The funeral of Rennie Phare took place on the 5th October 2012 at Mortlake Crematorium in Surrey. As befits a member of the Pompadours, he was given a Battalion funeral by his comrades and friends. Former members attending were: Colonel Kerry Woodrow, Mrs Lillie Sutcliffe and her Husband, ex Drum Major Barry Sutcliffe, who blew Last Post and Reveille on the bugle; and Ray Mackman and Martin Arnold (Arnie). Over seventy friends and residents of the ex-serviceman’s home where Rennie lived were present. A Drummer’s helmet, his medals and a Drummer’s sword were laid on top of his Union Flag draped coffin.

Rennie served for many years in the 3rd Battalion and will be remembered by many as the Corps of Drums’ leading front rank side drummer – a job he loved. His excellence at drumming earned him for many years the title of ‘The Mons Drummer’. This was a very prestigious award, earned only by achieving the highest standard of musical ability, drill and an immaculate turnout. This was a position he held right up to him leaving the Army.

He will also be remembered for his unswerving loyalty to his Battalion in which he came top of his Non Commissioned Officers’ Cadre in soldiering. And it was as an NCO and a section commander of a mobile patrol during the Aden campaign, that he was badly wounded. His leg was shattered by grenade fragments and it took several months for him to recover.

Rennie loved a drink and a meal in that order; he also loved to be the centre of attention and we loved him for it as he put the world to rights. He would often ring his friends up at some ungodly hour asking our opinion about some social injustice or other topic. He had a great love of music, be it Classical, Jazz or Military. He also loved film theme tunes, particularly those with Roman or Biblical titles such as Ben Hur, Fall of the Roman Empire and Lawrence of Arabia, to name but a few.

Rennie was also a very talented artist who had his own very unique and modernist style. This was inspired by his love for classical music. Indeed his art work was so good that several West End galleries purchased some of his work. What an achievement for someone who was self-taught.

For the last 11 years of his life he was living in accommodation provided by The Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation. This is a charitable organization, set up at the end of World War 1, for ex-service personnel. He was well looked after there and was provided with a great support team network. He was a very religious man and at various times played a part in Church life which helped him spiritually. He also, for many years, served as a voluntary porter in a leading hospital, doing his bit for the community. It is comforting to know that his local Reverend was with him when he passed away, which would have meant a lot to him.

Rennie had no surviving family but will never be forgotten by his many friends and colleagues. He was one of those ‘Battalion Characters’ that can never be replaced. But I am sure that those of the Battalion who were about in those halcyon days of the Corps of Drums in the late 60s and early 70s, will never forget Rennie as the leading side drummer/tipper in the front rank. All the Fours.

Rennie Anthony Phare: 3rd July 1944 – 17th September 2012.

MA