It is with so much sadness that I pass on a report from Captain Tony Pitt (Plymouth Branch Almoner) that Second Officer Supply Spencer Reed RFA(Retd) crossed the bar on Wednesday 21st March 2016 aged 89. Spencer served in the RFA from 1975 until 1984 after a career in the Royal Navy.
His funeral will be held at the Exeter and Devon Crematorium (HERE for the website and HERE for a Map)on Thursday 14th April 2016 and at 13:45 in the St Paul’s Chapel, the arrangements being made by Palmer’s of Exmouth (HERE for the website and HERE for a Map).
Family flowers only but donations, in Spencer’s name, and if desired should be made to Dart Ward, Devon and Exeter Hospital (HERE for the website and HEREfor a Map)
Shipmates and colleagues will be welcome to join the family at the service and will be invited to join them for refreshments afterwards.
On behalf of the RFA Association I offer our sincere condolences to all Spencer’s family.
If you have any remembrances of Spencer 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 Spencer for this piece and the RFA Association Gallery and Archive, If you have one please email it to me.
Pat Thompson writes:- I sailed with Spencer only once and many years ago in RFA Sir Bedivere. 1983 it was shortly after the post Falklands refit in Middle Docks South Shields. Spencer was a Purser of the old school, dilligent in all his dealings with both the ship’s company and also embarked forces. During that time we carried two cargoes of troops, an advance party to and a rearguard party from Gibraltar, a Regimental Changeover. Naturally with these number embarked the Supply and Catering Department were kept on their toes and under Spencer’s leadership a most sucessful changeover was managed.