Page 101 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

DERBY BRANCH
We start these notes with the sad news
that we lost some stalwart members; Bill Dakin and Victor Harrison. Their funerals were attended by both our Standards and members of the Branch. The good news is that the Derby Branch continues to flourish with five new members joining our merry band. Our congratulations go to Roy Crump and Dennis Brown, both being presented with very well-deserved Association Merit Awards for their assistance over many years to the Wardens of the Regimental Memorial at Crich. They both have worked tirelessly
in all weathers without any thought of reward to ensure the site is kept in excellent condition. Our Branch Dinner was held on Badajoz Day at the Grange Banqueting Suite. This has become our regular venue. The meal was excellent and, as always,
the raffle first class with some really good prizes on offer. The generosity of members in providing said prizes never ceases to amaze.
Oast House Plaque unveiling
curry lunch at the Mount Everest Gurkha restaurant in Derby. The restaurant is owned
on the site of the former Normanton Barracks, Depot of the Sherwood Foresters. The plaque commemorates Normanton Barracks and those Sherwood Foresters who underwent training there. Our Standard Bearers have had a busy year having attended far too many funerals of former service personnel. Their attendance is always appreciated by the families. They have also attended numerous ceremonies organized by the Derby and District Ex-Services Association, Remembrance Parades, and of course the annual Pilgrimage to Crich. The Derby Branch meets at the Rolls Royce Foreman’s Club on the first Friday evening of the month.
We would be pleased to see past and present members of the Mercian Regiment and former members of the antecedent regiments at our meetings, all can be assured of a warm welcome.
John Pottinger ran
a “Battle Honours”
board competition
which proved very
popular, so much so
that he quickly filled
the board, with people
still wishing to partake!
We had to arrange a
table specifically for
our friends from the Royal Marines as their number wishing to join us at the dinner increased. We look forward to seeing them next year.
Our Coffee Morning was again a great success with thanks going to Brian Smith and his wife Lesley for running the raffle. 33 members and their ladies had an excellent
by Suresh, who is also a member of the Derby Branch. As always, he did us proud with a wonderful starter, so filling that some thought it was the main, and a selection of curries. The Gurkha beer wasn’t
half bad either as the
glassy eyes of some of those present, bore testament. The Co-
Op Funeral Care kindly donated a lovely hamper for the raffle which was won by the son of the Chairman. The shouts of “Fix” were ignored. It was all in good humour, well we think so!
Members attended the unveiling of a plaque at the Oast House, which stands
The Gurkha beer wasn’t half bad either as the glassy eyes of some of those present, bore testament
Kidderminster Annual Dinner 2019. Members with their ladies
KIDDERMINSTER
BRANCH
As well as meeting monthly and attending various events throughout the year, as representatives of the association we have an annual dinner. This year we went to Larch Wood Farm in Kidderminster where we toasted our Standard Bearer, Mike Salter, who is ‘standing down’ after many years of proud and excellent service.
LONG EATON & WEST NOTTS BRANCH
As well as being involved with the organising of the Nottingham Badajoz Parade, the 100th Regimental Association Dinner (Crich Supper), and attending the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, we decided to climb Ben Nevis! On the 3rd August 2019 a mixed group of 1WFR & 3WFR veterans plus a few civvie friends journeyed from various parts of the UK and Russia to Fort William to climb Ben Nevis by the tourist route. This was done as a purely social event and out of a group of 13 attending, 11 set out on the climb. Although one succumbed to injury, 10 of us successfully reached the summit.
Woofers on the Ben
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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