Page 1 of 11 London Branch Newsletter 2002 President Secretary Treasurer Golf Member Battlefield Tour Members Entertainments Member Colonel G F Smythe OBE Gary Driscol Captain S Wake Dev Deverell Alfie Fisher Steve Smith The year 2002 was another success for the London Branch. Numbers have increased dramatically and we now have 150 full committed members who are involved and take part in most activities. The membership covers the whole spectrum and consists of retired regulars and TA soldiers. The Branch committee is now well established and with the active support of the membership, has been able to arrange a number of successful events throughout the year. As a Branch we are also pleased at long last to be in a position of credit financing, this has been an uphill struggle but one which has proved to be worthwhile. During the year we have gained some limited sponsorship and also committee members are always on the lookout for moneymaking ventures. The Branch designed and produced it s own plaque which allows us to make presentations to organisations who have assisted during the year. The question of the London Branches location has not been fully resolved but Davis Street remains a firm front-runner as it remains the most central in the West End for most of the members. The Branch meets regularly on the first Tuesday of every month in the Rifleman s Bar for a beer and a chat and this has proved to be a success with numbers improving as the message spreads. Fortunately this gathering falls on the TA Drill Night and is beneficial to both serving TA members and Branch members. It allows Branch members to keep in touch with Green Jackets news and current activities. It is our hope that more branch members will make use of the opportunity to socialise in the future especially if they are in town or in the area. The Branch has during the year attempted a wider variety of events most of which have been successful. Although these successes cannot be attributed to one single fact, there can be no doubt that when the combination of an active membership and a committed committee, who are prepared to work, success is bound to come. The calendar of events for the year was organised so that there was a Branch event approximately every two months throughout the year, allowing members to plan their involvement. This has proved to be highly successful and a number of these events are now firmly established. Golf Society The Riflemen s Golf Society holds two competitions a year, the first is the Spring Shield Competition, which is played in April and the second is the Presidents Cup Competition, which is held in September. Results of the Spring Shield Competition, held at Mill Green
Page 2 of 11 Best Rifleman. Mr Dev Deverell. Runner Up. Mr Steve Smith Nearest the Pin. Mr Brian Van-Blerk. Longest Drive Mr Dev Deverell Best Guest. Mr Fred Good. The Spring Shield competition was held at Mill Green Golf Course, which proved to be a highly successful choice. The weather was much kinder than the previous year. The competition was over 18 holes, played to Stapleford rules, which gives our real novice members a bit more of a chance to come away with a prize. The Golf Secretary, Dev had a very good day winning the shield for the second time and also winning the Longest Drive. It was great to see a couple of new faces attend, Brian and Terry Van-Blerk, and we hope that they will continue to come in the future. The whole day proved to be an entertaining and enjoyable event and was completed with a meal and a few drinks in the Club House before departing for home The results of the Presidents Cup competition, held at Mill Green Best Rifleman Mr Steve Smith. Runner Up Mr Terry Wiggins Nearest the Pin Mr Alan Dowie. Longest Drive. Mr Terry Van- Blerk Best Guest Mr Neal Smythe. The Presidents Cup Competition was also held at Mill Green this year. The winner of the Cup was Steve Smith. Steve s name is the first to go onto the cup since it was presented to the Golf Society, by our branch President Col George Smythe. Runner up was Terry Wiggins. These matches are proving to be very popular and other association members and their guests are more than welcome to participate. A special word of thanks must go to Dev for organising these golf days. Battlefield Tour This was our second Battlefield tour and took place on the weekend of 8/9 th June. We had an increase in numbers this year (49) and there was a waiting list for places! The tour this
Page 3 of 11 year took us over to Ypres, Belgium, where we stayed overnight a few minutes walk from the Menin Gate. Early Saturday morning we set off and our first port of call was at the Calais War Memorial. We took a RGJ Assn wreath and held a short service to remember the comrades who died there. We had our own Branch buglers, Ben Clare & Frank Hill, who sounded the last post and the two minute silence. The Calais War Memorial We moved on to St Omer, and headed for Longvenesse Cemetery where we visited the grave of Cpl Noble, VC, of the Rifle Brigade. On the way to Ypres, we stopped off at various places including Hill 62 Sanctuary Wood, Hooge Crater, where we stopped off at the Kings Royal Rifle Corp Memorial, and Nonne Boschen. Following dinner at the hotel, we reported to the Menin Gate for the Last Post Parade. The local Fire Brigade provide Buglers to sound the last post every day of the year. We took the opportunity to lay another RGJ Assn wreath and introduced ourselves to the Firemen. It was then time to sample the famous Belgian beer! Museum at Hill 62, Sanctuary Wood The next day we set off for the Flanders Field Museum, and toured the Ypres Salient. We visited the German Cemetery, in Langemark where there are 25,000 graves of young German soldiers. We visited the Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest commonwealth cemetery in the world, in Paschandaele. e. The trip was rounded off with a very quick visit to the cash and carry and then home late Sunday evening. These tours are organised for our branch by one of our members, Alfie Fisher, whose hobby is the history of the Great War. We are able to run these tours at a low cost, this particular trip we were able to charge only
