Brigadier Martin John Lance

1943 - 2009



Martin, together with his wife Ann, started his ringing career early in 1999 when the present band was formed at St. Peter, Froxfield, Hampshire in readiness for the millennium celebrations.

All of us feel a state of shock at the suddenness of Martin’s death on the 18th May, which is a loss of a friend and a real modern day character, while for Ann it is the sad loss of a husband, and for Emma, James and Patrick a father. He was 66. Enthusiasm, energy, commitment and a zest for life were the qualities that epitomise Martin. The way Ann and her family have dealt with the circumstances of his death has our profound admiration.

Martin was an enthusiastic ringer mainly at his local tower, Froxfield. We all regarded him as a good team member. At one period of time he worked on location near Amesbury and joined their practice nights. He would also join the East Meon practice from time to time. It became noticeable how he was becoming really proficient in methods such as Grandsire, Plain Bob and even Stedman! His friends and colleagues at Froxfield could only look on with awe!

Brigadier Tim Waugh, an old friend and colleague of Martin gave a resounding tribute to Martin at the Thanksgiving Service and many of his words are repeated here. He said that we will always remember Martin as a character with a lovely sense of humour especially in the presence of the ridiculous. His enthusiasm was always infectious as was his larger than life presence.

Martin had a military career of which anyone would feel proud and throughout he was respected for his professionalism and his enthusiasm. He enjoyed his career and his tour as Commanding Officer of the Gurkha Signals and his subsequent involvement in Gurkha affairs was probably the high point and very special to him. His career was varied and challenging. Over the years he served in Borneo and Brunei with Gurkha Signals during the Indonesian Confrontation; as the Gurkha troop commander in Nepal; as the signal officer with the Scots Guards battalion in Germany; as a brigade signal squadron commander in Germany; at the Staff College Camberley as a member of the Directing Staff, having been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel; and in Saudi Arabia as the Defence Attache; all this was interspersed with numerous tours in the Ministry of Defence in a wide range of influential posts. He retired as a Brigadier.

But Martin’s service continued because he was a recognised expert in the esoteric world of military data transfer both in the United Kingdom and across the NATO Alliance and also Afghanistan. In summary, it is difficult to express in a few words his contribution to the British Army, the Gurkha Signals and the Royal Signals. Suffice to say his contribution was immense and his legacy will live for many years to come.

After leaving the Army the choice of High Cross, Froxfield, as his home was a happy one, especially his house The Slade which gave him much peace of mind and happiness. He enjoyed living there and joining in many local community events. He was a member of the Parochial Church Council and, as mentioned, the local band. He always preferred the 4th bell when ringing Bob Doubles! Many of his bell ringing friends attended the Thanksgiving Service and had the honour of ringing in a sombre manner before the service and in a proud ‘outpouring’ manner afterwards.

Martin will be sorely missed by us all, as a good friend, but none so much as Ann and Emma, James and Patrick, to whom we all send our love and sincere condolences.

Jeremy Boyd-Wallis