Obituary: Major (retd) Ian Stewart Fudge (CCF 1974 -2008)
Ian Stewart Fudge died on 30 December 2024, two days before his 84th birthday after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. There will be much sadness amongst his family, friends and former colleagues, particularly in the QMGS CCF community of former Cadets and current and former Officers. He was a long serving Officer “attached” to the Contingent. Rarely attending Friday parades, his main contribution was at Annual Army Camps, Adventurous Training at Easter and Weekend Training, both of which took place at Farchynys.
Ian was a gentleman, much admired by his fellow officers and ladies. He was able to calm any situation, which other officers perceived was heading for disaster. He was witty, insightful, intelligent, a master of the bon mot, putdown and could tease mercilessly. He always maintained an air of mystery. Needless to say he became a legend in the Contingent. Incidents and memorable situations always seemed to revolve around vehicular transport, keys, training areas, communications and Fudgey.
Ian Stewart Fudge was born in Grayshott in N. Hampshire on 1st January 1941. He attended George St. Junior School and Portsmouth Northern Grammar School, excelling in Physics and went on to read Physics for his degree at London University. He became a Physics teacher, teaching in a Technical college before moving to Havant Grammar, then Churchers College in Petersfield. It was here that he joined the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). He became the Commanding Officer (CO) at the rank of Major. He than left Hampshire in 1974 and settled in Tamworth to become Head of Science at a school in Wilnecote, Tamworth, before finally moving to Arden School in Knowle, West Midlands as Deputy Head. After he retired he taught Physics at QMGS as a supply teacher covering for Jon Rockett’s temporary absence through illness.
When he moved to Tamworth he rang Norman Siggs at Western District Brigade to ask if there was a suitable school that he could approach to join their CCF with a view to continuing his CCF activities. Mr Siggs suggested he contact Wg Cdr John Dickson, the CO at QMGS to join as an “attached” Officer. The rest, as they say, is history.
Ian and John Dickson hit it off immediately, Ian, though, could only hold the rank of Lieutenant on QM’s strength, but as a former CO he maintained the honorary rank of Major at the suggestion of David Pomeroy. Ian loved the trips to Farchynys for weekend training; in later days he would often go off around the grounds on his own to remember his times with John Dickson. He always arrived at the Coach House after the main party in one or other of his “cars”. His automatic Ford Granada was as legendary as he was. Notably the radiator blew at the top of the steep ascent up to “Dinas” (Bwych Oerddrws); Ian still made it home before the main party. His drive to army camps in southern England were seemingly always via Reading, and we never really ever found out why. At his first camp with QM at Sennybridge the MPs were called out as a “disturbance” at the White House pub occurred when the landlord declared that he didn’t want a large group and the group was asked to leave. There were loud exclamations of “By the Cringe” and ‘I’ve never been asked to leave a pub before”. Ian ably and calmly diffused the situation.
Ian would always volunteer to March Out of Annual Army Camp: the process of handing back the accommodation occupied by the cadets at the end of Camp to the Camp Staff – in bygone days a grumpy Warrant Officer (WO). Ian would assemble his cadet assistants on the last evening and disappear for a while to “brief” them on their rôles during the process. Every billet has a very strict inventory; every item is listed and had to be present and unbroken for the handover. The first two billets were always perfect and shortfalls were noted in all other billets. As the WO checked off each item and left the first billet, the cadets would take items from the billet and use them to replace missing and broken items in other billets yet to be inspected. The perfect second billet gave them the time during its inspection. We always Marched Out on time!
Annual Army Camp was always a great source of incident, which of course were embellished over the years and retold over a beer in the Mess or at some fireside cheese fest at Farchynys. A few have entered folklore: At Longmoor, a fresh faced Captain removed his shirt in the intense heat of a tank trap area with no vegetation; it was deemed in order because the Major with him had removed his shirt; in a night ambush exercise all was set, cadets were in position and the order to spring the ambush was about to be given when a vehicle on side lights quietly rolled into the killing zone. The Training Officer stealthily moved down to the vehicle and approached the driver. It was Ian. He quietly asked “Is the ambush around here, I’d like to observe the action?” What was said isn’t printable, but the vehicle tactically withdrew.
At St Martin’s Plain, another night ambush was in readiness to be sprung. The CO, John Anderson, was under orders to remain with the main vehicles for security reasons. The signal for the ambush to be sprung was by a Para-Flare. Fudgey was detailed to release it, which he did perfectly, unfortunately at slightly the wrong angle. The flare headed for the main vehicle area 200 yards away. Fortunately the CO was having a quiet coffee in the cab as the flare hit the windscreen. The ambush was a great success, as was the banter in the Mess afterwards.
There was always great interaction and banter between the Officers. Fudgey was at the wheel of a Land Rover on Adventurous Training, and the journey to Freddie Browns (Ffridd Bryn Coch) had numerous gates along the access track. Dave Pomeroy was standing on the rear step to save getting in and out of the LR. With an evil glint in his eye and a wry smile Fudgey decided to drive through the ford rather than over the bridge, at speed, to ensure the bow wave would travel up over the bonnet and roof and soak Pom. During a Signals WE at Farchynys a young Subaltern and Fudgey were trying to give a BATCO lesson. By their own admission it was awful; it finally ground to a halt with both Officers in fits of laughter. Those two same Officers became very close, particularly when the daily crossword was available. They would admit to hiding in a large freezer at Longmoor from the heat of the day. Fudgey produced the unfinished crossword of the day from his pocket.
Possibly Nesscliff Camp holds two of our fondest memories. The first occurred during a Platoon exercise across the pastoral fields of the training area, an officer shouted in an alarmed voice, “ there’s is a herd of cows in that field that the cadets are attacking across!” To which Fudgey calmly replied, “Don’t worry the cows are not armed.”
The second occurred early one evening when the Officers gathered in the bar. Fudgey had been inspecting billets and was delayed joining us. The door suddenly was thrown open and Ian, dressed only in a towel and holding a loofah, burst in and shouted, “Champ you A**e!” Fudgey had been locked out of his room by his absent minded room mate. Needless to say the whole bar fell about in hysterics.
Although not a full time officer with QM the Contingent wouldn’t have been as enriched as it was without Major Fudge. His contribution wasn’t limited to military activities, Ian’s love of skiing helped him contribute much to the cadets’ skiing skills at the Bronaber Ski Centre near Trawsfynydd, as well as cadet teamwork in his “Now-get-out-of-that” exercises.
Unfortunately they broke the mould after Ian Fudge was born. Ian will be sorely missed by all who knew him and particularly at Contingent Dinners in the future. However he will never be forgotten and I’m sure that a toast will be made (probably with Port) to “The Major”.
Twice married, Ian married first, Sue, with whom he had a son and a daughter. His second wife, Jennifer, née Cooper, whom he married in 2021 and his daughter, Janie, survive him.
Ian Fudge born 1 January 1941, died 30 December 2024