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DERBY BRANCH
BY Alan Derbyshire, Branch Chair
The Branch remains strong and has welcomed into its ranks Bob Gardner, Marco Zecca, Ephraim Beardsley, Dave Rawson, Richard “Dixie” Dean and David Smith. Bob and Marco are both serving with The Regiment and it is good to have that link. We were sad to see “Dutch” Holland and Cliff Amatt leave. Both were affiliated members and good supporters of the Branch and we wish them both well in their new ventures. The Branch AGM took place in January and the Committee was again elected en bloc, with all members agreeing to continue in post. One must not forget the ladies who allow their husbands a “pass out” to attend the Branch meetings. Our thanks go to them for their support in all Branch events.
In November 2012, members attended the Remembrance Day Parade in Chaddesden Park held by the children
of local Primary Schools and the parade on Remembrance Day proper at Soldiers Corner in Nottingham Road Cemetery.
Our Annual Dinner with our Guest
of Honour Captain Paul Brown from Derbyshire ACF attending with his wife Rosalyn was a most enjoyable evening, well organised and attended with an excellent raffle with prizes donated by members. The generosity of the members was further put to the test as we found in our midst a young soldier, Captain Charlotte Stone, who was due to run the London Marathon, with the proceeds of her sponsorship going to a Military Charity. True to form, members and their guests put their hands in their pockets and donated over £200. Our thanks for organising and assisting the evening go
to Gordon Carran, Ronnie Smith, Dennis Brown, Brian Smith, Ivan Gascoigne, Julie Yates and Carole White.
Not to be thwarted by the insufficient numbers to make the Crich Supper at Chilwell a viable event, a supper at the Oast House Derby was organised to mark the occasion; the location being most fitting as the Oast House is on the site of Normanton
Barracks. It can only be said that an excellent evening was had by all and we thank Cliff Housley and Eddie Edwards for arranging the event at such short notice.
We have a merry bunch of warriors from the Branch who over the year(s) have helped “Tanky” at Crich.
Roy Crump, Dennis Brown and Brian Smith are regulars, helping there every week whilst Keith Ford is noted for his painting and wall building skills. A couple
of weeks before the Pilgrimage it was “all hands to the pump” when those mentioned above were joined by Alan Derbyshire, Paul Derbyshire (Darbs), Leighton Fuller (Tabs), Gordon Carran (Garden Gnome), Paul Yates, Brian Bunting, Andy Dobbie and Stephen Rhodes. A sincere thank you goes to all those mentioned.
The Derby Branch meet on the first Friday of the month at the Rolls Royce Foreman’s Club, Derby. All ex and serving members of The Regiment are welcome. Contact RHQ for more information.
Members of Derby Branch with the Mayor of Derby on Remembrance Sunday
A merry bunch of warriors assisting at Crich
LONG EATON BRANCH
By Cliff Housley, Branch Secretary
It’s been a strange old year and one way or another we seem to have been kept busy with the many events which have taken place. Perhaps the 13 part of the year number has showed up as being
a little unlucky for the branch as our Chairman Major Bryan Robinson went
into hospital to have his knees operated
on. Unfortunately what with one thing
after another he has had a rough time of it and is to date still not in a position where
he can resume his attendance at branch meetings. In an effort to cheer him up a little, the Branch President Major John Ford, the Secretary Cliff Housley and Standard Bearer Phil Twells visited Bryan at his home when the President presented Bryan with
Left to right – Mr and Mrs G Crosby, Mr K Robinson and Mrs D Robinson, Mr and Mrs P Bacon, Mrs H Twells, Mr Cliff Housley, Mrs J Smith, Mr C Harrison, Mrs and Mrs K Stubbs, Mr J B Brewer and Mr P Twells at the Branch Dinner
THE MERCIAN EAGLE