Jim Eltringham 1939 - 2007

We met Jim and his friends this year as normal at the Remembrance Day Service in the British Embassy at Bangkok and also as normal Jim was the Life and Soul of the Party in Jooles bar after.  So it was more than a shock when we were told of his sudden death the following Wednesday.

 Jim served 22 years in The Parachute Regiment serving with 1 and 2 Para and being attached to both 15 Scottish T.A. Bn and the Parachute Training School. On leaving the Army he decided his second career would be in the Derbyshire Constabulary as a Police Officer, this was a cut short when he fell through a roof chasing a burglar. Jim after all those years as a Para had forgot his Parachute Landing Procedure and was invalided out of the Police. After a short spell as a Lorry driver Jim left the U.K. for warmer climates and set up a bar in Goa.Whilst there he traveled to Thailand to team up with his old friend from the Para's Bob Myers.

This short holiday in Thailand ( where I also first met Jim ) was enough for him to make up his mind to move once again, this time to Pattaya. Jim soon fell in love with Thailand and a girl called Sunee and after a short spell in Royet decided to set up house in Korat, a lot of new friends were made  there many of them ex Forces but he always kept in touch with his pals in Pattaya often traveling down for the weekend. The amount of people at Jim's funeral reflects the kind of person he was; Well Liked, Funny and a person who would never see others in need. Many people spoke of Jim at the service all of them saying good things, his old friend Bob Myers said of him " he was a professional in all respects, a professional Soldier, a professional Policeman and a Professional Landlord " perhaps we should add Professional Friend and Funny Man to that as well, he was certainly both of them. Jim's legacy will without doubt be the setting up of a branch of the Royal British Legion in Korat, the wheels are in motion as I write this.