As a kid Colin was a bit boring. He used to sit in the house all summer holidays with his thumb in his mouth whilst I was out all-day running riot. Kept my mum and dad on their toes.

At the age of 16 he went to sign up for the Army and that’s when everything changed. Gone was the shy boy and along came “Colin the Soldier”.

He used to come home on leave with all his Army mates and take me to town. He was brimming with confidence. We’d go clubbing with Shep (Barry Shepherd) and Fish (Mark Vickers). I never lasted long, I’d always get kicked out. I knew right there that I wanted to join them.

Colin was in Germany, but for his 18th birthday he came home bringing more lads with him, obviously this included Shep as they were always together. 

Along with them came 2 German girls to celebrate Colin’s “21st even though it was his 18th. For those in the know this wasn’t a !Mop & Bucket” so get your minds out of the gutter……..

Our Colin claimed me to his Regiment and I ended up in his troop. He warned me how to act and not get gobby. 

Told me to just take the initiations, so the Green Death and the Dance of the Flaming Ars*holes and every cr*p job I had to do. I think it would be classed as bullying now. But it was as if it made you a better soldier.

We were always together, I had no choice cos I shared a room with Shep and Colin was always in it.

On leave we would have different places to go – Tyldesley, Bolton, Manchester and Blackpool to name a few. 

Colin was a fan of Karaoke and he did a great rendition of Leader of the Pack. He once sang this in Blackpool swinging the mic, when he finished, he handed the wires back to the DJ as the mic had flown off somewhere. We got kicked out because of it.

Colin left the Army and it took a nit out of him. Civi mates just aren’t the same. But he still had Shep to the very end. Me and Colin had a fall out and we hadn’t spoken for around 3yrs. I got the call and rushed straight to hospital. We talked like nothing had ever happened. I’m grateful for that time we had, life is too short.

Colin, you were there when I came in to the world and I was there when you left. I will always love you brother, until we meet again, stand down soldier.

….I would like you all to look around and see the impact he had on all of us.

A few words in his memory, 1 as a kid growing up in NI he was a lovely lad, running around the street.

I remember his 1st girlfriend and his 1st day at cadets. Then joining the Army. The most difficult of times, going to War. Which I know some of you here went with him.

He was family orientated, kind and considerate and very, very loud. He used to blame the (Artillery) Thank you Linda Colins mum as without you he would not have been here.

Colin and his brother Tony hadn’t spoken for while however Tony has been amazing.

Colin used to say that Tony was my favourite son, well now Tony I can say that you are 😊

I’d like to thank my brothers, Mick, Chris & Jimmy. My siter Rita & sister in laws Mal, Jean & Tess. Daughter in law Sylvia of which all have helped me through this tough time.

Thank you all, I love you son, now stand down, job done son.

Colin was my best friend and he always will be.

Tony, it's no secret you and Colin fell out for a couple of years but you was always, our kid. Couple of days before he passed he grabbed my hand and said "OUR KIDS BACK SHEP" he was so pleased. Thanks for everything Tony and thanks for taking all the stress of today to make this day possible and give him a good send off.

I first met Colin when we joined the Royal Artillery in 1988

We hit it off straight away, in 1990 we served in Cyprus together and regularly went for the regulation 2 beers together.

One afternoon we were on Nissi beach with thousands of tourists sunbathing.

I said, Colin it’s your round and he returned with a bucket of Brandy sour with a full bottle of brandy in it.

I remember drinking and then I woke up in a panic, I was cold and wet, with a salty taste in my mouth (Stop it).

Me and Colin had got so drunk that day, we fell asleep on the beach, all the tourists had left and the tide had come in, WE NEARLY DROWNED, we laughed about it for years.

We used to meet up on leave and go to visit each other’s family and these were the best times.

I’m sure that during the 90’s you all have some very fond memories, especially of Colin’s dance routines.

Colin loved his family and his brothers from the army so much.

Colin served in the Gulf War as did many of the people in this chapel. I don know if Colin mentioned it to you but he is in a book and he is very famous.

It’s called “Desert Fire” The Diary Of A Gulf War Gunner and it can be purchased on Amazon. He made me say that.

During his time in the army, Colin was in the boxing team, and he was so proud of his achievements.

He also wanted me to apologise for getting people into trouble all the time.

He wanted me to say to Mac Macarthy, Geordie Webber and Dave Alley that these were the best times.

Colin worked at ADT and he made many friends there, a testament to that is how many turned up at the hospital and hospice before he passed away.

It’s no secret that Colin suffered from PTSD and at times he was troubled. There were a few people who listened and talked to him late at night and when he was drunk.

A special mention goes out to his girlfriend Karan, Phil Peake, Jim Whitworth, Ian MacVicar and all the people he met at Combat Stress.

There are so many people that Colin left a lasting impression on, he loved you and you loved him.

There are to many to mention but he warned me if I didn’t mention his cousins he would kick my arse.

Colin was wounded that he is going to miss the Euro’s, I am wounded that I wont hear him singing “It’s coming home”.

Jacko and Kelly will miss him turning up at the pub unannounced and saying to me don’t leave him here on his own.

These times we will miss.

I’d like to tell you about Colins last words to me, at the Hospice about an hour from the end, Colin was coughing blood and was really drained.

He was on a drip for morphine, I wiped his mouth with tissue and said “it’s okay love”.

He came out of a sleeping trance, stared me in the eye and said “xxxxxxx love” while he screwed his face up as if to say pansy. He then went back into his sleeping trance.

I received a message from Poss the other day that made me laugh.

It stated I have just been out and had eight pints for Colin, I dropped four of them because that’s what he would have done.

Now he said he wanted you all to be happy and enjoy the wake later, and that he didn’t want a sad funeral.

So, I need you all to help me make it happy with the words “Our Colin”.

Who loved his family (Everyone) Our Colin.

Who loved his brothers from the Army - Our Colin

Who was the loudest person you ever met - Our Colin

Who was always dropping his pints on a night out - Our Colin

Who thought he was a good dancer - Our Colin

Who was one of your best friends - Our Colin

Who was there for everyone else Our Colin

When Colin entered the pearly gates he said to St Peter, “I’m here now so please arrange a meeting with JC and BIG G”.

While he was walking through the pearly gates, St Peter said “Who the xxxx was that” - Our Colin

I can go on all day with this speech and tales of yester year, but we don’t have enough time.

Now that he has gone Colin would want you all to put your differences aside, live life to the full and be happy.

I am going to miss you mate, sleep well.