Obituary for Major EWA Power

Maj Edward William Alec ‘Smart’ Power, aged 86, at Cranmer House Hospital, Fakenham, in the early hours of New Years Day 2011. Alec served 1943-1965 with 60th Rifles, 2 Gurkha Rifles, 1 R Norfolk, The E Anglian Regt and The R Anglian Regt. He had been in poor health for a while.

Born in Hatfield on 5 Sep 24, he was Christened Edward William Alec but from birth was known as Alec. He attended Seafield Prep School and Rugby School and enlisted as a Rfn in 60th Rifles in 1943. Commissioned in 2 Ghurkha Rifles in 1944, Alec served with them to 1947 then transferred to 1 R Norfolk.

In Berlin he met Dinah Owles from Norfolk, who was working for the Foreign Office. They married in Apr 1949 and were often referred to as ‘The Smarts’. His postings and appointments were: 1950/51 Adjt 4th Bn; 1952/3 RD Korea/Hong Kong; 1954/5 Instructor (Machine Gun), School of Infantry, Netheravon; 1956 Staff College, Camberley; 1957-59 DAA & QMG, Berlin Bde; 1959-60 RD Iserlohn (for amalgamation) & back to Berlin; 1960/1 US Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; 1961 RD Dovercourt, Felixstowe then Brit Guiana; then MoD until 1965. He retired at the end of 1965 and moved back to live in Wroxham.

Alec worked for Hartman Fibre in Gt Yarmouth and established one of the first national wastepaper collection and recycling operations. After a breakdown of marriage in 1973 he moved to Herts and subsequently married Sarah.

His venture with mushrooms, nursery and smoked salmon/trout products is recalled by Col Dick Shervington: ‘Alec lived in Stansted for quite a while, in a charming, waterside house at which he made splendid fishy pate, very strong dry martinis and, as President, led the local Royal British Legion branch with aplomb, determination and charm. He is well remembered locally.’

He became heavily involved with The Ghurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) and started the branch network with East Anglia South branch.

Sarah died of cancer in May 1996. He moved to live in the Scottish Borders and set up a new Scottish branch of GWT. Alec returned to Fulmodeston, near Fakenham, in Norfolk, in 2001, on his marriage to his 3rd wife, Anne. He set up the East Anglia North branch of GWT.

Alec was a keen sportsman, especially at squash and sailing. He enjoyed gardening and Classical music. The GWT took up most of his time since 1990.

Field Marshal Sir John Chapple confined his address to his huge amount of work and achievement for the GWT remembering how persuasive and persistent he was with anyone, irrespective of rank, whom he thought could help the cause.

Alec is survived by his wife Anne, sons Timothy and Richard, loved step-father of Sally Anne.

DB, TP and DS