Keith M Evans – Former WO1(ASM)

I regret to inform the Corps of the death of Keith Evans who died on 24 June 2012 aged 82. Keith suffered a fatal heart attack on a coach during a trip to Holland with the Arborfield Branch of the REME Association.

Keith joined the Army as an apprentice at Arborfield Boys School in February 1945(45A) at the tender age of 16. The highlight of his stay was being inspected on parade by Field Marshal Montgomery, who remarked that he would go anywhere to be able to see what he had experienced that morning. Keith survived the rigours of the School during the War and left as an Instrument Mechanic.

For the next 20 years or so he travelled the world serving in Hong Kong, Singapore and Germany. Most of his service he was accompanied by his wife Betty and family. His daughter Sue was born in Hong Kong, Gaye in Aldershot and Nick in Tidworth, clearly showing the nomadic life of a serviceman.

After a long and distinguished career, Keith retired in the early seventies as an ASM and continued his association with the Corps, taking up a teaching role as a Maths Instructor at the College where he began his career in Arborfield.

It was during this time that he took an active interest in the running of the Arborfield Old Boys Association, a passion and interest he retained until his death.

Keith finally retired in 1994 and joined the REME Museum as a volunteer, where he split his time between assisting with the management of the AOBA and helping with the Museum’s education programme. He also became an active member of the Arborfield Branch of the REME Association. He also played golf and was a member of the Bearwood Golf Club.

He had a wonderful and rich career but right up to end the most important thing in his life was always his family.

He leaves his wife Betty, children Gaye, Sue and Nick and Granddaughter Nicola.

His funeral was held at Easthampstead Crematorium on 6 July which was attended by friends and colleagues. A guard of honour was provided by the Arborfield Branch of the REME Association, with Standards of the REME Association and Arborfield Old Boys Association carried by Ken Willmott and Bill McDermid.

Bill Cleasby.