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The Ensign - News of the Church - British Isles - July 1998

Beautifying a Cemetery

Robert Dickie of the Milford Haven Branch, Merthyr Tydfil Stake, whose son was buried in the local cemetery, noted how cheerless the place was. With agreement of the local authority, he formed a society and started making changes.

The members of the society, many of them Church members, cleaned off the accumulation of lichen and dirt on old graves so that most of the names became legible, installed a gate to give access to wheelchairs and pushchairs, and uprighted tilting grave stones. They planted Lady's Mantle, which adds leaves and flowers while it suppresses weeds, along adjacent kerbs in the old part of the cemetery. They also arranged for English yew trees to be clipped annually.

In the newer part of the cemetery, the society members cut the grass weekly. They provided six seats, encouraging rest and contemplation. By laying a water pipe to the farthest area, they have been able to plant roses and winter flowering shrubs as well as thousands of daffodils and snowdrops.

The society hopes to complete a memorial to the hundreds buried there. As the regular workmen see the improved appearance, they have begun to appreciate the help, especially the regular visits of Primary children.

A certificate of commendation from environmental group was awarded the group at the town all on 20 April 1998. - Robert Dickie, Milford Haven Branch, Merthyr Tydfil Stake


Sabre and Spurs

Clive Banfield Payne, 80 a member of the St Austell Ward, Plymouth Stake, has led an interesting life, during which he has served both his country and his church. Clive was born 11 days after Armistice Day in 1918. In 1937 he joined the Territorial Cavalry (The Sherwood Rangers), and in August 1939 he received orders to proceed to barracks in Newark. "I was ordered to 'bring your sabre and spurs,'" recalls Clive.

Manoeuvres took place in the Yorkshire Dales, where Clive, as a mounted machine gunner with an added pack horse, had two animals to care for. "That meant double mucking out, cleaning, and feeding," says Clive.

His stay in England was short. Within a few weeks he was attached to the 6th Cavalry Brigade and moved south with 650 horses and cavalrymen to sail to France, then travel by train to Marseilles where they sailed for Haifa, which was then part of Palestine. There he was attached to the Royal Scots Greys and participated in various skirmishes and forays into the hills bordering Syria.

In 1941 his infantry regiment gave up horses, became mechanized, and was sent to Libya. Joining the coastal defence artillery, Clive travelled across the desert to Tobruck, where a siege by the German and Italian armies lasted six months. During the siege, he often lived in caves to gain shelter from enemy bombardment. Tobruck was finally relieved, and he left there on a Royal Navy destroyer. In 1943 Clive returned to England, where he was engaged in top-secret duties preparatory to D-Day, 6 June 1944. The main force of the regiment attacked Normandy at Arromanches with floating tanks. Although the war ended in May 1945, Clive stayed on deferred release until July 1946, to effect the disbandment of his regiment as a fighting unit. Later, however, it became the Territorial Special Unit, which is active to this day.

In February 1946, Clive received a commendation from Field Marshall B L Montgomery. Addresses to Warrant Sergeant Clive Banfield Payne, Notts (The Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry, it read: "It has been brought to my notice that you have performed outstanding good service and shown great devotion to duty during the campaign in North West Europe. I award you this certificate as my token of appreciation, and I have given instructions that this shall be noted in your record of service. "It was signed "B L Montgomery, Field Marshall, Commander-in-Chie, 21st Army Group."

Then Clive Payne was awarded the MBE (Military Division) for gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East and North West Europe. King George VI wrote to Clive: "I greatly regret that I am unable to give you personally the award which you have so well earned. I now send it to you with my congratulations and best wishes for your future happiness." It was signed "George R" and was addressed to "Quarter Master Sergeant Clive Banfield Payne, Royal Armoured Corps."

Upon his return to civilian life, Clive attended college, worked in local government, and later joined Abby Life Assurance, eventually becoming a senior associate and fellow of his professional association.

Clive and his wife, Patsy Ann, joined the Church in 1958 under the initial tutelage of W Rolfe Kerr, now a member of the Area Presidency. During the past 40 years, Brother Clive Payne as served as ward clerk, member of a district council, branch president, stake high councillor, and stake executive secretary. In 1994 he was called as stake media relations specialist and is working to ensure that all town mayors and civic leaders in the county of Cornwall receive a copy of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" and a copy of the book The Mission.

"Sister Payne and I are most grateful that we have been able to serve our fellow members and non-members," says Brother Payne, who has shown the same service and devotion to his Church callings that he displayed during his wartime service with the cavalry and tank regiment. - John Ashmead, Olton Ward, Coventry Stake


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