Loving tributes for a grandfather who landed at Omaha Beach in 1944 and became one of the Horse Rangers longest-serving volunteers were made at his funeral this week.
Colonel-in-chief Gerry Tribe, who died on July 2 aged 92, served on the HMS Oceanway during D-Day and found Hampton Court’s Horse Rangers in 1968 when his daughter Tina started to learn to ride before joining as an officer in 1970.
He was appointed a commanding officer in 1977 and a contemporary ranger said everyone was delighted Mr Tribe was given the role.
The ranger said: "He was a real father figure to us all; someone who we could have a bit of a laugh and a joke with and know that he would always be very fair and unbiased. An absolute gentleman."
Mr Tribe became Colonel-in-Chief in 2004 and was made an honorary life member by the board of trustees in 2009.
His daughter, Tina, said: "He was a very proud man, polite and courteous and would do anything to help anyone."
Mr Tribe, who lived in Buckingham Road in Hampton, attended the Horse Rangers’ 60th anniversary gala dinner in October last year and the Riding for the Disabled open day on June 26, just a week before his death.
The Horse Rangers honoured him with a horse-drawn procession at his funeral on July 22 at Hanworth Crematorium on July 22.
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