Mr Nicholas Patten has informed the Association that his father, John Walter Patten (22467486), died at The Royal Gloucestershire Hospital on 14 April this year.
After completing his National Service basic training at Plymouth, John served in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment from 1951 -1953, serving initially in Eritrea before moving to the Canal Zone in Egypt and then, briefly, in Cyprus. He had a brass band background and on arriving in the 1st Battalion was asked to join the Band, where he played the tuba under the direction of Bandmaster Freeth. His son comments that he was very proud to have been a member of 1 R. Berks Band and kept in touch with 2 other former band members, Charlie Bull and Don Waltham. He joined the Severn Branch of the Association in 2000 and attended branch meetings for a few years.
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