Page 4 of 11 65 per head which covered the cost of the coach, the coach driver for 2 days, the overnight Novotel hotel stay, including Sat evening dinner and Sunday morning breakfast! It was a very moving and informative weekend in which a great deal was packed into and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Thank You Alfie. Ladies Dinner Night This year s Ladies Dinner Night was held at Davies Street, London on Saturday 23 rd March. It was attended by our Branch President, Colonel George Smythe and Mrs Ruth Smythe. The reception was held in the Riflemen s Bar. Buglers sounded the dinner call and dinner was served in the London Club, where the tables were decorated in the same format as an officer s regimental dinner with regimental silver, good wine, port and cigars. Following the dinner, the Branch Buglers treated us to a performance of popular regimental calls on their bugles. Guests enjoyed a five-course gourmet dinner, good Green Jacket Company, dancing and drinking to the early hours. The night was a great success and our thanks once again should go to Rifleman Alan Brooker, who was acting Mess Manager, Mike Golding for the excellent dinner, Capt Steve Wake and Sgt Colin Forbett, and of course, the rest of the staff of Davies Street. We look forward to the next one! Ladies Dinner Night at the London Club Annual Reunion, Winchester The Annual Reunion took place on Saturday 13 th July this year. Members from the branch made their own way there this year, although met up in the Westgate, Winchester for prereunion drinks! There were military displays to browse at and some members visited the museum. It was an ideal opportunity for members to purchase regimental blazers. The March Past was well attended and this year it was made clear that ex TA soldiers would be included and welcomed to march. The sounding of the retreat was as always, very impressive and members enjoyed the opportunity to catch up on the news of old friends and comrades. The use of marquees has been a significant improvement to the reunions, making the service much more efficient. Our thanks and appreciation to the Winchester branch for hosting the event as usual and looking after us all. Band Memorial Service, Regents Park This year s memorial service took place on Saturday 20 th July in Regents Park. This service takes place every year to remember the seven bandsmen killed in 1982 by a terrorist bomb while carrying out public duties. Many members of their families along with
Page 5 of 11 survivors were present. Also Serving Officers and soldiers in uniform from both regular and TA Battalions, the regimental buglers sounded the last post. The service was the most highly attended this year, due to it being held on a Saturday. There were over 250 people including representatives from the Kings Royal Rifle Corps Association, and from the Royal Green Jackets Association. This year s service was the 20th Anniversary of the Regents Park Bombing, and to mark the occasion, the Waterloo Band and Bugles were given permission to be the first to play on the Bandstand since the bombing took place. Golden Jubilee Year Founders Day at the Royal Hospital Chelsea The Royal Hospital Chelsea had their Founders Day marked this year by the unveiling of their statue of their founder King Charles II, which had been gilded as a gift from Her Majesty the Queen in this her Golden Jubilee Year. The ceremony took place on Friday 7 th June in the grounds of the Royal Hospital and there were many guests including His Royal Highness Prince Michael, who had the honour of unveiling the golden statue. The ceremony was attended by Mr & Mrs Gary Driscoll, and Mr & Mrs Alf Fisher, both committee members of the London Branch. After the ceremony, one of the Pensioners, Mr Dennis Reading, aged 81, introduced himself to us, and we were given the privilege of being invited to his room. Sgt Reading, who was one of the original Wavell 30,000 and Batman to General Pearson for six years, told us that he was in the Rifle Brigade during the second world war and had been living in the hospital since his wife passed away. The London Branch have invited him to the next Ladies Dinner Night as a guest and will continue to build on the friendship.
Page 6 of 11 HRH Prince Michael Unveiling the newly gilded King Charles II Statue Pensioner Dennis Reading, Rifle Brigade, with Gary Driscoll and Alf Fisher, Committee members Remembrance Sunday This was the fourth time in the Regiments history that the London Branch and RGJ Association members have marched past the Cenotaph at Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday. Numbers increased again this year to at least 94 marchers, made up from members of the London Branch and the Milton Keynes Branch and also the Midlands Branch. The reason for the parade is well known but it also presents an opportunity for Green Jackets to personally remember colleagues who lost their lives in all the conflicts since the formation of the regiment. The members met up in a pub near to the parade square, the Theodore Bullfrog (who open especially for the branch) and go back to the pub afterwards for a good old sausage and mash lunch. Because of the increase in numbers this year, Richard Frost, Secretary of the KRRC Association insisted that the RGJ Association march in front of them, instead of behind them as we have done in previous years. As you may know we are asked to march at the normal (slow) army pace, however, once we reached the Horse Guards Parade, and the band were out of hearing,, we marched the last stretch at our normal 140 paces per minute for all the other regiments to see!
