Len Fuller sadly passed away on the 9th January 2012, aged 70 in Asheville, North Carolina of complications following a heart attack. The son of an RAF officer killed in WWII, Len grew up in the austere post-war era in Hastings where his love of the sea started. A member of the SCC as a teenager, Len then joined the Marines at RM Deal on the 29th June 1959 aged 17 with 724 troop. On completion of training from ITCRM Lympstone in February 1960 he was drafted to 41 Commando as an Intelligence marine, where he passed his parachute course and was promoted to L/Corporal. On passing his Junior Command course in February 1962 he was drafted to Zulu Coy 45 Commando as a section commander and deployed on operations in Aden during 1963. He married his wife Jill in January 1964 then was drafted to HMS Lion detachment. He successfully passed his Senior Command course in February 1965 and drafted back to 41 Commando. In January 1966 he transferred to the Fleet Air Arm and by December 1966 he passed out from BRNC Dartmouth. He started training, qualifying as an observer after passing the All Weather Fighters Course in 1968 and then joining his first squadron 893NAS in HMS HERMES flying Sea Vixen fighters. In turn, he served in 766NAS as a QOI then 890 and 899NAS. He converted to F4K Phantoms then served in 892NAS HMS ARK ROYAL and later with HMS EAGLE. On the ground, he served as A/SOO to FOST, SO to 845NAS and Air Ops at Portland. He finished his career with the regular Navy in 1979 at HMS Osprey. He served with RNR till 1981 as an Intelligence officer.
On retirement, he ran his own business and served as a MoD courier. He looked after his wife, who suffered from Parkinson’s until she passed away in 2000. He remarried to his childhood friend Maureen in 2002 and they moved to the United States in 2008 where he lived happily until his health got the better of him. He suffered a heart attack after Christmas which he never recovered from, he slipped away peacefully with his wife and eldest son at his side. His fondest memories were the exciting times of naval jet aviation of the 60s and 70s and was proud to see two of his sons follow him into the RM and FAA. His love of the Service never diminished and that saw him as a supporter to many linked causes and charities from the Sail Training Association, Sea Vixen Trust, Hastings SCC and as a helper at the FAA museum.
A memorial service was held in North Carolina and his ashes will be interred at St Bartholomew’s Church, Yeovilton on May 20th.