
Shipmates and colleagues attending the funeral will be invited back by the family for refreshments
On behalf of the RFA Association I offer our sincere condolences to his daughter Lynn and all his family
If you have any remembrances of John please email it to me at deputy.chairman@rfaa.uk and I will post them on this page. I am also looking for photographs of John for this piece and the RFA Association Gallery and Archive, If you have one please email it to me.
Pat Nolan writes:- I sailed with John on the Orangeleaf during the first gulf conflict. I have many memories with him on the Orange & Oak. I was going to visit him at the care home during our last agm, but his daughter said he did not recognise any one due to the onset of altzimers. Patrick Nolan 0318