Page 281 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Leeds Branch
I am happy to report that the Leeds Branch have settled in well to our new venue at the Village Hotel in Morley, Leeds. The staff of the hotel have been most accommodating. They have provided an excellent functions room which can easily accommodate our members and guests, and they have discounted the hotel bedrooms enabling our members to be accom- modated in the hotel at a reduced rate, thereby negating the necessity to hire taxis after a function which is something of a bind and is expensive in the early hours. So in summary, the move has been a great success, and all credit goes to our Secretary Phil Johnson and Treasurer Alan Whitehead who have undertaken the negotiations during the past year. We look forward with much enthusiasm to our forthcoming function in November. Should any association member from another branch like to attend one of our functions, they will be made most welcome. Contact our Secretary Phil Johnson.
Our Bikers Section have again raised a consid- erable amount of money this year for charity, and have also participated in the Ride to The Wall (RTTW) in October, which is a remembrance ride departing from various points around the country, and nishing at the National Memorial Arboretum, where there is a short Remembrance Service and wreath laying ceremony. There were some ve thousand bikers on the ride, and our branch were joined by riders from The Ri es, and also from all Light Infantry Battalions. The total sum raised this year was a hundred and twenty one thousand pounds. All of which is donated to the National Memorial Arboretum and the Royal British Legion. We look forward to partici- pating again this year.
The Leeds Branch has again been most active this year in raising money for charities and good causes. We continue to support the Retired Bugles Associ- ation and we feel it only right to reward the support they have given to the Leeds Branch during the past year at our various functions and other events. For the second year in succession, we were delighted to see our Treasurer, Alan Whitehead present a cheque to the Retired Bugles Association for the sum of ve hundred pounds at the Light Infantry Reunion. That was also followed up by one of our members, Arthur Lowe ex 2LI, who is now the Landlord of the Plough Inn in Wellington, who presented his own cheque for a thousand pounds. The Leeds Branch would like to thank the Retired Bugles for their continued support, and we would like to remind all members of our Association that we will all require a Bugler one Day!
Several of our branch members have come forward during the past twelve months to undertake the duty of Standard Bearer on various functions and indeed at several Regimental funerals. They were tutored and supervised by ex WO1 Adrian Waites, our Primary Standard Bearer. Adrian is also the Standard Bearer for his Branch of the Royal British Legion in Otley. Our Branch would like to thank the following for volunteering to carry Standards during the past year: Adrian Waites, Paul Rigby, Alan “Winker” Watson, Barry Sleightholme.
I feel a special mention must be made about an achievement of one of our branch members, Kevin Fawcett. Kev served in 2LI for a full career, and after leaving the Regiment he set up his own motorcycle training school, aided by his long suffering wife Jo.
Last year, in his spare time, Kev volunteered to be an adult instructor with the Cadet Band and Bugles in Pontefract, but typical of Kev, he decided to go all the way and learn to play the Bugle. It has taken him just over a year from the start, and due to his determi- nation and dedication, he has recently been granted membership of the Retired Bugles Association and has quali ed to Solo Bugler Status. The Leeds Branch congratulate him warmly on this magni cent achievement, and also on his appointment as the Leeds Branch Bugler.
In summary, the Leeds Branch continues to thrive, due to the hard work and dedication of the committee under the leadership of the Secretary Phil Johnson. We look forward to enlisting new members and we also look forward to our forthcoming functions, all of which are attended by approximately one hundred members and guests. Cede Nullis.
Old Friends
THE LEEDS BRANCH WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE RETIRED BUGLES
FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT
Earl of Feversham
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS 279
Adrian Waites, Leeds Branch Primary Standard Bearer