Sad loss of a former team member, great character and friend to many, Jim Wareing

It is with great sadness, that we announce this evening the news that Jim Wareing, a former team member, recently passed away after a short illness, in his Mallorca home.

Jim Wareing, aged 58 at the time, retired from the team in March 2005, leaving to take up residency in Mallorca, where with his wife Anne, who survives him, they ran a small guesthouse.

Jim first joined the team on the 9th August 2000, with an outdoor stretcher carrying exercise.

Jim brought to the team a considerable wealth of experience as he had been a long serving GMAS Ambulanceman and previous to this, although he kept very quiet about his experiences, was a combat medic with the Parachute Regiment of the British Army (his active service experiences, particularly in Aden, he kept very quiet about).

During Jim’s time with the team, he attended virtually everything that the team was involved in, and offered much support to less experienced team members by way of first aid training and advice.

Regards his sense of humour, well – if you were privileged to have ever met him and made his friendship, then you’ll know what we are on about.

Jim can be described with fondness by those who knew him as ‘quite a character,’ always up to a little mischief and with a broad smile for everybody, he encouraged many to have the confidence to practice for real his many kindly teachings.

His popularity was such that when he left the team in 2005, at the Wednesday 16th Marsh AGM Jim was presented with a leaving card signed by all of the team, a just-published book at the time on the history of the Aden Insurgency, and a bottle of whiskey.

Since this time Jim kept in regular touch with our Life Vice President Tony McNally and our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, and had on many occasions whilst visiting back in the UK, called in to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ to renew acquaintances with team members who knew him when he was in the team.

Jim you’ll be sadly missed, and wherever you are now, we are sure you’ll be telling those around you your many tales, some ‘taller than others,’ – some we could print, some we definitely couldn’t, of the many adventures and experiences of your life.

All in the current team who knew Jim, and those who served with him, extend their condolences to Jim’s wife Anne, and his family and friends on the loss of a gentleman and one of life’s rich characters.

RIP Jim.