London Branch Newsletter 2004 Click the `Back` button to return to site President Secretary Treasurer Golf Member Battlefield Tour Member Entertainments Member Colonel G F Smythe OBE Gary Driscoll Maria Driscoll Neal Smythe Tony Beach / Alfie Fisher Steve Smith Following the confusion over the association membership fee in 2002 which resulted in a slight decline in membership numbers, the London Branch has had this year a successful increase in fully paid up members again. The increase in those returning to the fold has also led to more participation by all members in organised activities which is extremely pleasing. The renewed interest impacts on the Branches activities in a number of ways. Events in the main are over subscribed, and the burden on the Branch Secretary Gary Driscoll, with administrative arrangements, at times tends to use a famous saying a close run thing. However, the extra effort is well worth the satisfaction of seeing so many past members of the regiment getting together. The other success of the year has been the introduction of the London Branch Website. The introduction of this site has increased the profile of the Branch no end. A number of branch members contributed to the construction of the site but the main effort was from the Branch Secretary and Ken Ambrose. As webmaster, Ken took into account our views and many suggestions and turned them into reality. The Branch is indebted to both of them and if any other branches have any doubts with regards to taking this step in the future, based on the London Branches experience they should not hesitate. Memorial Services Every year members of the branch represent the Association at a number of Memorial services connected with the regiment. The first service on our annual forecast of events is in May, which is the RB, KRRC and QVR Second World War Memorial, in Calais. The associations of our former regiments are also represented along with a number of French organisations who mastermind the event. In 2004 the branch managed to muster 25 members who managed to take time off from their busy work schedules to attend. This contributed to the most successful service in Calais to date. The whole day was a carefully planned event of which the London Branches only contribution is the provision of a Bugler. The Annual Service of Remembrance in July, is for the seven Bandsmen of the 1 st Battalion who were murdered in 1982 by a terrorist bomb, whilst performing for the public in Regents Park. This Service takes places at the bandstand in the park where the atrocity took place and is led by the families. It is also very well attended by branch members and other associations.
In November the Field of Remembrance Service, which is held within the grounds of Westminster Abbey takes place. This year the members of the Royal Party taking part were Her Majesty the Queen and HRH Prince Phillip. As there is limited space this can only be attended by a small number of members. The London Branch is represented by the Branch Secretary and WO2 Murphy was the uniformed representative from the Regiment. The London Branch Secretary maintains the regimental display plaques for this event who may be contacted if interested parties wish to enquire about current details displayed. The final service which the Branch participate in is also in November, where we march past the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. Remembrance Sunday Parade Marching onto Whitehall The Remembrance Sunday Parade at the Cenotaph is one of most popular events in the London Branches calendar. Everyone assembles in the Theodore Bullfrog Pub near Charing Cross, for a warmer into the bank, coffee and a pre-march briefing. The contingent continues to increase in numbers every year and in many respects is a mini reunion with participants travelling great distances. It is also pleasing to see wives, families and friends attending in ever increasing numbers. The whole success on this day is the exclusive use of the Theodore as an assembly point and the background administrative arrangements. Credit for this is down to once again the Branch Secretary and Charles Smythe who has contacts in the industry. For the last two years, the BBC has mentioned the regiment and has shown us marching past the Cenotaph. After the parade everyone returned to the pub for what has become the traditional bangers and mash and a well earned beer and a chat before dispersing for home or other venues.
Thanks goes to the Branch Secretary for co-ordinating the whole day and for acting as our Sgt Maj keeping us in step! Thanks also to Ken Ambrose for helping to promote the parade on the Association Website and thanks to all who attended. Those members who are interested in joining the 2005 parade, should contact the London Branch Secretary nearer the time, normally during September, and please remember that only those with security-cleared passes can attend. Army Boxing Competition It was a treat for the Branch to receive an invitation from the RSM of the 2nd Battalion, for members to attend the quarter final of the Army Novice Boxing Competition 2RGJ v Paras. The London Branch took along twenty supporters all suitably attired for the occasion. The 2 nd Battalion beat the Parachute Regiment which of course was not unexpected and then went on to beat the Green Howard s. In the final they fought another Parachute Battalion. Members of the London branch attended all three boxing nights and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Everyone was extremely proud of the team, and very thankful to RSM Bob Cutler and Capt Pete Bullard for inviting us along. In return and as a show of appreciation, using our own contacts within the branch, we called upon our very own famous Olympic ex boxer Billy Taylor, to arrange a training session for the boxing team, at the famous Repton Club, which is situated in the heart of the East end. The whole team travelled to London by mini bus from Warminster and were met by Gary Driscoll and Billy Taylor who then introduced them to one of the most experienced boxing coaches in London, Tony Burns. Tony runs the Repton Club and has trained all of the best boxers that have come out of the East end over the last thirty years, the latest being the heavy weight champion Audley Harrison. The team were worked very hard, picked up a few more tips and enjoyed the overall experience. We wish the team all the best of luck for next season and hope to get another invite, if we have got our voices back in time!
