Respects paid to former Stowmarket councillor and military major, Graham Harris

A former Stowmarket town councillor, who during his military career guarded the imprisoned deputy Führer of the Nazi Party, has died.

Major Graham Peter Harris, born on October 15, 1941, in Essex, joined 1st Battalion the Royal Green Jackets (Kings Royal Rifle Corps) when he was 17.

After completing his training, he joined his unit in Berlin, where not only did he watch the city's famous dividing wall be erected but guarded Rudolf Hess in Spandau Prison.

His daughter Kila said: "My dad is going to be greatly missed, he was a gentleman’s gent, had the most infectious laugh, which will be sadly missed.

"He had huge compassion, kindness, and generosity for anyone needing support and people less fortunate than himself."

Graham's battalion then moved to Colchester, where he was promoted to corporal.

In 1964, he moved to the Military Provost Staff Corps, who are the are the armed forces detention specialists.

Promoted to sergeant, Graham's unit was sent to Aden (now Yemen) during the rebelling uprising and then to Belfast, where he guarded Maze Prison.

After meeting his wife, Tessa, in 1964, the pair were married the following year.

Graham was promoted to captain and assumed the position as the Adjutant, an officer who assists the commander of a military unit, in 1982.

He later became a major and re-joined his corps in Colchester and was awarded an MBE in the 1985 Queen's birthday honours list.

In 1988, after 30 years’ service he left the army and joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Diplomatic Security Branch) Service in 1989.

In 2000, Graham was awarded an OBE (Civil Division) at Buckingham Palace.

He retired from working life in 2001, settling in Stowmarket to spend time with Tessa, their children Sean and Kila, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

During his retirement, he was heavily involved in the town's Royal British Legion, holding the position of chairman for a number of years and poppy appeal organiser.

Also, between 2011 and 2015, he became a town councillor.

Paying their respects, after hearing of his death on October 31, a post on the town council's Facebook page, said: "He was a larger than life person who was passionate about Stowmarket, the Royal British Legion (RBL), the library and Citizens Advice.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

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