The Royal Green Jackets Associa on
NORTH WEST BRANCH Dear Fellow Riflemen The past 9 months here at the NW Branch has seen a massive transition. Should you not have already heard that our Chairman, since the early 1990’s, Gareth Dixon died after a short illness in Fazakerly Hospital Liverpool on 2nd November 2014. The branch and the RGJ family will miss him a great deal. His funeral was held at Anfield Crematorium where approximately 300 people from all over the country attended. The service was relayed outside as not everybody was able to get into the crematorium. His sister sends this message to all his friends and acquaintances: To all the friends of Gareth Dixon
so that the new committee were guided through the processes of the association. When Gareth died Ray agreed to become treasurer of the branch and with his experience in the running of the branch to liaise with the rest of the committee and pass on this knowledge. Following our appeal for donations to provided Peter Uden a permanent memorial, I can now announce that due to generous donations from members of the North West Branch, some members of other branches and even from abroad, we managed to raise all the funds necessary to provide Peter with a memorial stone. The balance was made up by an anonymous benefactor who we all extend our most sincere gratitude. I also must mention that without the generosity of the J C Langford and Sons, Monumental Masons in Fareham, who reduced the cost of the memorial by a significant amount, this project would have taken a lot longer to complete. A special thanks go to Ken Newman who authorised the
I would like to thank all of Gareth’s friends in the Green Jacket family and beyond for not only a wonderful send off for him but also for raising a total of £510 for Help 4 Hero’s. He would be proud of you all. Ruth Dixon The Remembrance Parade in Liverpool was held on 9th November 2014. About 50 people attend the parade. After the parade we then formed up at the rear in St John's Gardens where we laid a wreath at our NI Memorial Stone. After the laying of the wreath we lined up for a photo shoot then we made our way to a local watering hole for a few light refreshments. The branch AGM was held on 23rd January 2015 at the Thistle Hotel Liverpool. 24 members attended. A copy of the minutes has been posted on the NW Branch Website. The main issue was to elect a new committee following the death of Gareth and Ray resigning from his post as secretary due to work commitments 5 days prior to Gareths death. The committee elect is as follows President: Brigadier David Innes. Chairman: Tom Fairclough Assistant Chairman: Jimmy Matthews. Secretary: Mark Lydiat. Treasurer: Ray Gerrard. Rifles Liaison Officer: WO2 Dave Crossley. Entertainments/Social Events Sub Committee: Tom Fairclough Steve Donoghue Arthur Toleman When Ray Gerrard resigned as secretary, Gareth asked him to oversee the running of the branch for 12 months 16| Volume 7 Issue 1
(To be con nued on next page) E-Zine 2015
