Page 90 - Mercian Eagle 2014

RHQ NOTTINGHAM – Ms Cindy Baines, Asst Regt Secretary
It has been a year of change in RHQ Nottingham. First we found ourselves relocating our offices to make way for
the Senior Service joining us in Foresters House. For those who haven’t visited yet, RHQ (including the Museum office) is now upstairs, please do pop in and say hello.
RHQ said farewell to our Admin staff, Andy McDougall and Angela Gutteridge and our Assistant Curator, Angela Tarnowski. We thank them for all their hard work and dedication over the years and wish them
well in their new adventures. Despite a lack of staff, RHQ continue to run and support its main events; the WFRA Reunion and Crich Pilgrimage and sincere thanks are given to all of those that assisted this year to ensure that they ran smoothly. We now have some new staff; Mr Neil Prowse, Office Manager and Miss Jenny Brookman, the Assistant Curator.
We also said a sad farewell to LCpl Derby XXIX who has now been replaced by a more sprightly Pte Derby XXX, affectionately
known as “Triple X”, who has moved to his new home in Lichfield.
One of the main focus of RHQ is to continue to promote the Mercian Regiment and to this end has seen successful KAPE tours and Parades earlier this year with more planned for the winter months. We also aim to expand the support we provide for the injured and those leaving the service and of course continue to support our Association.
88
REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS – LICHFIELD
Helen Rayson – Welfare Officer
Life at RHQ brings its own unique challenges, memorable events and moments for reflection, and 2014 has certainly provided all of these.
We have, this year, seen a lot of people leave and not so many arrive! We lost Scott Mason, who has escaped the clutches of RHQ and gone over to DMS Whittington. The next person to escape was Julie Mason, our Regimental Accountant, and once again the lure of DMS Whittington has drawn her away from us...like moths to a flame! And finally Richard Spiby has fled, giving his vast knowledge and experience to Welbeck College, as Director of Operations, a great loss to RHQ and a tremendous gain for Welbeck. As you can imagine, RHQ is reeling from the shock of all these people leaving and wondering if it’s anything to do with Helen Rayson’s constant badgering for coffee money!
On a more positive note, we have had three people join us here at RHQ, thus making life a tad less hectic, we all look like beautiful swans here at RHQ but believe me, our legs under the water are going ten to the dozen. We now have a
Private Derby XXX
Communications Officer, Niall Mann. Niall deals with all the media side of the Mercian Regiment, covering all press events,
social media. It is a brand new position,
so a learning curve for all. The second person to join RHQ is Mrs Pam Mear, who has replaced Julie Mason as Regimental Accountant. Pam actually decided to test the water here in RHQ and actually left
DMS Whittington to work here. And finally we have a volunteer, Mrs Lynn Betts, who comes in one day a week to help with the financial side of things. Overall, things are on an even keel and the workforce is nearly at full strength. Things are, as usual, extremely busy. I nearly forgot, we have a fourth new member to RHQ....Derby XXX – no, they are not kisses, but Derby the 30th! Derby, the Mercian Regiment Mascot, now resides behind RHQ in his new, specially built pen and enjoys being the main attraction to the school children and RHQ staff, and his best friend, Angus, the Scottish Terrier, my dog. They can be seen nuzzling noses through the wire on a daily basis.
The merging of the 3rd Battalion into 1 and 2 MERCIAN has been a challenge in
Since I took over the role of Ram Major
in April of this year, 2014 has proved to
be an extremely busy year for myself and Pte Derby. We have said goodbye to the former Ram Major, Cpl Skinner, who has transferred to the Guards and all at the Mercian RHQ wish him well in his new role. In addition, we have said goodbye to the previous Ram Orderly, Pte Roberts, who has opted to return to civilian life. I would personally like to say a big thank you for all his hard work and efforts whilst being in the role. We move to pastures new though and have seen a new Ram Orderly, Pte Seager, who arrived from 3 MERCIAN in July and has taken to the job like a duck to water.
itself. Disbandment of 3rd Battalion has meant moving furniture, other chattels
into RHQ and subsequently dividing items between the battalions ensuring the history is divided equally. Lt Col Dougie Bridges and Capt Peter Shergold have spent many hours recording every individual item and still keeping their sense of humour.
At the end of the day, we, here at RHQ, wouldn’t have it any other way. The Regiment runs through our veins, it is our family so, STAND FIRM – STRIKE HARD!
Many miles have been covered so far this year, spanning from Catterick to Bulford. We’ve attended a whole host of events, including both charity and Regimental events.
In May, our travels took us to Winkworth farm in Gloucestershire for the Mercian clay pigeon shooting event, which raised thousands of pounds for the Mercian Benevolent Fund and an enjoyable and successful day was had by all.
During June, our attendance was required at the Worcester Reunion, at the Six Ways stadium and was my first reunion in the role of Ram Major. At the end of June there were numerous home coming
THE MERCIAN EAGLE