Read by William, Tim's Brother-in-law

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Before I start I would like to thank everyone who helped with Tim’s stories and anecdotes of his life. As you can imagine there were many more than could be fitted in one Eulogy so I would encourage those stories to be told in The Red Lion afterwards by those nearer to Tim at the time.  

Tim was totally unique. A larger-than-life character who enriched the life of all who were fortunate to be in contact with him.

For me this process started even before I’d met him. As the future brother-in-law, Annie talked about her brother in glowing terms: ski instructor, first rate chef, yachtsman, cricketer, mountaineer, excellent rugby player and skydiver. And then she showed me the pictures of him! This ridiculously handsome man with the looks of a film star and the physique of an athlete, surrounded by beautiful things. As someone who had none of those attributes my enthusiasm to meet him was rapidly fading.                                                          .

But on our first meeting in Bledington where his parents, Frank and Jackie lived, Tim firmly shook my hand and took me down a lane in complete darkness with a box of rockets and matches. He found it a lot more entertaining to let them off horizontally and see whose rocket could go the furthest, breaking the peace of the Cotswold village with loud explosions as the rockets landed in people’s gardens. By the end of the evening I seemed to be accepted into Team Tim, a place I have, and will always, cherish.

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Tim was born in Somerset in 1959. His early years were spent in a farmhouse where little Tim established his passions. He’d thumb through Ladybird book of sports cars, lingering on the E Type Jag. He’d manage a wooden farm of metal cows. He’d spend hours exploring the countryside around the farm with Hank, the golden retriever and he learnt to ride on his ponies Rusty and Sovereign, a hobby he shared with his two sisters Kate and Annie. He was a sociable child, as noted in his first school report which simply stated that “Tim is a very friendly boy”

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By eleven he had fallen in love with sailing through the sea cadets. Every weekend spent in a dingy on a reservoir or river. He sailed for the rest of his life and recently adopted Paddleboarding.

Tim did little work at school where he had fun with his jet black hair in a centre parting, tight flares and motorbike which helped him find his first girlfriend who was, of course, Miss Shropshire. He then went to Seale Hayne Agricultural College where he loved every moment but again did no work and left before his finals having spent much of the time exploring the wilds of Devon.

Tim joined the army in 1981 an institution he loved and deeply respected. As an officer he would expect his men to share his standards, turning out immaculately with highly polished shoes, never being late, respecting tradition, complete honesty and remaining at the peak of fitness. These values Tim held dear for the rest of his life.   David McCreadie has many fond memories of Tim at Woolwich where they trained. Busty ,the mess porter, was kept busy since every third telephone call seemed to be for Tim. “Well Madam”, Busty would say, “please understand, there are great demands placed on the young gentleman’s time. I shall pass on the message with all the urgency you require”. Of course Tim would say “Hey Thanks Busty” .With his charm Tim would always show generosity, gratitude and respect to anyone who supported him whatever their status.

In fact, there were two Tim Edwards in the Gunners. The other Tim Edwards sent me this recollection of meeting him.  "I remember it like yesterday - he was very gracious to me. I jokingly cursed him and said when I first meet an attractive young lady her faces drops as she says - “ oh I thought you were the other Tim Edwards”. Tim very graciously smiled and said - that’s funny I get exactly the same thing!”

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Bill Hargreaves recalls a night that went down in regimental history.

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“In our barracks there were two regiments who set up a competition to see who could "liberate" something of greatest value from the other’s Mess. After a couple of beers Tim and I decided it was our turn; It was about 11 PM and using my motorbike we drove to the far end of camp.  Whilst Tim wandered into their Mess I sat with the engine running and waited. And waited. It was quiet, too quiet.

The next thing I saw was Tim exiting at high speed pursued by 40 enraged Tank officers in hot pursuit. 

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Apparently Tim had walked into the middle of a fully blown Guest Night, where the “Tankies” as they are known were all kitted out in their finest, the dining table laden with the best regimental silver, and the guest of honour at their table was no other than the Secretary of State for Defence,  Sir John Knott,. Many would have been overawed - but not Tim.  He grabbed the main silver candelabra from the middle of their table, shook out the candles, said thank you and legged it.

 

He was posted to St Kilda as commanding officer. This island in the Hebrides, known for very little except for incredible bird life. Possibly this was the reason he took up the post. But even if the birds were feathered, St Kilda wasn’t dull. Tim’s first challenge was the dead Russian sailor washed up on the shore. ‘Pull him up and clear my freezer,’ Tim commanded as though this happened on regular basis and the body of the unfortunate sailor was placed in the freezer in Tim’s kitchen until the authorities arrived.

 

 The next challenge was falling Puffin Chicks. This had become a particular problem due to adverse weather conditions. With his soft heart Tim set up “Operation Puffin” commanding his men to put the Puffins back into their nests. You can imagine his orders “Taylor you take that cliff”, “Smithy those are your nests”.