The coaches thank Tony Burns 2 RGJ Boxing Team at the Repton Club Branch Battlefield Tour of the Somme This year the Branch decided to continue with our visit to the Battlefield areas of the Somme in France. After consulting Alfie Fisher, our own branch guide who now resides in Cyprus, the Branch Secretary Gary Driscoll and the Battle Field Tour Committee Representative, Tony Beach set out on the May Bank holiday for a recce to the town of Arras. The town turned out to be ideal for all the branch s requirements. Having visited the World War Two Museum in Calais, it was felt that this would be of interest to many London Branch Members as each year the Branch attends the memorial service for the Battle of Calais Veterans. The recce was completed. Alfie, our branch expert guide, had confirmed his flight, the hotel, coach, ferry and museum were booked, it was all systems go. With only two weeks to go we still had places left and a certain member of the committee started to get concerned, but as usual the coach was full with a reserve list on the day of departure!
Sightseeing in Arras The day prior to departure a telephone call was received from Alfie informing the branch that he had missed his flight, as he had overslept and would the Battlefield Tour Member mind doing the commentary? Now to say that Tony Beach was flapping would not be an understatement! A great deal of homework was done overnight as the tour was departing the next day. The first pick up point was Liverpool Street Station with two others on route before Dover. To Tony Beach s relief Alfie was found on the coach waiting for us! What a great wind up! On our arrival at Dover we were informed of a ferry delay. So it was decided a tea break and ease springs was the command decision, however, predictably most of the members changed their minds about the tea when they found the bar open once a Rifleman always a Rifleman! On arrival in France it was decided to postpone the planned visit to the Calais Museum as we were now running extremely late but would try to get there on the way back home. The crossing was excellent, everyone was fed and watered. Once disembarkation was complete we made our way south to Arras. On route Tony Beach informed everyone that due to careful budgeting, members would be given a substantial refund - which went down well! It was felt that this now was a good time to open the branch shop! The branch was booked into the Hotel Ibis in the town Centre of Arras. The committee waited for any problems with the accommodation. Luckily there was only one minor hiccup - Chris Davis, sharing the family room with Bill Duncan, was given a child s cot to sleep in, and was not happy! However Bill had no problems with his lovely double bed! After managing to correct the hiccup for Chris, there was only time left for some personal administration before setting out to find what the town had to offer in the way of entertainment. Next morning with breakfast and aspirins out of the way it was time to start the real part of the tour. A quick body count and area cleaning we were on our way. It was now
time for Alfie to come into his own. The knowledge and background information he comes out with never fails to impress the Branch members. Looking around the coach it was nice to see some old friends who had not been on the tour before, Tommy and Mickey Dooner, Major Mickey Blake, the Q.M. of the London Regiment (or is it 4 RGJ with some support elements). The weekend s Itinerary included; Butte de Warlencourt Windmill Australian Memorial Kings Royal Rifle Corps and Tank Corps Memorials Pozieres Le Tommy Café with Dominic Zanardi Pozieres Memorial to the missing of 1918 Lochnagar Crater La Boisselle Ovillers Lunch at Avril Williams s Farm / Dressing Station. Bugler Terry McCann It is difficult to highlight or select a particular location but it is worth mentioning one or two. Before departing London the Branch had been approached by the Britain Australian Society to request a simple ceremony at the Windmill Memorial which included the laying of a wreath. The Branch Secretary organised the ceremony and the Branch Bugler Terry McCann, sounded the Last Post and Reveille. Lunch was taken at Avril Williams s farm which during the battle of the Somme was used as an underground field dressing station. It was good to meet Avril again; most of the branch had already met her during our visit in 2001. We were pleased that she had remembered us and made us very welcome again. It was at Avril s that we had our first ever casualty of any of our battlefield tours, one of our loyal members of the branch,
Bill Negus, hit his head whilst climbing into one of the original Great War trenches. He now claims to have been wounded on the Somme! After lunch the tour continued where we visited the following places: Newfoundland Memorial Park Thiepval Memorial to the missing Serre Gommecourt The Newfoundland Memorial is another site worthy of mention. It has been preserved in a manner that mirror images the conditions of the fighting that took place there. It is a large site and due to time constraints the branch could not do justice to it. The site has an excellent information centre and is manned by young Canadian University Students who are a wealth of information. This site is highly recommended to those who tour these battlefields and if possible should not be missed. By late afternoon, everyone was on their chinstrap - that is apart from Alfie who wanted to go on into the night using the headlamps of the coach! A return to base was the order of the day where a