Page 283 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

The Buglers Association
Another busy year for the buglers. With the system that is based in the Reading area, which
integration of veteran Green Jacket and Ri es buglers demands for us to attend regimental events and reunions increase, and we continue to rise to the challenge.
Sadly, it is a fact of life that we continue to see fellow Light Infantrymen off to the FRV, and we continue to ensure that we do this with great pride. Our role, is no doubt an important aspect for families and loved ones, and we always treat it as such, and ensure the standard never wavers.
At this point I would like to pay tribute to Pete Bate for his continuing hard work year in and year out. This year has been no different and he continues to work hard to ensure that every member from this region gets a tting send off. Pete’s dedication is second to none, and he remains an inspiration to us all.
The other side to the buglers association continues to thrive as well. Our mini concert style performances, continue to be in demand. We now appear to have several xed engagements on our annual calendar and new venues pending. We will be putting in an appearance in the North West, for the rst time in August 2017. The committee of The Buglers Association, have now realised the value of these performances and the addition that we give to regional social events. So once again the Yorkshire members have led from the front and taken our group forward. The association have now invested in two further sounds systems to allow other parts of of the country to follow our lead. We have one
SO ONCE AGAIN THE YORKSHIRE MEMBERS HAVE LED FROM THE FRONT AND TAKEN OUR GROUP FORWARD
covers the South of the country. The other system is held in Shrewsbury and covers the Western side of the country. Yorkshire holds the original system, which is currently used within Yorkshire and the North East. We would aim to increase the numbers of these systems in due course when funds and budgets allow.
The rst get together of the Veterans Band, saw buglers from Yorkshire travel to Shrewsbury for a “jamming “session. No doubt this was a huge success, and we would hope that it could be the start of a veteran’s band. Without a doubt, these two groups would complement each other very well and would become a huge mechanism for promoting The Ri es and all antecedent regiments within this region and indeed nationwide.
We continue to work alongside the ACF Minden Drums & Bugles, and we see this as a vital part of maintaining our bugling heritage. This year was a special year in that respect, because the cadets and ourselves had the opportunity to join forces with The Band & Bugles of The Ri es on their Yorkshire Tour. This was a huge success on the surface, but an equal success below. The cadets nished a long arduous week, enthused, inspired and with aspira- tions of becoming regular army musicians.
On the whole, another successful year in our short existence. Our momentum continues and we continue to evolve, improve and most importantly grow.
Obituaries
BARKER, Lt Col Tim Barker OBE – Some returning from Germany. The other letters included
TIM ALSO STARTED THE BURMA BAND WHILST IN DURHAM AND IT IS STILL GIVING GREAT PLEASURE TODAY
affectionate memories of Tim. When Tim was posted to Malaya with the KOYLI in 1961, he had the extreme misfortune to be given the room next to mine. Tim was tidy, I was not. My room was also home to a variety of animals. The rst was Rosie, a puppy of indeterminate breeding, taken from a litter living underneath the Malacca Club. The second was a monkey who lived in the rafters of the passage way leading to the Of cers Mess. There followed a Python, a ying fox, some bats, and a pair of civets and others. Tim sensibly moved rooms!
Tim was the only of cer who possessed a cine camera and was dubbed J. Arthur Barker, he also acquired the nickname “Mozzy” because he buzzed around which stuck with him for the rest of his days. I gather he didn’t like it.
The Battalion served in Malaya for three years, which encompassed two tours in Brunei and Borneo. On return to U.K. in 1964 our rst sad duty at the beginning of the New Year was to line the route to Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral. The Battalion then moved to Colchester where Tim was adjutant to Robert McGregor Oakford and David Dinwiddie was a fellow company commander. The Battalion carried out two further tours in Northern Ireland.
By the time I met Tim again he had an amazing set of letters after his name. First and foremost was OBE which he earned for the meticulous planning of a highly successful Royal visit to York to greet units
E3 MO4, DPZ ACDS(Prog), the meaning of these are a closed book but they sound important, and of course CO 7 LI in Durham 1983-85.
Whilst commanding 7LI in Durham, a Territorial Battalion, Tim was asked to raise a company, of the newly conceived Home Service Force to combat “Speztnas” supposed Russian special forces. The exercise took place around the old docks in Middlesbrough. One single advertisement in the local newspaper had raised suf cient men of all ranks and all three services to man this unit - it didn’t last long. The Home Service Force did carry out one weekend exercise in the docks and proved their worth by beating the enemy hands down helped by information disclosed inadvertently in an off licence to one of the enemy’s girlfriends!
Tim also started the Burma Band whilst in Durham and it is still giving great pleasure today.
After the army, Tim made a successful career in the security industry aided and abetted by some former military colleagues. He always took his personal responsibilities very seriously and was a devoted family man to both his own children and his godchildren. Tim was a highly competent professional leader, totally loyal to his friends and the Regiment– even to the animal keeper in the next room! He was amusing without unkindness and a thinker with a broad view of life.
He is much missed.
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS 281