 

At Christmas Tim insisted that his men had a proper Christmas lunch so he commandeered a helicopter to deliver the frozen turkeys. Too windy to land they were thrown out in crates. But one crate smashed sending a frozen turkey careering through the windscreen of Tim’s Landrover hitting the Sergeant Major so hard he was out of action for a month. I hope the roast turkey was worth it.

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Tim had a rather special visitor too - Princess Anne.  At the end of the trip she asked if she could have a  T-Shirt with “The Puff Inn” on the front. The name of the Mess. “Certainly Ma’am” Tim said “what size are you” There was a pause. “Captain Edwards” she said with a broad grin “you don’t ask a Princess what size she is”.

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Tim’s charm, experienced even by princesses, was legendary and throughout his life he was surrounded by beautiful women. When Annie and I got married he brought along a very tall and beautiful model. None of us every learnt her name as she didn’t speak a word of English but she certainly entertained the old uncles at the wedding.

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When he left the army Tim put his charm to great use in his sales career. He was a natural salesman drawing customers into his orbit with his charisma.

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When Tim and I were chatting recently he gave me some advice about sales that he was given by an old pro salesman at Citibank. “The sale doesn’t start until the customer says no”. As an example he told me a story of when he was head of sales and flew out to Jordan with his CEO to complete a contract with a major Jordanian bank. But at the last minute the director altered the terms to make it impossible to sign and he wouldn’t budge. So they stood up and started to leave the room when Tim saw the picture of Crown Prince Abdulla alongside his father the King of Jordan hanging on the wall above the desk. He casually said that he was great friends with Abdullah having met at Sandhurst. The director not initially believing him asked a few probing questions then realising it was the truth he became very flustered rushed back to desk signed the original contract and asked if there were any further concessions they wanted. Another example of Tim pulling a rabbit out of the hat. In fact King Abdulla of Jordan kindly sent the beautiful wreath at the back of the church.

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But no job gave Tim the satisfaction of the countryside and he was never happier than when he was with his dogs Sarfy, Tassie and his beloved Guinness. While living in Hampshire he learnt about training dogs through a strong friendship with a John Fry a father figure whom he deeply respected. Tim and his dogs seemed to share a special bond with each other; it was almost as though they were completely at one. He loved the long walks in wild country and said that the farmer within – the little boy playing with his metal cows - had never really left him.

 

Between 2018 and 2021 he was an estate manager to some estates in Hampshire, a job he absolutely adored. In his CV he described himself as a freelance conservation wildlife and habitat management on local estates as part of a plan to re-evaluate personal goals at a challenging period of my life and the global pandemic.

 

 In recent weeks he’d go off on long bike rides with his electric bike (top of the range of course) through the Chiltern woods returning triumphant and covered in mud. He would then settle down with a beer to watch the Rugby or Cricket to end a succesful day.

 

Tim was a naturally gifted cook and was never happier than when in the kitchen surrounded by exotic ingredients and producing one of his many signature for his friends or family. Dishes such as Portuguese Rice, Basil Tomato Spaghetti, Paella, Chicken Caeser Salad, Haggis and Thai Green Curry.  In fact this curry was the last meal he cooked just three days before he died and he said to me “I’m really pleased with that” (an understatement, I can assure you as it was completely divine) and almost with foresight he said “I don’t think I will ever make it that good again”.

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His last job was at Thames Water working with thee pollution control unit. Combining his logistics, man management and engineering he really enjoyed it.

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He started at the same time as Oscar who is here today. Oscar says that they became inseparable at work. “Everyone at work used to joke that we lived together, going on our daily lunch walks around the lake. We talked endlessly about this and that with him often giving life advice. He used to bring me a croissant every day and in return I would fix all his IT issues and listen to all his jokes. Honestly I am not quite sure how work will be without him but I am really glad I got to meet him”.

“I enjoyed getting to know Tim in the short time we knew each other and only wih there was more time. An old school gentlemen, with a great sense of humour. A real pleasure to have known. Cheers to you Tim.”

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Tim was married to Kate and you had two wonderful children Ben and Angus. He spoke about you both and your achievements with immense pride. He may not have been the conventional father – yes he did blow up the TV with a BB gun when you failed to come to the table when dinner was served – but the generosity, love and kindness that lay underneath that action packed father will always be with you and even though you may not have seen eye to eye like every father and son you had a father who loved you both immensely.

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Tim, we may curse you for leaving us too soon, but we are in awe of all that you crammed into your life, making our lives feel barely half complete.

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We thank you for touching us all with your wit and fun, your intellect, enthusiasm, honesty, gentleness and excitement. I know you would be the first to admit you could be a grumpy old git but as David McCready said “… you were confusing, frustrating, irrepressible but downright lovable”. Tim we really miss you.