Proceedings commenced with a welcome presentation by Al Voice (CBMS Group Managing Director), James Toft (ASF Director) and the Mayor of Peterborough followed by the official name unveiling.
After an official fanfare from the State trumpeters of the Household Cavalry Major Ralph Griffin spoke of how proud the regiment was to Close Brothers for “their generosity and recognition of one of their own.” Padre Louise Brown led the prayers and a short silence while the assembled audience remembered all those who had lost their lives in the recent conflict.
24 year old Lance Corporal Karl Shearer died when his Scimitar came under attack from Iraqi troops and plunged into a canal in Basra on 1st April 2003. Al Voice Group Managing Director of Close Brothers Military Services Ltd said “L. Cpl Shearer was the first customer to lose his life during the conflict.
Subsequently and unfortunately Karl was not the only customer to do so. Karl was a loyal customer of Close Brothers Military Services Ltd and although we knew that we had plenty of customers out in Iraq – it still came as a big shock when we heard the news of his loss. It really brought it home to us that the troops that our team spend so much time with were risking so much”.
We knew we would be opening our office in Peterborough and the idea of naming the office after Karl just seemed to be obvious”.
Both Karl’s widow, Suzie and daughter Lauren, aged 4, pulled the cord to the regimental coloured drapes to reveal the new building name – Karl Shearer House. Lauren also unveiled a small steel plaque engraved with the regimental crest and an explanation to the background of the building’s name.
Suzie, 24, said “We both miss Karl dearly… and we were very touched when we were asked if Close Brothers could name their new headquarters after him. I am not sure what Karl would think of it all but he would be very honoured to be remembered this way”.
A portrait of Karl with a eulogy by Suzie now hangs in the entry hallway to the offices flanked by regimental plaques from Blues & Royals and The Life Guards together with an article reproduced from the Household Cavalry Journal covering the military operation in which Karl lost his life.
Regional BBC and ITV networks, together with local and national media, covered the event.
Commemorative Plaque
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