Sun Room

Scroll down for Jack Hesmondhalgh RAF, Reconnaissance, Special Forces Signals, Ron McKeon, 22 SAS Falklands, Ruth Tong, Nicholas Brown, Lofty Large, Alex Spence, Hereford Ex-Services Association, Hughes Meier & Stimmy’s Stone.

Sun Room Dedication

The Sun Room honours Jack Hesmondhalgh our Air-gunner & Radio Operator in WW2. Jack served as the Chairman of the Allied Special Forces Association for many, many years.

  • THE SUNROOM at the heart of the Grove.
  • Memorial Text and Motto of the Grove.
  • “Nil actum credens, dum quid superesset agendum.”
  • “Think nothing done, whilst things need to be done.”
  • In eternal memory of F/Lt. Jack Hesmondhalgh 1921-2010
  • RAF 101 Squadron WW2 – Chairman Allied Special Forces Association 2001-2010.

The Sun Room Memorials

The Sun Room view looking through to the Falklands Memorial Way and beyond.

The Reconnaissance Corps

The Special Forces Signals Association. This is the second memorial in the Grove to this association as they brought two originally. So one is in Garden 1 as well.
Ron was the creator of the original 624 Squadron RAF website and is remembered here in the Sun Room with his plaque on a post at the entrance which has a ceramic poppy from the Tower of London set above on the beam.
Ruth was the wife of Bob Tong who served with 2 SAS in WW2. We moved her memorial plaque to the Sun Room after the Willow tree had to be felled. Mike promised Bob that he would preserve her memory.
“Topper” Brown who was Nicks father brought this brass plaque to the Grove a few years ago and we added it to a Sun Room Beam. Sadly “Topper” has since passed away. Father and Son served with 22 SAS.

13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment – 2024.

22nd Special Air Service Regiment and Supporting Arms Falklands Conflict 1982

This memorial was donated to Peter Scholey (ex 22 SAS) by the Newport and District Parachute Regiment Association. Pete, who in turn gifted it to the Allied Special Forces Association for inclusion in the Sun Room in the Grove in 2012.
The Falklands Memorial Ceiling Panel in the Sun Room honouring those of many military units who lost their lives during the Conflict 1982. This looks down towards the Falklands Memorial Way where many more are situated.
Carved into the Oak Beam by Mike Colton is a statement from PM Margaret Thatcher and this was her statement in the House of Commons on the 3rd April 1982. ( Please move forward on this podcast to 24 minutes as it is at the end.)

D Squadron

John Hamilton MC

Lawrence Gallagher

Phillip Currass QGM

Sidney Davidson

John Arthy

Paul Bunker

Raymond Armstrong

Edward Walpole

G Squadron

Malcolm Atkinson

Patrick O’Connor

William Begley

William Hatton QGM

Phillip Jones

William Hughes

John Newton

264 (SAS) Signal Squadron

Michael McHugh

Robert Burns

Stephen Sykes

Paul Lightfoot

Forward Air Controllers

Garth Hawkins

Douglas McCormack

“Don” Lofty Large

“The Oman Insurgencies 1958-1976” – Oak Bench commemorates WO2 Don “Lofty” Large who served in Korea with the Glorious Glosters, was wounded, repatriated and then joined the SAS. He went on to serve in many conflicts and ambushed Indonesian Special Forces in the Sungei Koemba River.

Alex Spence

“The SAS Regiment” oak bench to S/Sgt Alex Spence who was the Unarmed Combat and Close Quarter Battle Training Instructor at Bradbury Lines, Hereford.

Hereford Ex. Services Association & Hereford Welsh Social Club – 2011

In 2011 this Solid Oak Seat was kindly donated by the Hereford Ex-Services Association & the Hereford Welsh Social Club. The only screws used were to fix the name plate. The seat was hand made by their members.

Hughes Meier – Brigade Piron – Luxembourg

Set on an Oak Post is the memorial to Hughes Meier who served with Brigade Piron during WW2.

Hughes Meier

Hughes Meier
Stained Glass Poppy’s courtesy of Danielle Meier.

Stimmy’s Stone

  • Memorial Text
  • “Stimmy’s Stone” or more like Stimmy’s three stones join together a piece of Old Red Sandstone from Consall Hall; a piece of stone from Strasbourg Cathedral is suitably carved with the Cross of Lorraine and the latest stone plaque made from Lava Stone and created by the artist Sonia Renaldi.
  • This Stone from Strasbourg Cathedral reflects the rejection of tyranny by those with great strength and courage who participated in Resistance to the evil occupation 1940-45.
  • “The Spirit of Resistance helps free a Nation’s Soul”
  • Gifted by the Stimpson family 2011 and 2024.

Page updated 18th January 2024

“Operation Loyton 1944”

The complete historical records of “Operation Loyton” are now available in French and English direct from the Author Philippe Get.
E-mail Philippe direct in France 213get@gmail.com

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A place for Remembrance, Commemoration, Education and Quiet Contemplation in Harmony with Nature. 2003-2023. This Grove has been created since 20th March 2003 by Mike Colton. The Grove is funded independently of the National Memorial Arboretum and all gardening and maintenance work is carried out by unpaid volunteers. If you would like to donate please contact Mike Colton on 07929-118598 or by e-mail: – mikecolton@hotmail.com. Alternatively we accept kind donations via our Go Fund Me site: – https://gofund.me/56dccf6d. All help is welcome. Regards, Mike Colton, Founder Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove 2003.