Medals to The Gordon Highlanders and Associated Units from the Collection of A.J. Henderson

Arnold James Henderson

Jamie, as he is known to his friends, was born in London on 5 June 1936. He was educated at Wellesley House, Broadstairs, and Uppingham School, Rutland, where fellow-collectors Kenneth Douglas-Morris and John Tamplin were former pupils.

He enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders for National Service in 1954 and was commissioned the following year. From October 1955 to August 19 56 he served with the regiment in Cyprus, subsequently being posted to 1st Bn, London Scottish, then transferring to the Intelligence Corps TA in February 1959 and the TA Reserve of Officers in August 1960. He was an officer in the Regular Army Reserve from April 1967 until June 1991.

In January 1957 Jamie joined Lloyd's brokers Sedgwick Collins, moving ro C.E. Golding & Co ten years later. He remained with the company through various takeovers and mergers, ultimately retiring from what had become Willis Corroon in December 1998. He was a member of Lloyd's from 1958 until 1991.

Originally a keen collector of English milled silver coins and British and New Zealand stamps, everything changed when, in January 1970, Jamie bought his first medal, a Waterloo to the 92nd Highlanders, for £45 from Spink's Numismatic Circular, having spotted it by accident among medals then offered at the back of that publication. He soon became hooked on medals and later that year joined the OMRS -shortly afterwards the coins and stamps were sold. Elected to the committee of the OMRS in 1974, he was appointed the Society's honorary librarian in 1978, a post he held until 1992. He twice served as OMRS president, from 1993-5 and 1995-7, ultimately retiring from the committee in October 2001.

In 1987 he was invited to join the Museum Development committee of the Cordons and became a trustee of the museum collection. In 2001, with the collection incorporated into the regimental trust, he joined the Museum management committee. For many years he has been on the committee of the London branch of the Cordons' regimental association.

Jamie's elder daughter, Nicola-Jane, retains the family involvement with the OMRS and, as a keen member herself, is a regular helper behind the Society's table at the annual Convention.