David Arthur Judge MBE
David Arthur Judge MBE in 2005 (Image: East Anglian Daily Times)
In August 2019, David's daughter, Christine, very kindly sent me a copy of a memoir that he wrote while serving on HMS Gambia (1957/58 commission) for his two-years' National Service.
David was described by people who knew him as a "human dynamo" and it is not difficult to see why.
David was born on June 14, 1938 and first became involved with the 17th Colchester Sea Scouts when he was ten and it was his love of the sea that made him serve his National Service in the Royal Navy. He would retain his connection with the Sea Scouts for more than 60 years including serving as their president.
After completing his National Service and leaving HMS Gambia in 1958, he started working for Ryman's the stationers and the joined Markhams Office Equipment in 1961. He built the Colchester store up and later bought it. He ran the company for 32 years.
His mother, Aileen, was involved with the League of Hospital Friends of Essex County Hospital and it may have been this that led to David's deep involvement with the local community.
David was heavily involved in the Rotary Club. In 1999, he was the District Governor for Essex Rotary, a founder member and president of the Colchester Forum Rotary Club in 2002 and in 2008, the world president and chairman of the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians. David was widely travelled, visiting Rotary Clubs throughout the United Kingdom as well as the United States, Mexico, Columbia, Costa Rica and Panama.
As well as the Sea Scouts and Rotary, David was a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, Colchester Community Fund and Royal British Legion. It was because of all his service to the community that he was awarded the MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace in June 2004.
David Judge in New Zealand with his copy of the book HMNZS Gambia by Jack S. Harker
Christine very kindly sent photographs of David's album from his time on HMS Gambia...
David passed away on September 27, 2016 after a long battle with a type of blood cancer at St. Helena Hospice, aged 78.
Christine also very kindly sent a copy of a photo of David that appeared in a local newspaper in November 2002. The photo is of David with his photograph album of his time in the Royal Navy.
The text under the clipping is "Reminiscing - David Judge with his scrapbook full of pictures of Diego Gargia island in the Indian Ocean which he visited as a sailor in the 1950s. Inset, David as a sailor. Picture: Steve Bainbridge."
Christine also has a copy of the 1957/58 Commission Book her father had. David Axford has the best collection of Commission Books I know of and a copy of HMS Gambia's can be found on his site.
Sources
David Arthur Judge MBE - Reflections - Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Colchester Forum, October 1, 2016
Family mourns death of David Judge, a devoted Royalist and leading light in the Rotary and Sea Scout groups - Daily Gazette & Essex County Standard, September 29, 2016
International Travel Hosting Fellowship - April 2014
The Scouting Rotarian - October 2016
Tributes paid to Colchester stalwart David Judge who has died aged 78 - East Anglian Daily Times, October 3, 2016
Tributes paid to 'human dynamo' David, who dedicated his life to helping others - Daily Gazette & Essex County Standard, September 30, 2016