Page 170 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

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Frank and Joyce Bruin on their wedding day 16th December 1944
from Royston and left the pits to join the Royal Engineers in 1950. He transferred into the APTC in 1964 and served until 1978. Harry was renowned for his bodybuilding prowess and was the proud winner of many European titles including Over ‘70s Mr Europe in 2004. Harry was a popular and much loved stalwart of the North East Branch and possibly the worst joke teller on the circuit. One of the most distressing consequences of Covid for families and friends has been the limitations on attendance at funerals. Under normal circumstances many of our members provide an unfaltering presence on such occasions to pay their respects to fallen comrades and to offer sympathy and support for the families who have lost loved ones. One consolation was that Brian Pyle, his wife Karyn, Ted Dixon and Jimmy Fyfe were able to attend the funeral of Harry Griffiths and form a small guard of honour to salute the coffin as it entered the Crematorium. An online weblink was made available for broadcast which thankfully enabled many members unable to attend in person to view the service live. Long may the memories of all our fallen comrades remain with us.
A major disappointment for many of our Branch members was the cancellation of the Biennial Corps Reunion in Aldershot which was to include the notable celebration of the Corps’ 160th Anniversary. Our thanks go to Captain (MAA) Bren Reece who led the excellent alternative production and broadcast of a modern and unique Virtual Celebration watched online globally by Association members. I was particularly struck by the closing words of our Colonel Commandant Lt General James Bashall CB CBE profoundly declaring that our Corps Association members, both serving and retired, are ‘One Corps.’ Well said Sir.
Another notable casualty of the pandemic was the 2020 Annual Remembrance Sunday March Past at the Cenotaph normally attended by many of our Branch members. The event was allowed to go ahead but only as a closed ceremony. Covid also caused the cancellation of our own popular North East Branch gathering for
the Remembrance Parade and Service in York. Though it was not possible to lay our Branch Remembrance Wreath as usual in York, Brian Pyle was able to do so on behalf of the Branch and Corps at his local Remembrance Memorial in County Durham.
It is fair to say that Brian has been one of our busiest members during this period, through his voluntary work with the Royal British Legion in Durham, where as an organiser of the RBL Remembrance Poppy Appeal he helped to raise £4000 towards this great cause. Not content with all this Brian also works as a porter in his local hospital and has witnessed firsthand the incredible and heroic efforts of NHS staff working to keep us all safe under such extreme and challenging circumstances.
Tony Mee somehow found time in his busy life as Lead Youth Development Coach with Doncaster Rovers FC and carer for his lovely wife Sally to publish his football coaching book ‘Through the Thirds.’ Over £2000 of the proceeds so far generated from the book has been donated to the Huntington’s Disease Association (HDA). Tony is now on his bike having set himself the challenge to raise at least £2021 in aid of HDA by cycling 2021 miles by October 2021.
As I conclude this Branch report the mood of the country is beginning to lift. With positive signs of the pandemic receding and the fantastic success of the vaccine rollout programme, hopefully the prospect of a Branch Reunion towards the end of the year will become a reality. I know that, like me, so many of our members will be absolutely thrilled when the time comes to reunite and reignite the friendships that have been in suspension during the unprecedented events of the last year. That time simply cannot come soon enough, with or without handshakes, hugging and kissing.
Finally, now that there appears to be a glimmer of light at the end of this long dark Covid tunnel I said to my wonderful wife Caz “I’ve pinned up a World map, throw this dart and wherever it lands that’s where I will take you when this pandemic is over”. It turns out we will be spending two weeks behind the fridge!
Tony Mee 2021 Cycling Challenge in aid of the Huntington’s Disease Association