We regret to advise of the death of RCE Band Sergeant Charles Young in Chilliwack on 5 March 2014 at age 94.

Charlie was born in Sunderland, England and began a career as a professional musician touring the British Isles at age 14. He was conscripted in 1938 and initially trained as an infantryman. When it was realized that he excelled as a musician he was transferred to a band and entertained the troops in Europe through the war. Charlie returned to England at wars end and continued entertaining. He and his new wife – already an acclaimed singer/piano player – formed “Forever Young.”

Charlie immigrated to Canada in 1955 and joined the Royal Canadian Engineer Band where he excelled and achieved the highest level of expertise in his two instruments – clarinet and saxophone. He rose to become Band Sergeant-Major. When the RCE Band was disbanded upon Unification Charlie retired and he and Mary formed a quartet. For the next 29 years they entertained in the Harrison Hotel at Harrison Hot Springs, BC. An active Rotarian, he joined the Rotarian Band and Charlie and Mary opened every meeting on the piano.

Charlie Young and his wife Mary were recently remembered at the Chilliwack Arts Centre in October 2013 for their noteworthy musical contributions to the community when a “Tribute Fountain” was dedicated in their honour. See: http://www.cmea-agmc.ca/documents/Charlie_Young_e.pdf  ^{kh9Sep2015}