Page 105 - MERCIAN Eagle 2017

Mercian Volunteers Regimental Association
Chairman’s Report 2017
In spite of uncertainties over the future of Associations within the Mercian Regiment, the MVRA has continued to flourish, as
is shown in the individual reports of the Branch Chairman given below. Impressive sums of money have been raised for local charities and members have had plenty
of fun and pleasure in obtaining these donations. General membership hovers a little above 500 and around 200 of these attend at least once a year with well over 100 regular attendees.
I leave Branches to report below on their own activities but here record the “general” activities of the MVRA, including the Annual Eagle Club Dinner, master-minded by Major Lawrence Chell, an informal “Regimental Gathering” at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday 17th September to remember those who fell in WWI and also to meet and enjoy a picnic together and
an excellent commemoration of the fiftieth Anniversary of the formation of the Mercian Volunteers, arranged by the Kidderminster Branch, led by Graham Bird, and including a march past the Mayor of Kidderminster to confirm the Freedom bestowed on the 7th battalion the Worcestershire Regiment TA and B Company, 1 MERCIAN V by
the Town. That so many attended these events confirms the great comradeship
and capability of the First and Second
battalions, Mercian Volunteers: though they are no longer in the Order of Battle, they are still there in many members ‘minds as they “Stand Proud“.
The main event of the year was the commemoration
of the formation of Mercian Volunteers
and the disbandment of the 7th Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment TA in Kidderminster in April 1967. The event was organised by Graham Bird and Brian Turvey of the Kidderminster Branch. The Association was joined by members of the WFRA from Worcester, Kidderminster and Dudley, many of whom had served with the 7th Battalion. Members came from all corners of the world; Major Andy Williams
The Tenbury Town Band leading the Parade followed by the Association Standards
came with his family from the USA, others from Scotland and Wales. It was a very warm, sunny day in April as the ‘assembled multitude’ fell in under the watchful eye of WO2 Keith Newman, Finally we set off to exercise our Freedom of the Borough of Kidderminster, which had been granted
to both units led by the Tenbury Town Band. We marched through Kidderminster town centre as we had done many times before to the applause of the people of the town. The pride and swing was still there, perhaps we were a little older! youth being provided by the cadets as we marched past the Mayor of Kidderminster and our President; Brigadier Woolnough CBE. We later retired to the ‘Shrubbery’ or the Army Reserve Centre, to use its more modern title, where we reassembled and march
on to the lawn in front of the Shrubbery
to hold a drumhead service led by Major Ian Strongman TD, now a lay reader at
St Mary’s Church Kidderminster. It was fitting as Major Strongman served with
During the early part of the year the Mercian Regimental Association came to life, encouraging MVRA members to join although the membership looked primarily towards ex-Regulars. The latter had all contributed to the Day’s Pay a Year scheme whilst the bulk of MVRA members had never joined this scheme (it was of course designed for Regulars)
which meant that,
though MRA members,
they would not have
access to MRA funds.
Nonetheless, the Burton
Branch MVRA closed
down and transferred
wholesale to MRA, with
those who did not wish
to leave subsequently
joining the Burton
Branch SRA, who generously welcomed them. Stockport Branch MVRA have joined with the Cheshire Regiment Association have formed a small MRA group and several other MVRA members have also joined the MRA in addition to their MVRA membership In our turn, all MVRA Branches are happy
to welcome ex Mercian Regulars into their circle and this has been the case for some time.
‘Though they are no longer in the Order of Battle, they are still there in many members ‘minds as they “Stand Proud”’
Part of the parade, exercising the right of Freedom of the Town. WO2 Keith Newman in charge
Major Ian Strongman TD, The Lay Reader at St Mary’s Church who led the service
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
103