Page 110 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

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Lichfield Branch of the Staffordshire Regiment Association
It has been a very quiet year for the Branch. We have maintained our regular monthly meetings in Lichfield and would like to say that the Branch is always open to any new members who would like to come along and join us.
We held our annual Branch dinner in November and would like to say a big well done to Vic Wiles for being awarded the Bomber Bailey cup for his services to the branch over the year. Vic, and Peter Duffen, were also awarded a Chairman’s Award at the Annual Reunion, for their services to the Association and the Museum, which they both attend every Thursday to assist with the research team.
We were very proud to take part in
the Remembrance Service at Lichfield Cathedral on November 11th, and thankful to Dani at the museum for supporting their request to display our Regimental Victoria Crosses. It was an honour to hand our Branch Standard and the Airborne Standard
Victor Wiles and Peter Duffen Receiving their Chairmans Award at the Annual Reunion, 2018
Tom Mason at the 2018 Annual Reunion receiving his Guard of Honour for his longstanding service outside the Garrison Church of St George. Sgt Tom Mason
Adrian Basford and Dennis Smart laying the Lichfiled Branch and Airborne Standard on the alter at the Remembrance Service in Lichfield
to the Bishop of Lichfield to be displayed as part of the Service. In such a poignant year the Stafford’s were front and centre in our spiritual home.
There has however been two very big holes in our Branch this year, and the loss of two key members has been felt by all. Our Events Co-Ordinator and Assistant Secretary, Dave Gouldingay, was taken very
There has however been two very big holes in our Branch this year...
ill at the start of the year. Despite hoping he would make a full recovery this has sadly not been the case and he has been unable to come back to re-take his seat on the committee. Dave was the life and soul at many of our events and one of the main driving forces behind much of our activities and fundraising initiatives, and we all miss him greatly.
We have also lost our long standing secretary this year. Sgt Tom Mason, who has served our branch for over 40 years, has finally had to hang up his typewriter keys. Before joining the Lichfield Branch, Tom had followed in his father’s footsteps and served with the South Staffordshire Regiment and then transferred over to
the newly formed Staffordshire Regiment in 1959. He was instrumental along with
a few other core members in the early 1970’s in establishing the Lichfield Branch of the association as we know it today and has served it ever since. He will be greatly missed by everyone.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Victor Wiles, the 2018 recipient of the Bomber Bailey Cup at the Annual Branch Dinner