ANDREW PINION, KES 1950-56

Andrew Pinion arrived at KES in second form in 1950 (from Hymer's College, Hull, where John Cornwell was a year or two his junior), his father having been appointed as headmaster of Woodhouse Grammar.

He was Deputy Head Prefect (to Wellings) in 1955-56; see this list for mentions and photos of him in the archives.

He went up to Jesus College, Cambridge, after which he had a career in the army (Artillery) rising to the rank of Colonel.

I found the material below at battleguides.org (now removed).

A letter he wrote to the OEA including his CV is appended.

Don Nicolson, 17 Feb 2007

ANDREW PINION CBE
Guild of Battlefield Guides Badge No 2

Following illness Andrew passed away early on Monday 16 Oct [2006].   His Funeral will take place at 1100 Hrs on Thursday 26 October at St Peters Church, Frimley. Following his cremation, his wife Kathleen and family will welcome Andrew's friends to his Golf Club (Camberley Golf Club).

Andrew's Obituary should appear in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday 21 Oct.  Our deepest sympathies go to Kathleen and she is aware that the Guild will support her in anyway possible.  She will receive a copy of those messages below from Guild members, as she is not on e-mail, for which she said she would be very grateful. 

Andrew started guiding in 1994 and joined the Guild on 16 Sep 2003 (Membership Number 13).  An expert in Artillery and World War 2 in Europe he was also the craft's guru on Omdurman and Vietnam.

His Proposer was Wade Russell

He validated  'Hillman' for his Assignment 1 and Parker's Crossroads for his Assignment 6, a memorable occasion when he admitted that through his Assignment research  the one source that is recognised as the Authority on the event was in fact very flawed.

He was a Guild Validator and as many have said 'a stickler for attention to detail'


From: Chris Preston: What sad news, the Guild has lost a very dedicated and knowledgeable member.  Please pass on my sincere condolences to Andrew's wife and family.

From Ian Evans: Graeme, Please would you convey to Kathleen the Guild Chaplain's assurances of his prayers for her and the family at this time.

From: Piers Storie-Pugh - I am so sad of this news. He was a great man and involved in my qualification. Not forgotten. Please pass to Kathleen. Piers

From: Vern Littley - It saddens me that the Guild has lost somebody so special as Andrew. I will always remember his love for the Royal Regiment of Artillery and how his gunnery experiences in the 1960s helped me to teach students about gunnery in hot climates prior to my deployment to Iraq last year. The Guild has lost a great ambassador and it saddens me that I will not have the opportunity to learn more from him about the past and the Royal Artillery in particular. We have lost a good friend to the Guild, he will be sadly missed by us all and me in particular and my heart goes out to his wife and family.

From: Charmian Griffiths & Brett Hayward -
How very sad! I hope Andrew was aware that his suggestion (backed by
me!) had been taken up in the new Constitution. I wish his wife well.

From: Steve Smith - I just wanted to pass on my sympathy to Kathleen and her family at this sad time. I wanted let her know that I met Andrew on number of occasions and as a guide who is still relatively new to the profession I always found him welcoming, accommodating, friendly and professional. I will miss his personality and friendship at Guild functions.

From: Evan Jones - I am shocked at the news of Andrew's passing. He had validated some of my assignments, and was a stickler for "getting it right".
As he has no e-mail, please pass on my condolences to Mrs Pinion from both Moira and I. He is a great loss to the Guild.

From: Gordon Hill -  I am so sorry to hear of Andrew's passing.  I did not know him very well, but having been validated by him on two occasions, and having spoken to him and listened to him, I feel we have lost a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic member.  He will be missed. Please keep me informed as to the arrangements.

From: Kenneth Wright - I was saddened to learn of the news of the sudden and unexpected passing of Andrew.  While I can only claim to have known him for a short period since I became a member of the Guild, I always found him to be fair in his dealings with others and willing to provide a friendly word of advice and encouragement to “novice” guides such as myself.  Andrew will be greatly missed by all those who know him.  Please convey my deepest sympathies to Mrs Pinion and his family.

From: Adriaan Klop - Netherlands - It is with sadness reading in your email that our friend and member of the GBG Andrew Pinion has died.  I have still good memories of him, whilst I was sitting next to him in 2005 with the Guild dinner Hope to hear from you soon the whereabouts of his passing away.

From: Mike Booker - Please pass on both Trish and my sincere condolences to Kathleen. As you know I worked with Andrew for a short period of time whilst I was in the chair at Holts. Both Andrew and Kathleen were very supportive in what I was trying to do there and when it didn't work out, they gave further support and advice. I was surprised to hear the news of Andrews death and my thoughts are with Kathleen at this time.

From: Paul Woodadge (Woody) - Sad news about Andrew Pinion, I only spoke to him briefly, but he seemed a nice chap.

Andrew Jeffrey PINION

Letter to John Phillips, OEA President, 16 May 2006

Dear John

Thank you for your recent telephone call. I must say that I feel more than a little diffident at the thought of my military CV featuring in a publication alongside or near to that of Bill Williams, but if it is felt to be an essential addition then I offer the following.

Colonel Andrew Jeffrey PINION CBE, MA

Commissioned into the Royal Artillery during National Service and became a Regular officer in 1962. Service with Airborne, Commando, Armoured and Gurkha units, and as a staff officer in appointments in MOD.

1956-58

National Service.

1958-61

TA/AER.

1962

Joined Regular Army, serving first in Germany.

1963

Unit move to Far East, joining 28 (Commonwealth) Brigade in Malaysia. On active service 1963-1965 in Borneo and Malaysia.

1966-70

Regimental duty in UK, Germany and Far East.

1970-72

Attended Sixth Army Staff Course at Shrivenham and at Camberley.

1973-87

Staff and Regimental appointments.

On active service in Northern Ireland 1975 and 1977.

1987

Promoted to Colonel and appointed as Project Manager, Artillery Gun Systems, in MOD(PE). Responsible for the development, fielding and in-service modification of all artillery gun systems and their ammunition. Appointed CBE in 1992 for work with the AS90 self-propelled howitzer, fielded in 1993 and continuing as the principal weapon system of the Royal Artillery.

1993

Retired from the British Army.

I am not entirely certain into what publication you are minded to show these details, but I ask that you do not publish my address or telephone/fax number.

sig 

Camberley, Surrey