Page 145 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

Mercian volunteers visiting the wall - spot the difference!
Wolverhampton
The Branch now meets at the Claredon Hotel, Chapel Ash on the last Sunday of
the month. The attendance has continued to be buoyant. The Branch attended the ANZAC parade at Cannock Chase.The Branch carried out the Poppy Appeal in Wolverhampton again this year and raised over £15000. Unfortunately the Branch
was unable to collect in the Wolves football ground as ‘Help the Heroes’ had claimed the spot! The Branch had also collected £338 for the local Compton Hospice. Members took part in the PARA 10 endurance march at Catterick Training Area; 10 miles carrying 16Kg of kit and raised £400 for ‘Help the Heroes’ in memory of Sgt Jon Fox.
The social life has not been forgotten with a Christmas Dinner and informal meetings. The Branch visited North Wales again for walks to raise money for charity. Members attended the dedication of a memorial plaque in St Mary’s Church, Old Swinford, Stourbridge, and at the War Memorial in Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge for Pte Shaun Taylor of the Staffordshire Regiment, killed in Iraq.
The Association Website The website has had over 90,000 hits over the past
12 months but at Christmas 2010 a glitch meant that it was closed down for a couple of weeks. This was due to an admin error by the web hosting company. It meant all the information on the website was lost. Fortunately the Webmaster had backed up the website so no information was lost: the site is now fully restored. The newsletter
for the W.F.R.A is also being posted on the MVRA website as well as information on the regular Mercian Regiment. I believe we are now in a position to encompass all the Regiments into one single domain, which would ensure the continuation of the MVRA site. The MVRA has been lucky to purchase the domain name mercians.com at a very low price which will be invaluable should there be an expansion of the website to cover all the Mercian Regiments. Members are reminded that the Website is theirs: some Branches take full advantage of it
for communicating to members, but some branches never do. Branches are asked to send details of meetings, Branch notes etc, so that we can become ‘all informed’
Rommel visiting the wall
and so that if someone came across a good idea for fund raising etc, the message is passed on to other Branches. The diary could be used more to advertise events
and Branches are asked to keep the Webmaster updated so he can add items to the diary. He thanks all members who had sent him pictures,
stories and details of
fellow Mercians who we
have lost. The success
is due to the hard
work and enthusiasm
of Nick Pearson, our
Webmaster, whom we
owe a great deal.
What do I do with this - Tony Smith at Kidderminster Branch
attended by Lt Col AJ Scott who made the presentation, along with Lt Col BL Clarke, Lt Col KH Jeavons and WO2 G Bird with the Kidderminster Branch standard. The Mayor expressed great delight in the gift, saying
it was one more example of the close links that existed between the TA and its local
community in the south of the Mercian area.
He very generously invited a small group of Association Members to a drinks party in the parlour on 10th May, when there was a small gathering of Mercians led by our Chairman, Lt Col Scott. Among the guests were the
Regimental Secretary, Lt Col R Spiby;
Ms C Baines, Asst Regimental Secretary Nottingham; Lt Col D Wilford, CO 4 Mercian; Lt Col K H Jeavons, Association Secretary; Lt Col B L Clarke, Regimental Secretary; Lt Col B Lewis; Major R Fox, Chairman Worcester Branch WFRA; WO1 Peach, RSM 4 Mercian; WO2 G Birm, Chairman Kidderminster Branch MRVA; WO2 A Fish Kidderminster Branch and Mr. H Masson, Chairman Worcester Branch WFRA.
The final Chapter of the Worcestershire Regiments link with the Regimental home Norton Barracks No doubt there will be a more extensive report of the final parade at Norton Barracks on Sunday 20th April. There was an excellent attendance by the Regimental families and it was with a heavy heart as we watched the flag taken down for the last time.
Many of us had started our army service
in the barracks either as Regular Soldiers or National Service men; some had been stationed there when the 1st Battalion
was in residence and had taken part in the presentation of New Colours. Each had their own memories! There was a large contingent of our Association providing a link from ‘yesteryear’ to the present. Five
of the standard bearers had served with Mercian Volunteers. The aim now is to keep the flame alive in the County for future generations.
The Dedication of
4th Battalion bench
at The National
Memorial Arboretum Members of
the Association were invited to join with members of the 4th Battalion at the Dedication of a bench at the Mercian Grove in The National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas on June 18th 2011 to make it a truly Regimental day. This will complete our Memorial, with the Stone flanked by two benches. We are grateful to Lt Col Dominic Wilford, Commanding Officer 4 Mercian for providing the bench and hosting the event. Its presentation and dedication continues to strengthen the links that have existed historically between the current 4 Mercian and its predecessors; Mercian Volunteers.
War Memorial Refurbishment
Walsall Branch reported on the successful refurbishment of the War Memorial at the base of the steps leading to St Mathew’s Church, Walsall. The Memorial was disintegrating and the names were very difficult to read. The plaques with the names have been completely restored. The Branch is to be congratulated on their initiative
and tenacity in getting the job completed! Grateful thanks to the people who arranged for the work to be completed, but who wish to remain anonymous!
Presentation of a Plaque A Mercian Volunteers plaque, suitably mounted and inscribed was presented to the mayor of Worcester, Councilor Mike Layland [late of the Worcestershire Regiment] on 12th April 2011. The event took place in the Mayor’s Parlour in the Guildhall and was
The success is due to the hard work and enthusiasm of Nick Pearson, our webmaster. To whom we owe a great deal
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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