Page 7 of 11 2002 Cenotaph Parade Marchers All are welcome and in many respects the gathering is like a reunion. A special thanks to Ted and to Regents Inns who gave permission for the pub to open on a Sunday. Once again Ted the manager and his staff turned up trumps and made us feel very welcome and provided a warm and efficient service. Marching Orders A well earned pint and drying off at The Theodore Bullfrog The President of the London Branch would like to thank all those who took part this year and looks forward to an even larger number attending the parade in the year 2003. Interested parties should contact the London Branch Secretary nearer the time. Association Members shouldremember that only those with security-cleared tickets may take part. Westminster Abbey Remembrance Plot
Page 8 of 11 On the last Thursday before the nearest Sunday to the 11 th of November every year, there is a Memorial Service in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, which is traditionally attended by a member of the Royal Family. As part of the build up to the service, during the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday, the Royal British Legion lay out regimental plots in the grounds of the Abbey. Once the service is completed the Royals visit the plots and meet regimental representatives. These plots remain open to the public to visit for the following week and are also popular with visiting tourists Her Majesty the Queen attended this year, which was a reminder to everyone that it was usually something that the Queen Mother enjoyed, but unfortunately had passed away earlier in the year. The Queen made a special effort this year and out of the hundreds of representatives from different regiments on parade, she spoke to all of the Green Jacket representatives, including Richard Frost of the KRRC Assn, Ken Gray of the Rifle Brigade Assn and Gary Driscoll of the Royal Green Jackets Assn. There are plots for every British cap badge that ever existed. Each plot consists of many small poppy crosses, which are placed to represent each life lost while serving their country. If anyone would like a personal message on one of the small poppy crosses provided, Gary Driscoll would be happy to arrange it on their behalf. Regimental Plot at Westminster Abbey The Branch Secretary, Gary Driscoll provides a special tribute to the Royal Green Jackets who have died whilst serving with the regiment. This takes the format of large black frames displaying two lists of names. One lists the names of those that have died while serving and the other displaying those killed on duty since the formation of the regiment in 1966. Christmas Function The Branch Christmas Party this year was held at Davies Street, London and was attended by about 70 guests. Once again, John Farmer provided the disco, getting everyone dancing and enjoying themselves. The Annual Christmas raffle was held, and once again, for the second year running, Gary Driscoll s ticket was pulled out again for first prize! However, yet again, so not to raise suspicions of a fix, he put the ticket back and it was
Page 9 of 11 chosen again! All credit must go to the Steve Smith, the Committee s Entertainments representative, who put in a great deal of time and effort to cater for all needs. Thanks also goes to Mike Golding for providing an excellent buffet, and also to the staff at Davies Street for letting us use the building again. London Branch Buglers Our London Branch buglers have had a hectic first year! They have attended and played at various functions and have been dedicated to providing bugle calls for fellow Green Jackets all over the country. They have played at our Ladies Dinner Night, Belgium Battlefield Tour, and both at weddings and funerals throughout the year. Our sincere thanks and appreciation goes to all of them, Frankie Hill, Ben Clare, Terry McCann and Gordon Pennyfather for their loyalty, dedication and commitment. We look forward to being able to use them during the next year. Keep up the good work! Frankie Hill and Ben Clare
Page 10 of 11 Christmas Carol Singing Members of the London Branch put on their singing voices for a personal Christmas Carol Concert. They were singing to Cornelius Holloran, who was a National Serviceman who served with the 1 st Bn Rifle Brigade in Malaya. Con, suffered a severe stroke 4 years ago whilst on holiday with his family in Thailand. He was flown back and as a result of the stroke has been left totally paralysed. His brain is fully functional, however, the only parts of his body he can move are his eyelids, which is how he communicates with his family. He now resides in a Nursing Home in Havering-Atte- Bower in Essex. Members of the London Branch visited him in the Nursing home, just before Christmas, and sang carols around his bedside. Both Con and his family were very grateful for such support just before Christmas. Marion and Con s family would like to thank all the members of the London Branch who participated and also special thanks to Gary Hayes who has been a great support by visiting regularly. KRRC Cadets The London Branch has recently taken steps to form a relationship with C Company 1 st Cadet Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps unit. The London Branch has raised funds through raffles etc, and the Committee has made a commitment to pay for the Annual Road Tax for the cadet s minibus for as long as remains possible. A cheque was presented to the OC Lieutenant Paul Hammond. The cadet unit has volunteered to provide cadets to help out at any of the branch functions as and when appropriate. This is a new relationship between both the London Branch and C Coy and we look forward to being able to help them more in the future.
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