Page 79 - RSDG Year of 2021 CREST

year. The aim of this is to improve the way the regi- mental family communicate with each other and the major focus in 2021 was to take this forward. Captain Christian Melville has led the working group and been supported by people from the serving Regiment as well as from Home Headquarters, the Shop and the Museum. The Regimental website was launched on 30 September, an appropriate day as it was the last day of Brigadier Allfrey’s tenure as Colonel of the Regiment, and the Harnessing Our Network project was very much driven by him. The second part, to be launched in early 2022 is the alumni phase.
In the summer, a new book, “Amazing Grace, The Musical History of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards”, which was written by Mr Colin Dean was published. It
is an extraordinary book and has received huge com- plements from so many people. It can be purchased from the Shop with a reduced price for members of the Regiment.
While Brigadier Allfrey’s handover will be commented on elsewhere, the team in Home Headquarters, the Museum and the Shop would like to wish him well and thank him for the support he gave them through- out his tenure as Colonel of the Regiment. In addition, everyone was delighted to welcome Brigadier Edwards to the Castle on 27 October, his first visit on assuming the appointment.
THE REGIMENTAL MUSEUM
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Although 2021 started with another lockdown we man- aged to stay positive and are ending the year excited about moving the Museum forward in 2022. The high- light of the year has undoubtedly been the reopening of the galleries and finally being able to welcome visi- tors back. It has been a great boost to all the team see- ing the rooms busy with people enjoying the exhibits.
The closure for lockdown allowed work to take place on installing a new air conditioning unit, dehumidifier and lighting. This improves the airflow and circula- tion which has become even more essential over the last couple of years. The new museum-grade lighting reduces light damage to star objects such as the stand- ard of Napoleon’s 45th Infantry Regiment of the Line while ensuring it can still be clearly seen. Work on
this was completed in September which allowed us to reopen. Visitor numbers to the castle continue to be restricted and a maximum of 30 people are able to be in the Museum at once. While it might mean less peo- ple through the door, those who come in are spending more time in the galleries as it has been less crowded than before.
Our Second World War display was refreshed and now includes a German officer’s full dress dagger and scab- bard donated by Countess Haig. It was surrendered by Colonel Martin Hesselman, the Commandant of Königstein POW camp, to Earl Haig upon his release in April 1945. This sits in the case alongside Haig’s pastel and ink sketch called ‘Evening Stables. R.S.G. Dead Sea nr Jericho, Xmas 1940’.