Page 127 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

Joe Sadler receives his award from the Chairman, Lt Col David Oak
In June, we joined with Chester
Branch for a trip to the National Memorial Arboretum. It turned to be a very damp experience and the Birkenhead party resorted to the ‘train’ to view the memorials. NMA facilities are strained during inclement weather, but it must be remembered that its purpose is to be a national memorial. Staff maintain the memorials and the planted areas to a high standard, and year on
year the NMA looks better. This will be a spectacular place when the trees reach full maturity. Our thanks to John Fairbanks for the organisation and to Chester Branch for their warm welcome.
The first leg of the annual Birkenhead / Stockport Bowls match took place on Sunday 17th May and as usual, we enjoyed an excellent day out. For once, the Birkenhead contingent arrived on time. Not, I hasten to add, due to map-reading ability but by means of modern technology; the sat-nav. Birkenhead now takes a slender lead into the second leg.
The celebration of Armed Forces Day in June was very low-key in Wirral, being confined to a brief flag-raising ceremony at the Wirral Town Hall on 22nd June.
East Cheshire Reunion
By contrast, a well organised and well- publicised event took place in Liverpool, which several Birkenhead Branch members attended. Following a drumhead service
at Exchange Flags, the parade of Armed Forces personnel, Veterans, Cadets and youth organisations was led by the Band Of The Duke Of Lancaster’s Regiment to the Albert Dock area. Attractions here included static military displays, Band and pipe
band performances and vintage vehicle display. This was an opportunity for many Merseysiders and visitors to appreciate the work of our Armed Forces.
The Branch Standard and branch members supported Ellesmere Port Branch at their annual commemoration
on Sunday 12 July. This takes place first at the Waterways Museum and later at the Cheshire Regiment Copse in Whitby Park. Our hosts always provide us with a substantial buffet lunch to fortify us for the journey back home.
On the Bowls front, I am happy to report that we won the return match. We are looking forward to doing it all again in 2016!
May we remind readers that we meet on the first Tuesday of each month, and would like to repeat our invitation to former Tranmere Branch members, and indeed
to all CRA members that they would be welcome to join us.
HALTON BRANCH John Donaldson
Following the unveiling of the statue of Todger Jones VC in August 2014, and seeing so many ex-Cheshires on parade, it was mentioned that a branch should
be started up in Runcorn. Using social media and good old word-of-mouth, we got enough together to hold an inaugural meeting. A number of those interested had strong connections with Halton RBL, and so we chose the club as our meeting place. We started with 29 members, many of whom had served with 3 CHESHIRE when Battalion HQ and HQ Coy were in Runcorn.
We received an invitation to visit South Wirral Branch in March, and were well received and hosted, so thank you to everyone. For our March meeting, we invited the CRA Chairman, Lt Col David
Oak MBE to pay us a visit and we think that we created a good impression. The CRA Secretary was also invited, but
he turned up a week too late (but did managed to get the date right to attend our April meeting).
Throughout the year, interest has been maintained and members have been in evidence at CRA functions and reunions around the area.
In August, we assisted our hosts
at Halton Royal British Legion in the organisation of events to celebrate the anniversary of VJ Day, starting with a Show Night at the club. Next day, with some giant-sized hangovers in evidence, we took part in a Remembrance Parade at which 70 balloons were released by
members of the cadet forces and young volunteers.
We are now looking forward to celebrating our first anniversary, and hope that we will be formally adopted as a branch of the CRA and receive a Branch Standard.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
125