We regret to advise of the death of Major Tampion Arthur "Tam" London, CD (Ret'd) in his 83rd year at the North Shore Hospice in North Vancouver, BC on 16 April 2019.
Tam was born in Port Alberni, BC. He joined the Canadian Army in 1954 as a Reserve Entry cadet at Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, BC graduating from the Royal Military College in Kingston, ON in 1958. One week after graduating from RMC, he joined the 6th Field Squadron, RCE in North Vancouver while completing his degree in Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Graduating in May 1959, he returned to Kingston and started his first job as a lecturer in the Civil Engineering Department at RMC where he completed master's degree at Queen's University specializing in structural engineering. Tam was one of the original officers forming the 55th Field Squadron in 1960. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1961 but the unit did not fare so well and was disbanded in 1966.
Tam relocated to Edmonton, AB in 1962 and worked for a consulting engineering firm while an active member of the 25th Field Squadron before returning to the west coast a year later. In Vancouver, Tam worked for a number of large and successful engineering firms where he gained valuable experience before starting his own firm, Triad Engineering, in 1986.
Tam rejoined the 6th Field Squadron in 1963 and assumed command of the unit on New Year's Day 1965. After completing his Major Qualifying course in Dundurn, SK he was promoted to Major in August 1965. He relinquished his command in June 1968.
Following his time in the 6th Field Squadron, Tam became a staff officer at the new Vancouver District HQ at the Jericho Beach Garrison in 1973. Accompanied the CO of the 6th Field Squadron, Tam visited the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) in Wales that same year. They established a strong association that still exists. Tam retired from the Primary Reserve in 1974.
Outside his professional and military endeavours, Tam was active in his parish church choir and was a Warden of the parish in the mid-seventies. An interest in puppetry led to two terms as President of the Vancouver Guild of Puppetry and, after two terms as president, to the Board of Trustees of the Puppeteers of America from 1986 to 1990. Tam and his wife travelled extensively and attended puppetry events around the world. He was also a member of the Apples BC Computer Society and served as its president in 1996 and 1997. He was an active member of the Vancouver Branch of the RMC Club. In retirement, his association with the 6th Field Squadron kept him active and deeply involved in writing its history and developing the unit's museum.
A celebration of Life will be held on April 28th at St Catherine's Anglican Church in North Vancouver. {dcMay19gd} [ zsp]
