“I asked the Frontline Walkers if they remembered my dad, and they all told me what a legend he was. We’ve got so many positive memories of him.”
A former member of the Royal Navy, Keith Sherer raised over £1,200 for the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) in his lifetime. He did this by regularly taking part in the charity’s Frontline Walks, which trace the footsteps of the soldiers of World Wars One and Two.
Since Keith’s sad passing in 2023, his family has pledged to continue taking part in the walks, with a goal of raising over £100,000 in his memory.
“We formed the Rugby Relics in 2017 as a group of ex-Army mates,” explained Keith’s son Jason, a former member of the Royal Military Police. “I committed to doing my first Frontline Walk while sat around drinking Guinness one afternoon!”
“We felt like old relics, and we were all into rugby so our team name fit. Dad was a World War One fanatic who had also played rugby, so when I told him about the Rugby Relics he said, ‘I’m in.’”
Born in Croydon, Keith joined the Royal Navy straight from school, retiring in 1985. “He was in the Falklands as part of the post-war peacekeeping force,” said Keith’s daughter, Vicky. “We also lived in Brunei pre-independence, where there was a constant British Army and Navy presence. Dad taught the engineers how to run their own boats.”
“As he stepped back from work, Dad did a lot of things for charity,” said Jason. “He managed a voluntary service that helped people with low incomes, fixing their boilers or doing their gardens for free.”
“Dad loved the Forces because it didn’t matter who you were or where you came from, there was a code of conduct and a structure that everyone abided by.”
“I remember a good friend of Dad’s telling me, ‘your dad doesn’t say much, but it’s always worth listening to what he does say.’ People had so much respect for him, and the last thing anyone wanted to do was let him down,” said Vicky.
Keith was particularly fascinated by World War One and owned a great deal of memorabilia. “It was so important to him and I was seriously impressed with his knowledge,” said Jason. “When he talked about the war he brought its stories to life, not just for me, but my stepson Robert – his grandson.”
Keith completed his first Frontline Walk with a bad back and knees, which were so painful that his family didn’t think he would be able to take part.
“Dad used to run half-marathons and cycle everywhere, so he was pretty fit,” explained Jason. “But as the first walk approached, his knees had given out and he’d popped some discs in his back. We didn’t believe he’d do the walk, but he finished, even though he was in profound pain.” “It meant so much to him to walk that historic wartime route – it was one of the proudest moments of his life,” added Vicky.
“On the one year we couldn’t walk because the group had different personal commitments, Dad still went to Ypres to welcome the walkers,” said Jason. “Although technically Dad wasn’t part of the Army Family, he was made to feel welcome and at home there. Supporting them gave him so much joy.”
Keith and his second wife Denise made the Frontline Walks part of their annual holidays. Their last trip was just before he passed away, in October 2023.
“The walks were so personal to Dad, that they became personal to our family,” explained Vicky. “But we also get involved because through years of chatting to the walkers, we see first-hand what incredible support the ABF offers. It’s awe-inspiring.”
Jason and Vicky have kept the spirit of the Rugby Relics alive, walking every year. “The group morphs and changes all the time: this year Dad’s cousin, nephew and some close family friends are joining,” said Vicky.
Keith’s family is determined to continue raising money towards their £100,000 goal, in tribute to his memory.
Jason and Vicky have both donated some of their inheritance, and have raised more money through organising events like cake sales and quizzes. “ABF has a direct impact on people’s lives and you can clearly see how your money helps them,” said Jason.
“We’re extremely proud to have raised £15,000 so far in his memory – but although Dad would have been over the moon about that, he also would have been annoyed because he wasn’t there with us!”
