Brig. David Creswell (L 60)

David had a lifelong connection with Wellington College. 

He arrived at the Lynedoch via Upcott from Old Ballard in 1955, and over 65 years later was still greatly involved with College. David was invited by Antony Bruce onto the General Committee.  He served for many years, on the Executive and Finance Committee and was elected President of the OW Society in 2014 when it restructured into its present form and remained a valuable member of the OW Charitable Trust.  He cheerfully took on the leadership of the work to set up a website for the Society. 

He chose to follow the path from Crowthorne to Sandhurst and joined the Gunners in 1962.  It was a family affair as his John who’d had a distinguished career in the RA and AAC, with his brother Andrew to join the club a little later. After his YO’s course some of his initial army years were spent in Asia.  Reflecting the variety of the Army career of the time he drove a Land Rover overland from UK to Delhi via Tehran and Kabul with a dinner jacket on board for Embassy visits.  He took command of the RA Motorcycle team, had 6 months in Korea with the UN and an operational tour in the jungles of Borneo where they fished for fresh food with grenades. As family we were in Hong Kong again in 1973, his second posting there.  When asked which posting was more fun, his reply was always no comment! 

His career in the army had three strings.  Initially a Regimental career in 1st and 3Rd RHA including command of Chestnut Troop and then 40 Regiment.  In line with that a military education through to Staff College, and as an instructor at Shrivenham.  This led to leading the Proof & Experimental Establishment at Shoeburyness follow by a role as Director Rapier in the MoD. All very different roles, but he thrived and prospered to end as a Brigadier. 

After the army he moved to BAE MBDA Division to help market and distribute the Rapier missile globally.  Part of his 1994 marketing budget was consumed by sponsorship of the Royal Dragoon Guard cricket team on a tour of Barbados.  The team had several distinguished, and undistinguished, OW cricketers in the team.  Probably of very little value to him at BAE, but he relished helping the team. 

He took over as Honorary Colonel of 40 Regiment in 2000 until disbandment.  A role he enjoyed and prospered in, giving the management team discrete advice.  A RSM told me “The guidance and support he gave to me personally and The Lowland Gunners’ as a whole was always measured and given with only the best of intentions of the Regiment and its soldiers”.  A job well done. 

He was married twice and had two sons, Edward (OW) and Nicholas.