Page 126 - Mercian Eagle 2013

124
Foresters Return Home For Crich Dinner
By Cliff Housley
Sadly, due to a lack of numbers wishing
to attend to make it a viable event, the 2013 Annual Crich Supper in Chilwell was cancelled (a first during its long history). However, two old Sherwood Foresters, Mr Cliff Housley and Mr Eddie Edwards (the latter also served with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters), decided that they would get together with their fellow WFRA members and their families in order to uphold the tradition of a Crich Dinner prior to the annual Pilgrimage.
An approach was made to the manager of the “Oasthouse” Public House, which
is built on the site of the old Normanton Barracks, the Depot of The Sherwood Foresters. The actual building spreads across the area once occupied by the Guard Room, Main Gate and Keep whilst the car park covers the area of the Orderly room and part of the old Officers Mess
and there is a plaque in the foyer giving information about the life span of the old barracks which was unveiled by the Duke of Devonshire in 2013.
The room was very nicely laid out for
the 34 guests and a small table had been provided in readiness to receive a working model of Crich. The manager had provided two framed photographs of the old depot and also a small shield bearing the badge of
Crich Supper
the Sherwood Foresters. The tower flashed its light all through the dinner and helped to show what the evening was all about. To add a little more flavour to the evening and indeed the room, the Derby branch brought along their branch Standards and these were set up in a very prominent position.
As is usual on such an occasion medals were worn, again adding to the general ambiance of the evening. At the end of
the dinner a message of goodwill from the Mansfield Branch, and the Royal reply to the WFRA message of Loyalty, was read out, and toasts were observed to “Her Majesty the Queen” and to “The Regiment”. It is safe to say that “Our Annual Crich Dinner” was observed in the long standing traditional way and a good night was had by all those who attended.
Members of the WFRA at the Oasthouse Crich Supper
THE MERCIAN EAGLE