A Gentlmen From Amblecote

A Gentlemen from Amblecote, Staffordshire
By The Oracle | April 16, 2009
This public voice, dos not usually, print obituaries. However, three persons have signed their names to a tribute to Samuel Kinnear from Amblecote, and we feel it should be heard.Samuel Kinnear, universally, known as "SAM" was a successful business man. A veteran of the Second World War, a family man, who had two loves in life, which were His wife, family and The Royal British Legion.
He spend all his spare time working for the RBL. He was a member of his local branch, his local group and the county executive. He held most of the offices, open to all branch members. He was County President for years. He organised the sporting activities of his County for years. He was universally liked. He did, however, make a few enemies. Persons of no consequence, failures in their own lives, who resented his popularity, success and drive.

The usual character assassination associated with such persons, started in later life to effect Sam. He was not appointed Patron, a position he would have loved. His nomination for OBE, was mysteriously lost by a previous county secretary, but never resurrected. Towards the end of his life, he was disillusioned with the organisation he had devoted his life to. On his death, his family, aware of his feelings, ordained that no member of the RBL, other than those personally invited should attend his funeral. The motto of the RBL is "service not self" perhaps those that made this distinguished old gentlemans last years miserable, should have followed the motto.

Dennis Turner, Arthur Smith & Robert E Brown

Extracted from Oracle, Website with permission, to remember a dear friend.