Larger than life Honorary Colonel 'a great family man'

An Honorary Colonel, who was one of the first people to be awarded the prestigious title aside from members of the Royal Family, has died aged 90.

Thomas Reginald Reece Weston was born on 9 August, 1919 in Harrow and educated at Harrow Grammar School. On leaving school he took a job at Westminster Bank, in London, but he was called up for service on the outbreak of the Second World War and joined The City of London Regiment of Artillery in 1939.

Col Weston was then sent to Nairobi to raise a regiment of the King's African Rifles, before being sent to Burma where he spent the rest of the war.

On his return to England he rejoined Westminster Bank. Soon after he decided to enjoy a two-week holiday in the Highlands, but he ended up staying in Scotland a lot longer after meeting his wife Noreen Morris.

In January 1949 they were married at the Church of St John the Evangelist on Princes Street. The couple, who lived in Merchiston, went on to enjoy a 61-year marriage and had two daughters, Gillian, now 58, and Hilary, now 56.

Col Weston then joined his wife's family's business, tea and coffee merchants, R. Drysdale & Co.

He was with the firm for the rest of his working life and retired in 1989.

Col Weston was particularly interested in developing the export side of the business and travelled all over the world. Under his management the company won the Queen's award for export in 1977.

During his life he remained a member of the Territorial Army. He joined the 357 Regt RA TA in Edinburgh in September 1949 and rose to command the regiment in 1959.

In perhaps his proudest moment, Col Weston was made Honorary Colonel of the 40th Regiment Royal Artillery in 1984, a post which he occupied for ten years. At that time he was the first non-regular army officer – apart from the Royal Family – to be appointed as Honorary Colonel of a regular regiment.

Daughter Hilary said her father was a "great family man" who showed enthusiasm for every project.

She said: "He was certainly larger than life.

He was a big hillwalker and loved to take the dogs. His final dog, a labrador called Charlie, was quite a match for him. They would never take each other's orders and were very stubborn. My father was also a keen golfer and was made an honorary member of the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society in 2007 after being a member for 53 years."

Col Weston's funeral is to be held at Canongate Kirk on 4 March at 1pm. All friends are invited and attendees are asked to donate to a collection for Help For Heroes.