Obituary: Major General Mike Swindells CB
On Wednesday 13th January 2016, the Holy Trinity Church in Sloane Square, London, was packed with family, friends and former Regimental colleagues of Major General Mike Swindells CBE for a Service of Thanksgiving. He died aged 85 on 13 October 2015. General Mike was a former illustrious Controller of the Army Benevolent Fund (1987 to 1997) and also the National Chairman of BLESMA. He was the National President of the British Korean Veterans Association whose members turned out in large numbers to honour him, along with countless retired Generals. The Soldiers’ Charity was very well represented by the Chairman, Major General Peter Sheppard, Brigadier Robin Bacon and Major General Mike Regan (Controller ABF The Soldiers’ Charity from 1997 to 2003).
The Service was a fitting tribute to a hugely respected and much admired man who fought in Korea and commanded 9th/12th Lancers in Germany during the Cold War. He really cared about his people and it was a fitting tribute that his former driver from 1969, Trooper Robert Walton, read the First Lesson. Major General Robin Searby, who had been one of his Troop Leaders, gave the Eulogy.