The Royal Green Jackets Associa on
WILTSHIRE BRANCH The Wiltshire branch has been busy since the last report. We have had a partial withdrawal of the chairman Brian Darvill and the temporary insertion of Mike Walsh to hold things together until the AGM is held in Jan 16 where just like FIFA all the members can throw their hats in the ring. Brian has done a sterling job over the past 7 years and whoever takes over will have a hard act to follow. He is not going away, but he intends to take it easy now and guide us from the back benches. We wish him and Blanche well and thank him for all the hard work he has put into keeping the branch in the public eye. Well the summer may not have been as hot as we would have liked but this did not stop us enjoying ourselves. The annual branch BBQ was hosted by CZ and Jax in August. Each year there is a different theme as decided by the hosts and CZ decreed that the theme was to be Mexican, this led to a good turnout of over the top sombreros and well dodgy moustaches. Well done to CZ and Jax for a great day (and night), excellent food and company. The host for BBQ16 was announced and next year Gaz and Rosemary Peacock have picked up the baton and decreed that the theme is to be Hawaiian, we can’t wait. We want to take this opportunity to mention Pete Page and his Central gang for a great Greenstock, we had a good few members travel there and they all said how well it was organised and can’t wait for the next one in 2017. The annual branch dinner took place on the 10th of October and with 44 members and their guests present it was a good turnout yet again. Well done to Phil Ashby for organising yet another great social. This year the dinner was held at the Warminster Conservative club who had invited us to join them at their annual dinner and this meant that costs were reduced as the entertainment was provided by the Conservative club as part of their dinner night. This year in line with the previous years the branch supported the annual RBL Poppy appeal. The collection point was for the second year the Waitrose store in
Warminster. Friday and Saturday from 0900 until 1900hrs members manned the display dressed in their finest mufti, the manager and his staff looked after us admirably serving us coffee and biscuits throughout our stay. The store was busy throughout the two days in spite of the weather and the locals gave generously. The final total was a bit of a shock with the two day collection raising a total of £2554.61. Well done to all those who gave up their time and don’t forget, same time same place next year. There was a good turnout again from the branch for the annual Remembrance parade held on the 8th of November with the branch highly visible at “Green Jacket corner”. Before the parade members met in the Old Bell in Warminster and prepared for the parade in the traditional Green Jacket way. Afterwards the branch was invited to the Conservative club to join them in a plate of warming stew washed down with cold beer. The latest event in our social calendar was the annual skittles night, again admirably organised by Phil and Val Ashby. This was held on Friday the 13th November at the Organ Inn Warminster. There was a large turnout for this highly popular event. Whilst the best skittler is rewarded with a magnificent trophy donated by David Smith the real challenge is avoiding the wooden spoon for the lowest score. Having won it for the last two years Brian and Blanche Darvill were anxious to avoid retaining it. They succeeded (only just) and the holder of the wooden spoon for this year is Mags Caws. The award for the best skittler was Bill Tyson, and Elaine Holcombe became the ladies champion. Well done to all three. As I write this Christmas is looming and the horrors of the recent events in Paris are still being analysed. It serves as a timely reminder of the dangerous times we still live in, the enemy may change over the years but the threat is still there. The Wiltshire branch wishes everyone a merry, safe and peaceful Xmas and hope 2016 brings peace and happiness to you all.
WINCHESTER (HAMPSHIRE) BRANCH On Sunday the 8th November I had a revelation. Not one of those big biblical things where dark storm clouds part to reveal beams of heavenly sunlight, but as revelations go pretty big nevertheless. It came about as I drove from home to Winchester to join my branch for the city’s Service of Remembrance;when it suddenly dawned on me that after 30 years in the Army and despite those years of service instilling in me a few (although many would argue much less than a few) admired characteristics of a comic book Superhero, and a deep sense of loyalty and love for my country and regiment – a sudden realisation that I developed a more sensitive side to my character!
along and noticedthat despite the time being only 8.30 in the morning how extraordinarilyquiet the roads and pavements were on this our national day of remembrance. Other than the odd jogger and few manic driverswith their carsloaded down with rubbish as he or she made their way to the nearest car boot sale it was like a scene from the Walking Dead!
The trigger for this sudden revelation came as I drove
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18 | Volume 7 Issue 2
Instantly the thought crept into my head that very few people, if any at all, had clearly no intention or plans forremembering and honouring our war dead on this most important day of the year, and secondly therefore it was
E-Zine 2015
