MCDOA members attend Celebration of Life for Cdr Chris Deere RCN

18 Feb 2024 - I am grateful to MCDOA member Jon Chapple for this account of yesterday’s gathering in Halifax, Nova Scotia celebrating the life of our good friend Chris Deere who crossed the bar on 24 January at the age of 65.

“Hi Rob,

The "Celebration of Life" (wake) for Cdr Chris Deere RCN was held yesterday. It was a very good send-off and well attended by former friends and colleagues. Poignant and emotional at times and full of stories to illustrate Chris' sense of fun, professionalism and interest in everyone that he met. The various tributes had common threads running through them, namely how everyone that met Chris said that they were a better person for having known him and, perhaps more importantly, that he would be so annoyed (not actually the word used) at missing the party!

I have attached a couple of photos, one of the front of the program for the celebration and the other of the RN MCD representatives that attended: from L to R, Simon Bound, me, Bill Kerr and Paul Jones.

Simon and Paul were on the same LMCDO 1988B that Chris attended for the MW module, Bill was Chris's XO in HMS BROCKLESBY, and I was LTO for Chris's course.

I am sure that Paul will also send his report and photos.

Cheers,

Jon”

These photos are courtesy of MCDOA past-Chairman Paul Jones. Note the limited edition bronze statuette of the Vernon Mine Warfare & Diving Monument. Chris attended the Covid-delayed dedication at Gunwharf Quays (formerly HMS VERNON) in Portsmouth in July 2022. A pewter version is still available via Divers’ Gifts & Collectables with a percentage of sales going towards the monument’s upkeep.

A video recording of the event can be watched here. Paul Jones’s contribution starts at minute 48:50.