Page 58 - Bugle Issue 19 Spring 2022

NORTH
The Dinner in full flow
Rifleman’s Association North East
After a rough first year due to Covid-19 restrictions, the association have now held two very successful evenings for which they have received fantastic feedback from those who attended. Oktoberfest, their first event, was held on Saturday 2nd October at Durham Masonic Hall in Durham City. This was a fantastic event with a great atmosphere and fabulous entertainment. Steins flowed, Bratwurst were grilled, and a great night was had by all.
The Remembrance Dinner, this really was a night to remember. A wonderful evening was held on Saturday 6th November at
the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham City to remember our fallen. We were thrilled to be joined by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Durham and his wife along with a number of VIP guests including Col Sam Cates, Lt Col Mark Laverick and Capt Bob Roberts to name but a few.
Association Sporting Societies
The association has recently begun rolling out a number of sporting societies with the aim of bringing together Riflemen with similar interests to take part in sporting events and activities. Sport is proven to aid in positive mental health along with physical
wellbeing. The first sport has now
been established as “Veterans
Fore Brothers”, our Golf Society,
who held their first gathering
on Thursday 23rd December at
Sharpley Golf Club.
58 RIFLES The Bugle
Colonel Sam
Cates briefs the Remembrance Dinner
Events for 2022
Saturday 05 March
Anniversary Dinner (Durham)
Sunday 17 April
Family Fun Day (Sunderland)
Saturday 04 June
Jubilee Garden Party (Durham)
Thursday 07 July
Association Golf Day (Close House, Northumberland)
Saturday 16 July
Ska Night (Durham)
Saturday 13 August
Grand Summer Ball (Radisson, Durham
Saturday 01 October
Oktoberfest (Durham)Saturday
05 November
Remembrance Dinner (Radisson, Durham)
Association Meetings 2022
Saturday 22 January
Pub Quiz will follow (Durham)
Saturday 30 April
Pub Quiz will follow (Durham)
Saturday 27 August
Pub Quiz will follow (Durham)
Saturday 03 December
Christmas Party will
follow (Durham)
Thornaby War Memorial Commemoration
This event was originally dedicated on 28th July 1921 by Col Gilbert Spence CO 5Bn DLI. After 100 years, in 2021 the Mayor of Thornaby Cllr Steve Walmsley and the Chairman, Mr David Smith and members of the Stockton Branch DLI Association commemorated this event with a Service of Remembrance attended by councillors of Stockton and Thornaby, Standard Bearers from the Royal British Legion and local regiments and corps.
The service was led by Padre Rob Desics, Chaplain of Cleveland ACF, supported by Lt Col (Retd) John Heron, President of the Stockton Branch DLI Association. After the speaking of
the Exhortation, a bugler sounded the Last Post and Reveille after which a piper played a selection of suitable music. Col Spence commanded 5DLI for most of WW1 until he was shot and wounded by a sniper near the town of Estaires, which cut short his participation in the War. Throughout the War Col Spence found time to paint over 100 paintings of scenes of the battles fought by his battalion. In 1921 he was made a Commander of
the Order of the Bath and appointed Commander of the Durham Defence Force. Unfortunately he was killed in a car accident in 1925, but most of his collection of over 3000 items of arms and militaria can be seen in Preston Park Museum in the nearby town of Eaglescliffe.
Members of the Stockton Branch DLI Assn with the Mayor of Thornaby Cllr Steve Walmsley, the Mayoress, the Padre and Lt Col John Heron President of the Stockton Branch
THE DLI ASSOCIATION BBQ
This took place at The Last Post and Don War Memorial Museum & Veterans Hub in Cranworth St, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17, on 8 August arranged by David Smith, Chairman of the Stockton Branch and Julie Cooper. There were over 100 people from a number of Branches attending. Also present was the Association Chairman Major Chris Lawton and his wife, Terry and Stockton President Lt Col John Heron.
The President Lt Col John Heron was wearing his Panama hat as he forgot to bring his beret for the photo! Chairman Dave Smith is keen to build up the membership again after Covid. The BBQ was a first step in that direction.
Gathering of Stockton-on-Branch members for The Last Post and Don Bar Memorial Museum & Veterans Hub
NEWS FROM THE DLI ASSOCIATION