Obituaries

Above article appeared in The Yearbook of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces
2000
Simon Weston writes:
One detail I remember is that Dave won an Army Scholarship to Sandhurst whilst in the fifth
form. These were very well sought after and valuable awards gained in fierce competition
with candidates from across the country.
When one thinks of David, the mind conjures a full on guy, a 100 percenter. He never did
anything without giving it his best shot and this was sometimes quite tiring for those trying to
stay up with him. He was ambitious, but he never let this affect the way he behaved towards
others. I will always remember his kindness and consideration; nothing was ever too much
trouble. I stayed with him at weekends whilst a boarder at school, shared a plastic sheet to
sleep under whilst on C.C.F. exercise and later collapsed in his rooms at Oxford, when the
Pimms at the boathouses was too strong and the distance back to my own place too great.
Dave was always willing to help and share and it was this that made him a true friend. A
week or so before his death he called me at home. This was probably the first time I’d heard
from him in five years. He was travelling up the M6 to a meeting prior to taking over his
command and wondered, subject to his timetable, whether he could pop across to
Shropshire to see Angela and me.
Having ascertained that he was due in Yorkshire that evening and Kent early the following
morning and that the detour would add at least 100 miles to his trip, I suggested we should
meet another time, but it didn’t seem to matter to him.
Whilst at Oxford, he led a similarly full life. I vividly recall dinner parties held in his rooms, for
which he did the catering. How he managed to cook three and five course menus on not
much more then a camping stove I shall never know, but the thought still brings a smile to
my face!
Martin Baker writes:
A real life action man who led a very active life - immersing himself in everything he decided
was worth doing. A real enthusiast and an inspiration to those around him. He was fully
involved in the full range of school activities and hard working and able enough to gain a
place at Christ Church College, Oxford. He was keen enough to play any sport that was
available, playing rugby in the year teams early in his time at the School and playing 1st. Xl
hockey in 1977 and 1978 (winning full colours). He was more keen on active and challenging
sports such as mountaineering and the activities of the Army section of the C.C.F. He was
willing and personally motivated to take on responsibility which saw him in the full range of