Page 113 - The Light Dragoon 2024

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Barnsley Branch
Southern Commitee
The year started off with the annual Cavalry Memorial Parade at Hyde Park in May, With Geezer Alford standing in for Posh carrying the association banner leading a large Light Dragoon contingent which was great to see. This was followed by all member meeting in the Paxton’s Head in Knightsbridge for a few beers afterwards. The night before on the Saturday evening saw the Southern Committee hold a curry supper in the Chelsea in pensioners club which was a resounding success in conjunction with the Scots DG, my eternal thanks to Geordie Collins who helped organise things.
The previous week on the 6th of May saw the Kings Coronation at Westminster Abbey on which I was on duty (Kings Yeoman Bodyguard) along with Col Euan Cameron (Gentleman at Arms) inside Westminster Abbey, so it was great to have Regimental Association presence on Duty.
The Thursday before Remembrance Sunday saw the committee gather at the Field of Remembrance at Westminster abbey along with the Colonel of the Regiment and saw HRH Queen Camilla inspecting the Regimental plots.
Remembrance Day then came on the Sunday, with ten members of the Association marching through Whitehall and past the Cenotaph led by Paul Mills, with me being the wreath layer. This is a very high-profile event, and I would welcome any ex Regimental members to make the effort and put their names in through home HQ to attend.
In conclusion 2024 marks the 100th Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Parade in Hyde Park on the second weekend in May, and it would be great to see a full house attend as I know all the Cavalry Regiments have given it maximum exposure.
God Save the King.
BLM
Chairman Secretary Committee Members:
Des Ackroyd Ian Allchurch T Quinn
S Elliott
R Crompton CWard
S Fretwell
D Oliver
It is wonderful to have a full committee it makes things run so much smooter and new members bring new ideas to the forum. A suggestion from Ray Crompton to have a suggestion box at the October was great, some of the suggestions that came from the Association members who attended were very weird to say the least! On the whole Branch members were content and happy with things as they are.
Over a rather gloomy first weekend in October over 160 Branch and Association members gathered at the Holiday Inn Dodworth, Barnsley for what was to be a cracking weekend, all coming together and may seeing comrades they hadn’t seen in many a year.
On the Friday the golfers departed for Silkstone Golf Club for a round of very competitive Golf, most of them returning to the Holiday Inn with stories of what could have been had they had the rub of the green. On the Friday evening there was a superb buffet organised and by 7pm the bar was full one phrase that was used regularly throughout was, “ I know your face but I’ve forgot your name” we are all getting older after all. The raffle was a real success raising funds to help the branch cover some of the costs and Terry Cavanagh who was visting the event for the first time scooped the top prize of a 9 inch Scimitar on a plinth, Terry assured he will be back next year. After the raffle things descended into chaos when Steve Fretwell organised the end of night drinking games.
Saturday kicked off with a hearty breakfast for everyone, many nursing sore heads. More Members arrived throughout the day ready for the dinner in the evening which was superbly organised Anne and her team from the Holiday Inn, it is worth noting Anne has been heading up the team for our Annual Dinners for at least 35 years.
We were honoured to welcome the Mayor and Mayoress of Barnsley, the Colonel of
the Regiment, Brigadier H A Watson MBE and a couple of Officers from the serving Regiment. The dinner itself was delicious, the staff were amazing and provided a first class service to the 125 folk who sat down to dinner. We were grateful to hear a summary from Major Mackey about what the Regiment were up to and interested to find out from the Colonel of the Regiment about plans for the Association and plans for the future. The Mayor made a most wonderful speech reinforcing the Towns commitment to the Regiment. The Dinner concluded with a raucous rendition of the Balacklava March.
The evening continued with a Disco and then Steve Fretwell managed to provide a buffet as if by magic for those left standing at 2.30am!
The Remembrance Service at the Barnsley Monument was again well attended with Terry Durkin carrying the banner, Brian Finney laying the 13/18H wreath and Bob Milner laying the Light Dragoon Wreath.
We look forward to doing it all again in
2024!
DA
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