Page 60 - Bugle Issue 18 Auntumn 2021

NORTH
The brainchild of CSjt Hawley and CSjt Morris was to “Walk Home for Christmas”,
a gentle bimble of 50 miles to raise money for much needed Company funds. It soon became 100 miles and with a bit of cajoling from CSjt Donna Hawley, the target was set to cover 150 miles over a 4-week period.
So, on a cold December day, we saw the OC of Yorkshire (N&W) Army Cadet Force
E (RIFLES) Company Major Neil Patton join forces with Capt Brook and Cadet Instructors from E Company striding out to take part in
a sponsored walk from Wakefield to 5 Rise locks. The intrepid walkers stepped off on the arduous journey to walk the 5 Rise Locks to Wakefield leg (totalling 32 miles) of the 150 miles planned, and despite encountering some tricky terrain along the way they finally reached their destination with much relief and managed to raise a staggering £5000 for company funds towards helping cadet.
A much more ambitious walk is planned now that CSjts Hawley and Morris have “broken their duck” with 300 miles being talked about. Watch this space!
Walking Home for Xmas
Durham Light Infantry Beer
A DLI India Pale Ale, has been developed in association with the Sunderland Branch of the DLI Association and their Secretary Michael McMahon. The beer is brewed and distributed by the Barnard Castle Brewing Company and
is called DLI IPA. The beer was released shortly before Christmas 2020 and can be purchased through the website. It was a great success at Barnard Castle Christmas Market where it was the best seller. Barnard Castle Brewing Co has its own website, and it gives details of the progress made to distribute DLI IPA.
Minden Band and Bugles of E Coy (The Rifles) Yorkshire N&W Army Cadet Force
The Minden Band and Bugles of E Coy (The Rifles) have moved from Wakefield
to Batley to become integral members of the Batley Detachment. As the pandemic lockdown restrictions have started to ease the Band and Bugles adult instructors; SSI (BM) Craig Rosser, SSI Adam Williams, SI Colin Cranswick, SI Phil Guy, and NUV Kev Fawcett are now ready to commence face- to-face training.
Recently, excellent use of virtual training via Zoom was made and the band collabo- rated on several music videos with fellow musicians from the Rifles Band and Bugles of Durham ACF, and with musicians from HSY Band and Corps of Drums. The collaboration on the videos and the shared practical and music theory lessons with musicians from other ACF counties has been an excellent bonus borne out of the pandemic. We are
sure the new partnerships will continue.
A highlight over Easter school break was
the first ever virtual national Army Cadets Music concentration held over five full days entirely on Zoom. The concentration saw RIFLES badged adults and cadets from Yorkshire and around the UK taking part and running some of the concentration. BM Craig Rosser was a bugle instructor to the 2 and 3-Star buglers, and SI Colin Cranswick used his IT skills as part of the three-man IT team who organised and ran technology enabling the virtual concentration to happen.
The Minden Band and Bugles are now facing a massive recruitment drive for new musicians to join them. Cadet musicians are desperately needed to replace those who during the suspension of training have aged out or chosen to leave the Cadets.
The Minden Band and Bugles are now facing a massive recruitment drive
for new musicians to join them
RIFLES CADET SET TO TAKE TEAM TO LORDS
On Sunday 20 June, Cadet Isabel Tolley (Normanton Detachment) was not caught on the ‘back foot’ as she captained Bradford District Girls U15s to regional victory against Hull. The team certainly played a corker winning the semi-final which means they will now play in the final at Lords Cricket Ground. Well done Izzy and team!
Izzy started playing cricket aged 10 and was selected to play for West Yorkshire Girls District age 12; she has been the district wicket keeper ever since. She also plays for her local club, Old Sharlston where she plays U18s and Captains the U15 squad.
Izzy started playing for Lightcliffe Ladies this year where she is both bowler and wicket keeper.
Jack Jacky Forster
World War Two veteran and former prisoner of war Jacky Forster was among the first to get their jab
at home as Gateshead’s Covid-19 vaccine programme for housebound people got under way. Bensham born Jacky, 100 years old, received his first dose of the vaccine at his home in Sheriff Hill, Gateshead, as teams of community nurses began the housebound programme.
Jacky is the last surviving member of the 9th Bn DLI, known as ‘the Gateshead Gurkhas.’ He joined C Coy 9th Bn DLI in 1939 and fought in France before joining the withdrawal from Dunkirk. He later served in the Middle East and endured POW camps in Italy and on the Austria-Hungary border after being captured in Libya. “I think this lockdown is nothing compared to what he went through as a soldier and prisoner of war,” says Jacky’s daughter Valerie, 73.
This lockdown is nothing compared
to what he went through as a soldier
60 RIFLES The Bugle
E (RIFLES) COY “WALKS
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS”!