From L to R as you're looking at the photo: Des, Brian, Bob, Andy. Taken in Spring 1985 as we were all about to 'graduate' from the Defence School of Languages. Somebody played Boney M's Rasputin. How could we not dance?
Of the four of us in this picture, one died some days ago and another is sliding towards the exit door with an incurable disease. Who is going to be next Andy? You? or me? Life is like a flickering flame on a candle that can be blown out at any moment.
Bob is suffering from a disease that I've long since forgotten the name of but it has been described as a kind of Parkinson's + . He has had it for several years and I visited him, and his second wife, Larissa, in January 2018, in Krasnodar, in the South of Russia. It was a bit of a risk going back to Russia as the FSB (previously known as KGB) had tried to recruit (subvert) me when I was working in Moscow as a teacher of English and I was a tadge concerned they might try and grab me when I landed back on Russian soil. Thankfully I got away with it - only a tiny tiny pawn in 'the Great Game'. I was in touch with Larissa yesterday on WhatsApp to pass on the news of Brian's demise. Bob is, of course, getting worse but is still hanging in there with the tenacity I know of old.
Brian is the one who died, I'm not sure exactly when as the obituary says Monday 30th October and 30th October was not a Monday. Here is the obituary, which I found on a RAPC group page. What an incredible soldier, and officer. It was a great pleasure, and a privilege, to have known him. We studied Russian together, at Beaconsfield, and then worked at each end of the Berlin corridor, I was in Berlin and he was in Helmstedt. Rest in Peace Brian.
"It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you all of the recent passing of Capt. Brian Dent. BEM. who lived in Alicante, Spain. BRIAN DENT BEM - 1PWO.
Brian was born in Rotherham. He married his wife Margaret on the 2nd of April 1960. He was in the Territorial Army with the rank of Corporal when at the age of 26 he decided to join the regular army, joining 1PWO in Colchester in 1967. As a Married, mature, intelligent, and capable soldier he was rapidly promoted to the rank of Sergeant whilst serving with the Mortar Platoon in Cyprus. It was at this time that he was seconded to the Sultan of Oman’s armed forces as an 81mm mortar advisor and instructor in Muscat for a number of months.
When the battalion was posted to Northern Ireland in 1972 he was chosen to be one of four SNCO’S tasked with promoting ‘ Community relations’ between the two communities of Northern Ireland. Their work led to them being awarded the ‘Wilkinson Sword of peace’ and Brian the BEM. It was in the first weeks of this new role and whilst undergoing hand over takeover training from the outgoing unit that he was captured by the IRA in West Belfast. He was disarmed, taken hooded to a house to be questioned before being taken in the early hours to an alleyway to be shot 5 times. In typical Brian fashion he survived and there followed a lengthy spell at Headley Court Rehabilitation centre. He then returned to the battalion and full service. Despite those serious injuries he went on to complete the Senior Brecon course, and many others, resulting in his selection as a C/Sgt instructor on the staff of the RMA Sandhurst 1977/78.
Whilst in Bulford 1978/80 he became CSM D Company, which would prove to be his last appointment with the first battalion. Brian loved the challenge, so he began to look for alternatives for his career.
He then successfully applied for a two year long language course in Russian, which of course he successfully passed. This new skill allowed him to apply for the post of translator on the Berlin military train, a job that he loved. He was then promoted to WO1.He did not stop there!
He then successfully applied for a commission into the Royal Army Pay Corps and to become the Paymaster of the 1st Battalion the Black Watch.
He retired in the rank of Captain having served for a total of 33 years.
Following discharge Brian and his beloved wife Margaret moved to Spain where they have lived since 2002. Following a number of years fighting Alzheimers/Dementia sadly he passed away on Monday 30 October 2020. May he rest now in eternal peace."
For a video clip, I have selected Rachel Bostock playing Last Post on the violin.
