Col Tim Swayne died suddenly at home in Wiltshire on 21 November 2005. He was 75.

Although far from his greatest distinction, Major Tim Swayne was uniquely the OC of the last Essex Regiment formation badged as such. Together with other tiny county formations, the Essex Regiment Cadre, consisting of three officers, a WO2 and a corporal, was a short-term means of keeping the TA flame burning when the Harold Wilson government determined on its almost total destruction. It lasted some two years before the Heath government encouraged expansion and the 6th and 7th TA Battalions the Royal Anglian Regiment were formed in April 1971.

On joining 6th Battalion Tim commanded C(Essex) Company before becoming Second-in-Command and then succeeded Colonel Paul Raywood as CO in 1973. Following his tour as CO he became Brigade TA Colonel and was appointed ADC and a Deputy Lieutenant in Essex. In the mid-nineties he and his wife Jean moved to a village near Salisbury where they could be near their daughter and grandchildren. This sadly made it difficult to keep up with regimental activities but did enable him to enjoy his keen interests in country life and family, both of which, along with soldiering, were always very dear to his heart. Along with training dogs, shooting, picking up and walking he developed a new skill of making splendid walking sticks.

Tim inclined slightly to asceticism and paid great attention to physical fitness. He was always first up a hill, barely puffing, in spite of his, then common, enjoyment of pipe and cigarettes. Even that was controlled and an officer remembers being barked at with “put that cigarette out – this is not a John Wayne film”. He could not stand pomposity and another officer recalls his first evening in Tim’s mess when a youthful, polo-necked waiter dutifully distributed his drinks order. The next morning the young officer found himself at breakfast sitting with the same mess waiter – Lt Col Tim Swayne his new CO! The same officer, like most of his contemporaries was inspired by one of Tim’s convictions – “never bugger the men about”.

Many attest to his excellent influence on, particularly, young officers and generally that he was an outstanding CO. He always led from the front and one year took a section of his company’s Gaza Cup tough training team to victory by a good margin. Unfortunately his second team was not quite so sharp and another company (the writer’s) with more evenly distributed ability won the overall event!

Educated at King’s School Canterbury Tim particularly enjoyed the school’s evacuation to Cornwall which helped to consolidate his love of country life and animals. The latter led him to becoming a veterinary student but he hated inflicting even necessary pain on animals and gave it up for a commercial career, in marketing and administration.

He had a deep love of language, was well read and could quote poetry, especially Kipling, at the drop of a hat. He was a keen sportsman, played hockey to a high standard well into middle life and rejoiced in the international and county honours achieved by his daughter Phillippa and sons Matthew and Guy. Family life was always the most important part of Tim’s life and in 2004 it was a great joy to all the family and many friends to celebrate the Golden anniversary of his marriage to Jean and the wonderfully happy life they shared.

Tim was strongly patriotic, a good soldier, a loving husband, father and grandfather, a good influence and a good friend. He is greatly missed.

RAS