Tribute: Cliff Mullinder

Clifford was a familiar figure in this village – every morning he visited the newsagent for his newspaper. He was imposing, tall, erect, and every inch a military man. He was proud of his Yorkshire roots, had an acute, dry sense of humour and did not suffer fools gladly.

Born on 12 September 1917 in Stockton-on-Tees, Clifford joined the Durham Light Infantry aged 17. During WWII he was stationed in China, North Africa, Italy and Egypt. In 1940 he transferred to the Corps of Royal Military Police (CRMP) becoming an investigator with the SIB (Special Investigation Branch) in the Western Desert. In 1945 on return to England he was promoted to WO1 (Regimental Sergeant Major) at the Depot. He married Nora in 1947 and she was with him during service in nine countries worldwide.

In 1960 he was made Major QM, remaining in Chichester until 1972 when he retired and took up the post of RO3 at the barracks before his second retirement to his beloved Yorkshire.

He and Nora moved to Wendover in 1980. He was much involved in the formation of the Buckinghamshire branch of the CRMP of which he was the first president. Clifford was an outstanding man with many interests and voluntary commitments. Not many people have ridden along the Great Wall of China on horseback – he did.

Sadly he passed away on 21 September 2011. His funeral was on 3 October at the Chiltern Crematorium. A huge number of mourners attended, many of them proudly wearing their Red Caps or berets.

A Memorial Service was held in November 2011 at the CRMP Training Centre, Portsmouth, again with a vast congregation. It was a great pity that Nora, his devoted wife and companion for 64 years, was unable to be there. He leaves Nora, daughter Jean, son-in-law Nigel, and two grandsons, Ben and Guy.

Colonel Leslie Mason who still lives in Wendover and knew him for 60 years says: “He was one of nature’s gentlemen who was firm and fair in all his dealings, who set and expected high standards, a shining example of the thought behind our Corps motto: EXEMPLO DUCEMUS.”

Clifford will be sadly missed by many people he has known over the years.