chance to remove the days dust and grime was taken in preparation for the nights activities. It was fortunate that just outside the hotel there was a pub where people assembled for a well earned wet. It was now time to eat and we were informed that after a reconnaissance in force the previous evening a posh restaurant (cockney for expensive) in the main square were prepared to accommodate the branch en masse. The food and drink in the restaurant were very good, and also the staff who we fondly nicknamed Ant and Dec, but a meal is not complete without good company and we were not let down. With characters like Dennis Pearce, Brian Ewin, Dave Paradise and of course Billy Taylor, who could have a dull evening? It is true to say they all lived up to their previous reputations and we had a great time! Sunday morning came all too quickly and under threats from the President that the coach would depart on time, present or not, we departed on H Hour! The coach did seem rather quiet but that was put down to too much sleep durch! On our way back to Calais, Cabaret Rouge and Vimy Ridge was visited. The missed visit to the Calais Museum was reinstated which was very informative but once again time was against us and we had insufficient time to see all it had to offer. A quick stop at the Cash and Carry, to collect some beer and wine and it was back to the ferry or is it a ship? On the ferry home it was time to get some feedback and some realistic recommendations for next years tour. The general sense of opinion was a visit to Ypres in Belgium was desirable. Ladies Dinner Night The Ladies Dinner Night 2004 was held on Saturday the 20th March, at the TA Centre in Davies Street. 70 People attended. The reception was held in the Riflemen s Bar, buglers sounded the dinner call, and we all made our way in to the Drill Hall to dine. The guests of Honour were Major General Charles Vyvyan CB CBE BA, and Mrs Vyvyan who is the Chairman of the Royal Green Jackets Ladies Guild. The General gave a very interesting and memorable speech. Everyone was very impressed and felt proud of being Green Jackets.
We were privileged again, to have the Waterloo Band and Bugles under Band Master WO1 John Morgan MBE who are based in Oxford. The evening would not have been the same without them. We were informed that it would be the last time that W01 John Morgan would be conducting the band for this annual occasion, as he was due to retire before the next Dinner Night. We thank him for his loyal service to the regiment, and especially for coming along with the band and performing for us for the last two years. We wish him all the very best with his retirement. There was again an abundance of regimental silver on the tables and good wine, finishing with port and cigars. After the formal dinner a raffle was held we swiftly got into party mood and danced the night away to Simon s Disco. The evening was a great success; everyone enjoyed themselves. Many members have said that they will bring more family and guests next year, as it is the ideal opportunity to show them what the Green Jackets family is about. The drill hall at Davies Street is the best location in London for holding this event, not only is it large enough, but with it s impressive wall displays of regimental prints, uniforms and photographs, it really adds to the occasion. Members have said that they were made to feel very special and feel that they belong to an exclusive club. Our thanks go to the other people involved who help towards making the Ladies Night the most prestigious event on our calendar. These include the Staff at Davies Street and not forgetting the Branch Committee Members who spend a great deal of their time in ensuring that the evening runs like clockwork. Ladies Dinner Night at Davies Street Christmas Function The Branch Christmas Party this year was held at Davies Street, London and was attended by about 70 guests. The disco was provided by Simon Perry, who is becoming a regular at London Branch functions. The raffle was again another success, with numerous prizes ranging from TV s and stereo systems to bottles of champers! The dancing got off to a good start early, and at one point in the evening, everyone in the place was up on the dance floor doing the conga, including some of
the staff (mention no names Alan Brooker)! Thanks to Mike Golden who provided yet again an excellent hot and cold buffet. The evening was rounded off with everyone participating in Auld Lang Syne. There were lots of new faces which was great to see, and we had a truly memorable evening yet again. Credit must go to Steve Smith, entertainments rep of the committee, and also to C/Sgt Clements and the staff at Davies Street who as usual were first class at providing all our needs. The first Royal Green Jacket Chelsea Pensioner The London Branch has always maintained a liaison with the Military Hospital at Chelsea and indeed a number of the staff are paid up members of the Branch. Previously members of the branch have attended ceremonies at the Hospital and entertained members of the hospital at functions and parades. It was really a true surprise when the Branch Secretary received an application from a former Royal Green jacket, WO1 John Selby to join the Branch. This truly is a first for a number of reasons, the first is that the London Branch has not previously had a paid up member of the Hospital on the books and secondly he is the first Royal Green jacket to be a Chelsea Pensioner. He has already attended a number of functions and there is every sign that he will attend many more.
