taken from the Bury Times 1st July 2003

Fusilier stalwart dies, aged 66

FUSILIER stalwart Major John Hallam has died after a brief illness.

Until November 1999 the Major was the North West secretary of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers,

based at Wellington Barracks in Bury. He held the post for 18 years.

Major Hallam (66) died last Tuesday in hospital in Blackpool. His wife was by his bedside.

Born in Hope Road, Prestwich, in 1937, Major Hallam went to Park View County Primary School

before he and his family moved to Fleetwood and Rossall School.

In 1955 he joined the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and receive his first commission,

second lieutenant, a year later with the 1st Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Serving in Cyprus and Germany among others, Major Hallam became the Adjutant of the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers in Bury in 1961

and by 1964 he had risen to the rank of captain. Four years later he was promoted to major.

He retired from the Regular Army in 1974 but joined C Company, 5RRF (Volunteers) in Bury

as Officer Commanding while working for Customs and Excise.

IN 1981, he became the area secretary of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers although he continued to work

with the Territorial Army until 1988.

Major Hallam's two sons, Ian and Bruce, continued the tradition of life in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

On his retirement, Major Hallam said his biggest regret in his 44-year-old distinguished military career was having

to say farewell to his beloved Wellington Barracks.

Colonel Brian Gorski, Deputy Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Lancashire) paid tribute to the grandfather of two.

He said: "John was Bury's Fusilier figurehead for a number of years. His death is a great loss to the regiment

and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

His successor, Captain John O'Grady, added: "John was dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the name

and heritage of the Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers."