Obituary and Funeral.
WILLIAM (BILL) TAYLOR. 1935-2012.

OBITUARY.
All were saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Taylor, our much loved member and Parade Marshal.
A former regular soldier with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders he saw service in the Korean War and the 1956 Suez landings. It was the latter which would bring him into contact with the SVA.
A former Drill Sergeant Bill was a natural leader for the Association’s ceremonials.

Bill’s inimitable character attracted attention to the SVA contingent on the March – much needed in our hard campaign for the GSM. On Remembrance Sunday, resplendent in kilt, Glengarry and Drill Master’s trade mark pace-stick he cut quite a dash. We, having passed the Cenotaph with due solemnity, the crowd now warmed to Bill’s mock reprimands to us as he roared “Keep your eyes to the front – and no winking” (at the female spectators en route), “That is my privilege!” It was his way to lighten the mood a little, and how the spectators appreciated it.

In 2006 the French Troupes de Marines invited a group from the SVA to join their Veterans to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Suez 1956. It was too hot in the south of France in August to wear blazers so we opted to wear KD, but Bill still wore his kilt for the Searchlight Parade in which we took part. Determined to ‘show the Frogs the British way to march’ Bill had the twelve of us out in the hotel car park before breakfast to brush-up our parade movements, much to the amusement of French workers en route to their daily toil. On the night of the parade our performance was received with much acclaim from the spectators, both civilian and military.

At the London and South East Branch 2010 Christmas Lunch, Bill was presented with a Canadian Argyll’s badge and Letter of Commendation from the C.O. of their Veterans. Brought over by SVA member Mike Bye it was a total surprise and gratefully accepted by a tearful Bill. With the recent news that his Regiment is part of the defence cuts I’m sure Bill took it hard – adding some choice words of his own.

Bill will be sorely missed by all who knew him and perhaps by some who had only seen him from the edge of the crowd. All our thoughts are with Mavis his wife and family at this sad time.

FUNERAL.
A funeral service to celebrate the life of William (Bill) Taylor was held at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium on Monday 30th July 2012. Some 200 mourners – whose numbers overflowed the chapel – were in attendance. Veterans formed a Guard of Honour under the command of Bob Dalby. The cortege was led by Piper Sgt Kenny Kerr and Arthur Cheesman and was followed by six Veteran’s Associations Standards. The chapel service was conducted by the Reverend Steven McCauley – serving Padre to the Argyll and Sutherland Highland Regiment – who spoke of the Bill we all knew and loved. A final Lament (Piper) and the Last Post and Reveille (Trumpet) was sounded by Brian Hillyer brought the service to a close.

John Mitchell. London and South East Branch SVA. 30th July 2012.

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