He is not entirely unknown to certain members of the Branch, the President, Colonel George Smythe and Warrant Officer John Selby go back a long way. Although the President will not discuss details publicly at present he can remember some firm and lengthy one sided discussions and guidance from John when he was CSM A Company in Wuppertal, Germany in 1958. That was when CSM s walked on water and Corporals did not put their heads above the weeds. Riflemen s Golf Society The Branch Golf Society has changed direction and picked up the pace under the direction of the Golf Member, Neal Smythe who decided to make the meeting more of a social occasion. He now arranges the meetings at entirely different locations to ensure that no one has an advantage of knowing the course. He also ensures that the courses are easily accessible from the M25 motorway and it relieves Steve Smith of the map reading chore at which he never shined! The other welcomed changed is that Neal has introduced a Guest s Competition which is played in conjunction and as part of the event. This has greatly enhanced the day. The spring meeting was held at Western Turnville Golf Course. The weather was kind, there was a strong wind but it was warm. The golf lived up to the normal standard that all have come to expect from the branch members with Steve Smith still having difficulty with his elementary maths. That is counting up to ten! After many calls for a recount Charles Smythe was declared the winner of the Spring Shield Trophy. The whole tournament was played in a friendly manner which was continued in the Club at dinner. The autumn event, the Presidents Match, was held at Cobtree Manor Park Golf Course in Kent. This was declared to be an eighteen hole Stapleford match but due to course renovations the first nine holes had to be played twice. The Golf Committee Representative came into a considerable amount of ribbing for this slight error but he redeemed himself by paying for the first round in the club house after the match! The weather was once again very kind as it turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year. The President was nominated to fulfill the C/Sgts slot and directed to ensure that cold drinks were made available on call throughout the day on the course. Communications were by mobile telephone and the electric trolley in use had to be changed twice due to the high mileage!
Alan Dowie receives the Presidents Cup The declared winner of the trophy was Alan Dowie, who incidentally also counted the score cards for the match.! A very close second was big hitter Terry Van-Blerk. The day was completed by supper in the club house and prize giving. The whole day was a success; some money was raised for the Branch funds and more importantly all those involved had a great time with old friends. The Branch Golf Committee Representative has revitalized the golf and the events are now very user friendly. The day is not only for the golf hackers but for those who just like a day out and if they wish to assist as supporting members their assistance is greatly appreciated. Please do come along. SHEEP OVER LONDON BRIDGE The London Branch during the year has achieved another notable first. In January 2005 our Battlefield tour Member Tony Beach received the Freedom of the City of London. The ceremony was held in the Chamberlains Court Room s Guildhall and presided over by the Clerk of the Chamberlains Court. Tony Beach is awarded the Freedom of the City of London
Although he states that it is not an honour or an award he personally felt honoured to receive it. He is in good company as past recipients include Lord Nelson and General Sir Peter de la Billier The Freedom is an ancient tradition dating back to mediaeval times, but as with most old traditions it has many myths. He was disappointed to be informed that he cannot drive his sheep over London Bridge. This has been one of his boyhood dreams; his family had been keen farmers living as they did on the eighteenth floor of a tower block in the centre of London for many years. The whole Branch congratulates him on his appointment and wishes him success in the future.