Page 61 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

Unit Welfare Office
Welfare Officer: Welfare 2IC:
Welfare Jnr NCO: Welfare Pte:
Capt Nigel Garcia CSgt Robert (Geoff) Hirst
Cpl Jason Earnshaw
Pte Max Foden
It has been a busy twelve months for the welfare team and a lot has happened since the last welfare update. The team has had a change with CSgt Leighton Shirton moving onto pastures new, taking over as the Motor Transport Platoon second-in-command
and linking back up with Capt Tony Mason, the previous welfare officer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank CSgt Shirton for all his hard work and dedication to the job. In his place comes CSgt Robert (Geoff) Hirst, he comes to the team on promotion to CSgt from D Coy and I am sure he will add exceptional value to the welfare role. The welfare team has been busy providing welfare support to the deployed soldiers and officers’ families to several operations. Op TORAL, D Coy group arrived back in Cyprus after a very rewarding three months in Afghanistan in Nov 2018. Op SHADER, the continued force protection task at RAF Akrotiri protecting strategic assets and Op TIMBERN. The latter, the Battalion took over this task in Jan 2019 and it is planned for this to be handed over to 2 PWRR in Jan 2020. This has been a very long twelve months for the families, and they have shown immense patience and resolve in supporting their husbands on this task; the families too should be
The Fijian Day 10 Oct 2019
the chair of the committee, Mr Danny Knott, he continues to provide an excellent service. Mrs Stephanie Price has done a wonderful job in producing the family newsletter and Mrs Jennifer Davis, the secretary, provides
a crucial role in keeping us on the straight and narrow in keeping our welfare events diary on the right path. I would like to take the opportunity to thank them for their hard work over the last twelve months; it is fully appreciated by all families of 2 MERCIAN. The families events have seen a range activities for all to take part in, from: Family Friday, where all of the Battalions families gather at the Pool Bar for Pizza and a children’s disco, to Spouses’ bingo nights and trips to Fissouri Water Park to a Picnics at Happy Valley. The opportunities provided
with grace and commitment for many,
many years. This was the best attended event in the Episkopi calendar, with over
five hundred people in attendance. The event showed off world foods from Africa, Fiji and the Caribbean and a fantastic
dance display by the Fijian and Nepalese communities; it was a total success with a great vibe and party atmosphere throughout the day. Keeping with the theme of Foreign and Commonwealth, 2 MERCIAN’s Fijian community, along with the wider Fijian families gave us a taster of life back in
Fiji by hosting, with assistance from the welfare team, Fiji day at Episkopi. The day was very informative, and they cooked up some excellent cuisine for us all to taste; another great success and once again, it demonstrated what 2 MERCIAN is all about – a happy diverse Battalion.
As the welfare team look out to the next six to ten months, our focus will change to the recovery of 2 MERCIAN families back
to Weeton Barracks. Moves are already afoot to enable this activity with detailed recces having already taken place. Weeton Barracks has a familiar feel about it; it is very similar to the Dale at Chester and I am sure that 2 MERCIAN families will be very happy to be back in the North West of England.
The gathering of the FAC community on FAC Day – Mon 11 March 2019
massively proud of their achievements, each and everyone one of them have played their part
The event showed off world foods from Africa, Fiji and the Caribbean
have been wide and varied and this is all down to the committee.
On Mon 11 March 2019, 2 MERCIAN welfare, with assistance from wider members
of the Battalion,
in keeping our country
safe – well done to all
2 MERCIAN families.
The 2 MERCIAN
spouses’ committee have been working extremely hard to come up with welfare events for the families to take part in. Led by
hosted the Foreign and Commonwealth Day for British Forces
Cyprus. This event was a celebration of this community that has served our country
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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