The funeral Ian (Scofe) Schofield-Beevers took place on Friday 20 April at St Budock Church, Falmouth. The 13th/15th century Parish Church was full with friends and family, including his son Mark and Daughter Fiona and his brother and sister. The PDB was well represented with Richard Walker carrying one of the three Standards.  Scofe was born in Derbyshire to an Army family.They moved around a lot including India, Hong Kong and finally the UK. At age 15 he went to the Wireless College at Colwyn Bay (where he attended a reunion 2 nights before he died). As Marconi Radio Officer he served with CP ships, P&O, Shell Tankers and finally, the RFA.  He took up motor racing for a few years in the late 1960's, racing a Mini Cooper 'S'. He retired from the RFA in 1998 and for the past 20 years had been a Unit Assistant at Falmouth and Penryn Sea Cadets. He was very much a key player in this organisation and will be sorely missed. He was a stalwart supporter of the RFA Association events both locally and nationally and was due to attend the Annual Renunion in Liverpool in May. He was a larger than life figure with a great sense of humour, sociable and a reliable friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

PDB members attended the funeral of Captain (E) Martin Ellam on Wednesday 21 February. The Branch also provided the pall bearers and two standard bearers. Martin was born on 21 November 1942 in Looe, Cornwall, but grew up in the Cattedown and St Budeaux areas of Plymouth. Martin didn't like school and left with no qualifications but embarked on a five year apprenticeship as a precision fitter at Devonport Dockyard. In 1965, he joined the RFA as a Junior Engineer Officer. Martin rose through the ranks achieving the rank of Captain (E). Whilst serving he obtained a BA degree through the Open University. Martin married Sally in 1965 and they had three children, John, Ann and Julie. Family was very important to Martin and he and Sally had a wonderfully contented marriage. They were blessed to have four grandchildren. Martin took early retirement in 2001 to concentrate on building model railways, refurbishing their house in France and studying philately, specialising in German postal history. He died peacefully on the 8th February surrounded by his loving family.

PDB attended the funeral of Barrie Knapp yesterday and provided two Standard Bearers.His niece and nephew were joined in the Chapel by many friends and RFA colleagues. The chapel was full. Barrie was born in Tavistock, and lived there all his life. His family had a business in the town selling pork sausages but Barrie didn't like pork. So he joined the Merchant Navy as a Radio Officer, serving first with Union Castle and then the RFA for 32 years. He served in nearly all theatres, including the Falklands War and Gulf War. When on leave he enjoyed fast cars, once owing an Aston Martin, and more recently a Saab Aero. He also played golf and was a member of Tavistock Golf Club for over 50 years. In retirement he enjoyed gardening, fish keeping and his Westie dogs. He was a regular at PDB meetings and lunches. The presiding vicar at the funeral said that every prayer in the Christian faith ends with a single word, and although Barrie was a spiritual man he would want the final word in his life to be Brexit.