Neil M Young

Neil M Young was born into a military family on in Guisborough, Yorkshire, son of Alex and June Young. His father served in the Black Watch, Green Howards and subsequently in the Parachute Regiment. Neil’s siblings were all in public service: John in the Parachute Regiment and UK Special Forces, Sue as a midwife, Andrew in the Royal Hong Kong Police Special Duties Unit and Julie in the Women’s Royal Army Corps.

Growing up, Neil lived abroad in Cyprus, Bahrain, Germany, Malaya and Singapore before attending Plymouth College. On completion he joined the Army in September 1977, first attending Rowallan Company at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before completing the SMC 17 in August 1978.

Neil commissioned into the Parachute Regiment and joined the 2nd Battalion who were stationed in Berlin. Shortly thereafter he deployed to Northern Ireland as a Platoon Commander. During his first tour in the province, his platoon was ambushed on 27 August 1979 at Warren Point, where six of his platoon were killed and a further two injured in the first explosion.

Deploying again for another tour to Northern Ireland in 1982, Neil met his future wife, Jill at HQ 39 Infantry Brigade, who was working for the Security Service. The couple were engaged and married within seven months. Neil left the Army in 1983 and worked in security consulting, specialising in Kidnap and Ransom negotiation. He founded his own company and worked in the sector until he fully retired earlier this year (2024).

In 2019 he rowed the Atlantic Ocean to raise money for Royal British Legion Industries and Support our Paras with Peter Ketley (also PARA). They were declared the oldest pair to have ever rowed across any ocean and are Guinness World Record holders.

Neil died at home with his family. There was a celebration of his life at The All Saints Church, Easthampstead Park Crematorium on 29 August 2024.  He is survived by his wife, Jill, two sons James (Welsh Guards) and Robert