Harold Stevens

3:05pm Thursday 17th April 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

WAR veterans joined family and friends to say goodbye to a much-loved former paratrooper.

Harold Stevens, known to all as Dick, died on April 6, aged 81, and was laid to rest at Christ Church, Old Town, Swindon on Tuesday.

Dick had served with the Sixth Parachute Regiment, being posted to Palestine in 1947.

He later became chairman of the Swindon branch of the Parachute Regimental Association.

His coffin, draped in a Union Jack, was carried into the church through a guard of honour, provided by members, ranging from Second World War veterans to serving paratroopers.

At the end of the service bugler Francis Cowley played The Last Post.

Speaking after the service, Dick's son Tony said that it had been an emotional experience.

He said: "I want to say thank you to the Rev John Stevenette. It went off exactly as dad wanted it.

"The reading by Major General Mike Walsh was perfect and the bugle was very emotional."

Friends and family gathered at the RAFA club, in nearby Belle Vue Road, after the service.

"It's difficult to know what to say about Dick", said Ron Cresdee, 81, a member of the association.

"He was a great man and he'll be sorely missed by members of the association and by his family."

William Higgs, 88, a member of the society since he moved to Swindon 10 years ago, said: "He was a very kind man and very popular among the members of the society. I thought it was a lovely service and a fitting tribute."

George Durant, 86, who had worked alongside Dick in the association for 20 years, also had fond memories of his friend.

He said: "He was a lovely man and he will be very dearly missed.

"He was my best friend, my confidante and I can honestly say that we never had a harsh word in 20 years." George said he found the service very emotional and was sure Dick would have approved.

"He used to talk about it all the time. In fact I used to tell him he was depressing me," said George.

"But it was a really excellent service, just as he would have wanted it."