Discussion
Several years ago a group of PHers did a huge favour to a very good friend of mine, at the time he was the senior mess member of the Officers Mess at a Royal Engineers Regiment in Waterbeach. The long and short of it was that they'd had too many pre & post deployment parties and not enough mess fees coming in as everyone was spending time in the sand, the summer ball was looming and they'd run out of money for entertainment (the norm would be fun fair rides and things) Anyway PH stepped up to the block and a group of guys put out a selection of exotica to run hot rides on the adjacent airfield into the night, it went down a storm and is still remembered in army folk law.
However it is with a sad heart that I'd like to let those that knew him that Lt Col Alistair Boyle MBE sadly lost his biggest war yesterday and died after a short battle with stomach cancer. He fought with dignity and determination but alas it was not a fight that could not be won.
To give those that didn't know him (and indeed those that did but wouldn't have known half of it) a brief idea of the strength of the man I'll give a quick run down of his achievments.
I met him 20 years ago when he was a young junior army officer fresh from Sandhurst and straight off of "P Company" which is the parachute course for non parachute regiment soldiers, he then went onto his Bomb Disposal course and as a troop commander worked Para' EOD in the Engineers, we then get the first gulf war, a stint in germany and then tours in Bosnia & Kosovo, he then went on selection for the SAS and I have fond memories of talking to him while he was training from the top on Ben Nevis on new years eve, it was the third time he'd peaked that day, on his own, in the middle of winter and in the dark. He passed selection but never served with the regiment as they do a process called "officer week" post selection which is all about how your face fits and not just how good you are, his face didn't fit for that. Then came the second gulf war and the follow up operations in Iraq, he was awarded the MBE for his work with the Canadian Army during Gulf War II, and had a couple of trips into Basra ove the next couple of years. As special forces was not on the cards he then got academic and went off to do his masters degree in construction management, which also involved time attached to civilian companies on major construction projects. After this he went back as a fully qualified proffesional engineer and was amongst the first boots on the ground in Afganistan and was in charge of the initial construction phase of Camp Bastion. After that he decided he'd done his bit, his wife was pregnant and he left the army after 20 years to meet his responsibilities as a father. He took firstly a senior management role with British Waterways and then with one of the principle defence construction contractors, he became a father for a second son and then the bomb shell. Over last christmas he was a little off his food, and in february was diagnosed with stomach cancer, the form of cancer was amongst the most aggresive possible and although he was up for trying as many experimental treatments as the Royal Marsdon could come up with but it took him down quicker than ever could have been imagined. He even faced this stage with huge dignity and the kind of determination that had seen him come good so many time before but alas it was no to be and he died yesterday aged 42 leaving a wife and two young sons aged 3 and 18 months.
However it is with a sad heart that I'd like to let those that knew him that Lt Col Alistair Boyle MBE sadly lost his biggest war yesterday and died after a short battle with stomach cancer. He fought with dignity and determination but alas it was not a fight that could not be won.
To give those that didn't know him (and indeed those that did but wouldn't have known half of it) a brief idea of the strength of the man I'll give a quick run down of his achievments.
I met him 20 years ago when he was a young junior army officer fresh from Sandhurst and straight off of "P Company" which is the parachute course for non parachute regiment soldiers, he then went onto his Bomb Disposal course and as a troop commander worked Para' EOD in the Engineers, we then get the first gulf war, a stint in germany and then tours in Bosnia & Kosovo, he then went on selection for the SAS and I have fond memories of talking to him while he was training from the top on Ben Nevis on new years eve, it was the third time he'd peaked that day, on his own, in the middle of winter and in the dark. He passed selection but never served with the regiment as they do a process called "officer week" post selection which is all about how your face fits and not just how good you are, his face didn't fit for that. Then came the second gulf war and the follow up operations in Iraq, he was awarded the MBE for his work with the Canadian Army during Gulf War II, and had a couple of trips into Basra ove the next couple of years. As special forces was not on the cards he then got academic and went off to do his masters degree in construction management, which also involved time attached to civilian companies on major construction projects. After this he went back as a fully qualified proffesional engineer and was amongst the first boots on the ground in Afganistan and was in charge of the initial construction phase of Camp Bastion. After that he decided he'd done his bit, his wife was pregnant and he left the army after 20 years to meet his responsibilities as a father. He took firstly a senior management role with British Waterways and then with one of the principle defence construction contractors, he became a father for a second son and then the bomb shell. Over last christmas he was a little off his food, and in february was diagnosed with stomach cancer, the form of cancer was amongst the most aggresive possible and although he was up for trying as many experimental treatments as the Royal Marsdon could come up with but it took him down quicker than ever could have been imagined. He even faced this stage with huge dignity and the kind of determination that had seen him come good so many time before but alas it was no to be and he died yesterday aged 42 leaving a wife and two young sons aged 3 and 18 months.
Very sad to hear this Mel. RIP Alistair. 
As one of the guys at that (in)famous event, I can honestly say that you couldn't wish to meet a more friendly leader than Alistair. It was obvious that he was well liked and respected, and he demonstrated great leadership and generosity in providing his team and visitors with great hospitality and an unforgettable experience.
The day I spent playing with the "toys" at Waterbeach will stay with me forever, and I hope can act as a fitting memorial to a good man.
My thoughts are with his wife and children - please pass on my best wishes.
As one of the guys at that (in)famous event, I can honestly say that you couldn't wish to meet a more friendly leader than Alistair. It was obvious that he was well liked and respected, and he demonstrated great leadership and generosity in providing his team and visitors with great hospitality and an unforgettable experience.
The day I spent playing with the "toys" at Waterbeach will stay with me forever, and I hope can act as a fitting memorial to a good man.
My thoughts are with his wife and children - please pass on my best wishes.
Another indication of how determined he was, I sold his car for him (a 4.2 V8 A6) a few months ago, he thought that once he got better he'd probably need a 4x4, but it wasn't until last weekend after the Doctors had told him there was no longer any hope at all and with his body so weak it could no longer support itself that he said "could you get Mel up to pick up my bike and sell it, I don't think I'll be riding it again" He was convinced that a 200mph hyperbike was still a possibility for him almost till the end.
jeremyc said:
Very sad to hear this Mel. RIP Alistair.
As one of the guys at that (in)famous event, I can honestly say that you couldn't wish to meet a more friendly leader than Alistair. It was obvious that he was well liked and respected, and he demonstrated great leadership and generosity in providing his team and visitors with great hospitality and an unforgettable experience.
The day I spent playing with the "toys" at Waterbeach will stay with me forever, and I hope can act as a fitting memorial to a good man.
My thoughts are with his wife and children - please pass on my best wishes.
Couldn't agree more - he seemed a real gentleman. As one of the guys at that (in)famous event, I can honestly say that you couldn't wish to meet a more friendly leader than Alistair. It was obvious that he was well liked and respected, and he demonstrated great leadership and generosity in providing his team and visitors with great hospitality and an unforgettable experience.
The day I spent playing with the "toys" at Waterbeach will stay with me forever, and I hope can act as a fitting memorial to a good man.
My thoughts are with his wife and children - please pass on my best wishes.
Coincidently Phil and I were discussing the Waterbeach event with the guys at Honington when we visited them last week. That was quite a memorable day, and the image of a squaddie dressed as a bond girl sprawled across the bonnet of Shadytree's DB9, is etched on my memory.
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