“In June 1994 I went on a coach tour to Normandy on the 50th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings. I was with my father-in-law Robert Cowgill (former Cameronians Sergeant), his wife and my wife, Robert’s daughter. It was then I met Jerry who was on the same coach. I was a serving police officer then and on the first morning we were taken to one of the cemeteries for a service. I attended in full uniform. On returning from the service, it was totally confusing for people to find their coaches as they had all been moved and there were hundreds of them.

As we walked back in the hope of eventually finding our coach amidst thousands of people, we were stopped every few minutes by hopefuls who had spotted my hat and who for some reason thought that a British police officer would know where their coach was. This went on for some time and we were making little progress. Eventually Jerry, understandably, became rather impatient and said, albeit tongue in cheek, “For Christ’s sake Ian, take that bloody hat off or we’ll never get back to the coach!”

Special man. Special memories. So much richer from having known him”.

Very best wishes
Ian & Pauline Struthers
& Molly Cowgill (Robert's wife)