North East Branch news from Malcolm Donnison It is time to put pen to paper again and write another page of our brancheǭs escapades and achievements since November 2010. We had a fantastic turnout on Remembrance day with our numbers being swelled by a bus load of Riflemen from the Midlands branch, who stayed with us over the weekend attending our charity branch function on the Saturday night. They presented the North East branch with a plaque honouring our formation, to Brigadier N Prideaux and Jake Cheetham , which will take pride of place in our new home in the British Legion club in Sunderland. In January, Geordie Oates and I attended the inauguration ceremony of the two buglers swords at the Armed Forces Arboretum in Staffordshire along with about another thirty Riflemen from the 1st Battalion RGJ. It was a great pleasure to meet some more of the RGJ
family on what was quite a moving ceremony. The swords were escorted over by serving buglers, one of whom was Scott Barrs, Trevor’s serving son in The Rifles.
June will also be another busy month for the Association as the events organised for Armed forces day and Help For hero’s begin to come to fruition. Full details will be made available at the branch meetIn April we held another char- ing and sent out by e mail for ity function for the branch as- those that cannot attend on sociation in the form of a pig the night. Brig`Nick Prideaux and Jake racing night and all who attended had a great time. Our In July, I am sure that the city Cheetham accept a presentaion from the Midlands branch branch was also invited to at- of Winchester will again be the tend The Rifles passing out pa- centre of attention for our RGJ rades on the 24th of April, so veterans day and a weekend of all in all April ,was once again, celebrations will be enjoyed by a rather busy month. many. Our Branch president, Brigadier Nick Prideaux has Our next branch meeting is on once again extended his and June the 3rd at the RBL club, Amanda’s kind invitation to wives and partners are wel- attend their house for brunch come to attend the social side and drinks before the long of the meeting, which com- journey home. Don’t forget to mences at 7pm for 7.30 pm. take plenty of photographs of the reunion so that they can be The membership of our branch sent to Ken Ambrose for inclunow stands at nearly 100 and sion into our Swift and Bold Anthis is a marvellous achieve- nual Magazine. ment in our second year of being reformed. We are still reMalcolm Donnison Keith Weedy, standard bearer for the cruiting so please continue to RGJR Associationǭs North East branch pass the word around.
North west branch The annual dinner held at the Royal Hotel in November 2010 was a great success with 50 people attending. I think that a 4 course dinner with a free bar costing £33 per head is good value for money. No decision has yet been made for this year but with this last function being such a success we may again go to the Royal Hotel. As I have mentioned over the past year, one of our members, Andy Norris, is going to cycle from the Spion Kop at Anfield football Club to the Spion Kop in South Africa. I will not bore you with the same details again but he plans to try to raise as much money as he can for the Royal British Legion, Care for Casualties (the Rifles own Charity), Help for Hero’s and the Army benevolent fund. He now plans to start his ride on the weekend of the 4th and 5th of June 2011. Exact times
and date will be sent out when finalised. I am now trying to raise his profile by contacting the local newspapers and TV. I am also contacting Liverpool Football club to ask them to donate a Liverpool FC plaque to be laid in South Africa. Andy has asked me to administer any money raised. Therefore in helping to achieve his goal I sent round to all branches a sponsorship form (click HERE to download and print your copy) and I am asking you on behalf of Andy if you could try to get as many people as possible to sponsor him by sending round these forms to you members. Any money collected can be forwarded to me, cheques made out to Royal Green Jacket Association NW Branch, and the money will be distributed amongst these charities once he has finished his ride. Please return all the sponsorship forms to the North
West Branch, the address is above. As an added incentive for you to sponsor Andy, the North West Branch will give £25 to the person who is nearest in estimating the cycled milage.
“Andy Norris is going to cycle from the Spion Kop at Anfield football Club to the Spion Kop in South Africa in support of various military charities.”
It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of Joe O`Hanlon on the 9th March 2011 after a long illness. Our thoughts go out to his family. EVENTS 2011. Weekend of the 4th and 5th June 2011. Andy Norris starts his bike ride.
Andy Norris on the road
13th November 2011. Remembrance Parade in Liverpool. 26th November 2011. NW Branch annual dinner.
Ray Jerrard
Andy Norris (right) with a fellow traveller.
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