D BELL PO16996X

[Nomad]

OBITUARY

Colour Sergeant D BELL PO16996X


On 12 March 2003, at the age of 64, David ‘Dinger’ Bell died of lung cancer while at the Rowans Hospice near Portsmouth.

Born in Beamish, County Durham on 22 December 1938, the son of a coal miner. David was the second of four sons and one daughter. After leaving school he followed his father into coal mining after a short period as an apprentice cabinetmaker. David signed up for the Royal Marines in Newcastle upon Tyne and began his training in February 1958. This he completed with 686 Squad on 5 December 1958.

David’s first overseas posting in 1959, was with 40 Commando in Malta. Here he met Wendy, his future wife, who was accompanying her father who was serving in the Royal Navy. While in Malta, David’s personal records and photographs show that he spent some time on training exercises in North Africa. On their return to the UK, Wendy and David continued their courtship and married on 18 August 1962 at St Mary’s Church in Portchester Castle, Hampshire. In May of the following year their first son Andrew was born. In late 1963 the family moved to Singapore, where David was serving with 40 Commando for operations in Borneo. Shortly after his arrival he was promoted to corporal. In September 1965 the family’s time in Singapore was cut short when David broke his leg, not in action, but while playing football with the locals in Borneo. Operations here earned David his GSM and first clasp. He would later receive clasps for service in the Malay Peninsula and Northern Ireland.

David made his career in administration and pay, working his way up from Company Clerk to Chief Clerk and eventually Unit Accountant. Between 1966 and 1973 he had several postings including Deal, Department of CGRM, Eastney and DPRORM. During this period a second son, Robin, was born in Eastney in April 1967; David was promoted to Sergeant in May 1969; in 1971 the family moved to Portchester, Hampshire to, what became home for more than thirty years; and David received his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1973.

In 1973 David was posted to Malta with 41 Commando, from where he went on exercise to Canada aboard HMS Hermes. While sailing back to Malta the Turks invaded Cyprus and Hermes was diverted to Cyprus where 41 Commando were to be part of the United Nations peacekeeping force.

David received his final promotion to Colour Sergeant in July 1975. Between 1975 and 1980, he served in DPRORM, Plymouth, Belfast with 41 Commando, Deal, and Poole. David completed his 22 years in February 1980.

After leaving the Royal Marines David worked for several employers including Thorn, Kenwood and the Royal Mail. For the last 12 years David had been working as a caretaker at the University of Portsmouth, something that he really enjoyed.

As noted several times in his Company Record, David was always interested in sport particularly golf, cricket and snooker, however, football was his real passion. A lifelong Newcastle United supporter, he was always involved in the organisation of football teams. After his RM service he dedicated his spare time to football coaching. In 1980 he started Portchester Youth Football Club, which became very successful, managing to gain a place in the County League, a great achievement for a small independent Youth Club. The club later amalgamated with Fleetlands FC, a senior county level club based in Gosport. David remained at Fleetlands c@#t his death, working behind the scenes using his great organisational skills, several years of which in the position of Club Secretary as well as editing the match programme.

In 1993 David and Wendy become grandparents with the birth of Chloe. Three more grandchildren were to follow, James, Rosie and Maisie.

In August 2002 David and Wendy celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary with a party for family and friends. It was shortly after this that David was diagnosed with lung cancer. Before his death he made the most of his time, going on holiday with Wendy, celebrating Christmas with his family, and managing to see his beloved Newcastle United play against Southampton.

Over 200 family friends and colleagues attended the funeral, which was held on 21 March 2003 at St Mary’s Church in Portchester. At the service Bugler Simon Chapman, from the Royal Marines Band, Portsmouth played the Last Post and Reveille. The coffin was borne from the Church to the sound of Coldplay’s “Yellow”, as requested by David. Close family and friends then accompanied David to Portchester Crematorium for the committal where “Sunset” was played.

David will be very sadly missed by all who loved and knew him.

His Son would be happy to hear from anyone who knew his father email Andy.Bell@gifford-consulting.co.uk

[Andy O'Pray]

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends.

Aye - Andy

[pastitpronto]

A real gentleman of a bloke whom I have not seen since Malta days. There is a better football team up there now mate. God Bless

[Guest]

RIP Colours

[Paul Dawson]

Sad to hear that such a lover of life should be taken by the dreaded 'C'.