Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Royal Marines pay an emotional tribute to one of their own
ROYAL Marines formed a guard of honour for the passing cortege of a popular former comrade who went on to become a civilian colleague at their Angus base.
Men from 45 Commando lined the road at RM Condor as the funeral of James ‘Pip’ Meek carried him on his final journey from Arbroath to Parkgrove Crematorium, near Friockheim.
Mr Meek’s family said the show of respect “meant everything” to them following the loss of the beloved 63-yearold husband, father and grandfather.
Originally from Gloucester, James began his military career as a 16-year-old and completed 22 years in the Royal Marines.
His association with 45 Commando and the Angus base stretched back to his early service and he met his Arbroath-born wife Moira during his initial time there.
After they were married, Pip, as he was widely known, was posted to Plymouth before returning to Arbroath and then a spell in Italy.
He also served with the Royal Marines in Northern Ireland and also in the Falklands.
Pip was always part of the transport corps throughout his career, a role he continued postretirement as a civilian driver at Condor for the past eight years.
His youngest daughter, Jodie, followed her father’s military footsteps and is a lance corporal attached to 154 Scottish Transport
Regiment of the Royal Logistics Corps, based in Dunfermline.
The couple’s elder daughters, Gemma and Casey, both work with the British Red Cross in Dundee.
Mr Meek was also a proud grandad to Gemma’s young son, Aiden.
Jodie said: “Dad was always part of the transport corps and even at home he was tinkering with vehicles or doing DIY.
“He also loved to ski and enjoyed a game of golf.”
Pip was an enthusiastic member of the Royal Marines Association and fellow veterans also joined in the tribute at his funeral this week.
A Royal Marines colours standard was lowered at the door of Parkgrove as Mr Meek’s coffin was carried into the crematorium.
Jodie added: “We know there would have been a lot of people who wanted to attend the funeral but weren’t able to because of the coronavirus restrictions.
“To see the show of support and respect for Dad as we passed Condor meant everything to the family.”