Page 124 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

Walsall Branch by Reg Smith At our AGM, the Secretary’s chair, left
vacant since the sad death of Mick Bird was filled by Joe Sadler, all other Branch committee members kept the same jobs (even though several volunteered to
step aside for others). Our hardworking treasurer, Les Sutton has given notice that he will relinquish the post in March because of his chronic eye failure, so the search is on for someone who can count. Fourteen of our members attended
the East Cheshire Reunion and met up with friends from other branches. The Hot Pot Supper was up to its usual tasty standard and as in past years the event was well attended.
We had a good turnout for Remembrance Sunday in Walsall which added to what was the largest parade for years with people paying their respects six deep on route.
Our Christmas Dinner Dance on 18th December was cancelled at the last
minute because of the worst snow for years. We rescheduled it for Friday 4th February when the weather was much better and 70 people sat down to a three course meal, wine, coffee, mints and (by now, unseasonal) mince pies.
Members attending the CRA AGM
in Chester noticed a poor general attendance and the absence of certain branches that had no members at all present. Poor show lads. You missed
a very good presentation by the RSM and WO2 Matt Henry from 1 MERCIAN (Cheshire). The food was good too, with a good selection; thank you to all the backroom staff that make these events happen.
Our Congratulations to Corporal Mark Ward on receiving the MC and to all the other members of 1 MERCIAN (Cheshire) who earned awards.
Chester Race Day was attended by nine of our members. It was great to
meet up with old friends and also make new ones. The refreshment tent proved to be a winner and we hope the event can continue for the foreseeable future.
On 14th May we held our annual Singapore/Malaya Reunion. It was attended by 98 people and all comments were favourable. The supper was up to usual standard and the entertainment proved very good. We were all pleased to see Major Bill Jones and Mr Bill Helliwell attending after their recent illnesses. It was also the day that Corporal Mark Ward presented the FA Cup to his beloved Manchester City. His granddad, Alan Kennedy was a very proud man on the night.
The Blackpool reunion was a great weekend, a perfect opportunity to relax in the company of old friends. The weather on Friday and Saturday was just right and the Gala Dinner and Cabaret on Saturday night was first class.
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Stockport Branch by Keith Mort
The Branch has been supporting the
Rear Operations Group OC (Major Ronnie Goodwin) and Captain John Elms, the Unit Welfare Officer of 1 MERCIAN (Cheshire) with their Inform Home briefings during
the summer. These briefings are aimed
at keeping the families of local soldiers informed about the life of the 1st Battalion on their Operational Tour. Branch members have willingly assisted making and serving drinks and cakes etc.
Birkenhead Branch, disappointingly for us, they won both the Men’s Doubles and Singles, Anne Beard and Hilda Hampson winning the Ladies Doubles for Stockport. The Andy Breeze Memorial Trophy was presented by his father and sister to Birkenhead, who also took away the
Ken Ward Trophy. It was a good day of sport and comradeship spoiled only by the weather. Stockport Branch have also
Thirty of them sat down to be waited on hand and foot by the menfolk, who in between serving courses were topping up their ale levels in the bar, needless to say that once again a good evening enjoyed by one and all.
In March twenty branch members
joined our friends from the Old Comrades Association, Ashton-under-Lyne, at the
war memorial, where every third Sunday
of the odd month of the year, they parade the standards for a short remembrance service for the fallen of two world wars.
The two new memorial stones are now in place for those who fell in conflict since 1945. Included on the stones are the names of two members of 1st Battalion Mercian (Cheshire), who were killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010. Cpl Harvey Holmes and LCpl Andy Breeze. Harvey’s mother was in attendance for this service. She was pleased to see the Cheshire and Mercian standards on parade.
On St George’s Day we held a dinner
in the Armoury. 22 members sat down
to a superb four course dinner organised by Branch Chairman Alan Kennedy and Les Heighway, pub manager and former Mercian Volunteer. Guest of Honour was Cpl Mark Ward MC of 1st Battalion Mercian (Cheshire) Regiment. Cpl Ward gave us a detailed and interesting insight to the action in Afghanistan that brought about his award of the Military Cross.
The Regimental Race Day saw the usual suspects converging on the Roodee to down a few tinnies and while away a few hours conversing with comrades, old and new and trying to back a winner (if they could find a horse in the beer tent that is). Once again a huge success and a well organised event.
On Sunday 1st
August there was an
excellent turn out for
our St Julien Service at
St. George’s Church,
Stockport. Major J S
Holden TD and CRA
Chairman Mr P Gresty
read the lessons. 4th
Battalion Mercian
Volunteers formed the
Guard of Honour for
the Mayor and Mayoress of Stockport, and again at the war memorial, where the Mayor laid a wreath in the Cheshire Regiment Rose garden. Eight branch standards and the CRA standard were on parade. We
then adjourned to the Armoury for a superb buffet lunch provided by the Trustees.
The annual Mons Reunion in Chester saw us marching alongside members of the 1st Battalion to Chester Cathedral and back, where we were joined for lunch in St. Mary’s Centre by family members of serving soldiers lost or injured in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland, courtesy of the CRA President, Brigadier Donnelly CBE. They were made welcome with a standing ovation. The format for the meal this year worked well and was most enjoyable.
The very next weekend was the return leg of the annual Bowls match against
been represented at the Friends of the Knot (STAFFORDS) Dinner
in Burton-on-Trent, (where MRA and CRA Chairman, Mr P Gresty, was guest speaker) and 9th Manchesters OCA Ashton-under-Lyne annual Passchendaele Dinner.
Another notable representation took
place in mid- October when we visited The Rifleman Public House in Stalybridge, which recently re-opened after the locals formed
a syndicate, bought the pub and installed
a landlady and two barmaids to run it. The Rifleman’s correct name is the Guinness Book of Records longest named pub in England “The Thirteenth Cheshire Rifleman Astley Volunteer Inn.”
In November twelve members joined up with a party of eight from Tranmere Branch on a visit to Malta where they attended the Remembrance Parade in Valletta. At the end of the month, several members joined the Mercian Volunteers’ Association for their first dinner, held at the Armoury Public House. Guest of Honour was Colonel Keith Jeavons.
Just before Christmas we treated our ladies to their annual Christmas Dinner.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
The Rifleman’s correct name is the Guinness Book of Records longest named pub in England “The Thirteenth Cheshire Rifleman Astley Volunteer Inn.”