By A/Sgt Russell
It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the death of Civilian instructor Paul Adams.
Paul was born on the 6th of November 1971 and during his childhood and first job after school, proved to be a hard working and diligent young man. In 1990, he joined the Royal Air Force. After basic and trading training, he passed out as a qualified Electronics Technician and was posted to work on F-4 Phantoms.
During his career, he served in the U.K. at RAF Odiham and RAF Wattisham, and also abroad in Northern Ireland and the Falklands Islands.
In 1993 he met the woman who would later become his wife, Tracey. They married and lived happily until the year 2000, when two life changing events happened.
On the 21st of February, Paul was diagnosed with Leukaemia.
The very next day, the 22nd, Tracey gave birth to their only child, a son they named Ben.
Paul began treatment for his condition, but the battle was long and hard, with victories and defeats. One result of this long battle was that Paul was eventually had to be medical discharged from the RAF in 2002.
Many men would have been discouraged by this, but Paul merely looked for other challenges. He worked as a classroom assistant, trained to become a bus driver, became a teacher working in adult education, and secretary to the Toyota enthusiasts club. In his private time, he built and rode motor bikes, built PCs, operated amateur radio, enjoyed target shooting and listening to music. He also continued treatment for his leukaemia.
In January 2003, Tracey and Paul both joined 213 Squadron as Civilian Instructors. Tracey had served previously as a cadet with 2511 Sqn ATC, and with Paul being an ex-regular, both were welcomed with open arms. Tracey took over Basic Training and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, while Paul administered the Millennium Volunteers Award. He also taught Aircraft Handling to our senior class, and Operational Flying to our staff part one class. He became a qualified shooting coach, accompanying the cadets to the range and teaching them the difficult art of shooting straight (and safely), as well as teaching the rifle to the basic class if the regular instructor, A/Sgt Russell, was absent.
In the middle of July 2005, Paul told the squadron staff that he would have to go back into hospital for a six month course of treatment. He announced the same news to the cadets on a final parade, telling them that he would see them all at Christmas.
On the 2nd August, whilst in hospital, Paul suddenly went in toxic shock (a kind of blood poisoning) and sadly died. Tracey was by his side. His sudden death came as a huge shock to all who knew him.
He was cremated with military honours at Medway Crematorium. The RAF supplied a Chaplain for the service, and 213 Squadron provided a guard of honour. Kent Wing ATC was represented by Wing Commander Atkins RAFVR(T), O.C. Kent Wing, and AWO H. Hollamby, the wing warrant officer. It is a measure of Paul's popularity that so many people attended his funeral, they not only filled the aisles but some had to stand outside (not that anyone minded). The wake was held at Bean Village Hall.
A quote I know states -
"Each man is but a spark in the darkness. By the time he is noticed he is gone forever. A retinal afterimage that fades and is obscured by newer, brighter lights."
I like to think that Paul has lit many of those sparks himself.
 |
Paul Adams
1971 - 2005
The following is a poem written for Tracey by Cadet Corporal Samantha Ervin. It has brought great comfort to Tracey and was read out at Paul's funeral. It is reproduced with kind permission.
Paul Adams
Paul Adams well what can we say
A heart of a soldier, he fought every day
He fitted in just right with cadets
He helped us out with all kinds of projects
He was a man who found a way of completing every task
Well maybe Leukaemia was a bit much to ask
But a thing that he has done for us all and has completed
Is that he has shown us how to be strong and not be defeated
He's a man that we can all look up to and is a great person who we all love and liked
And the message that I think he has sent to us is not to give up in life
There will always be a place in our hearts for him to stay
And on behalf of cadets we would like to say
Good luck to you Paul on your way.