Page 65 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 63
2018 has been a quiet year with the Regiment’s main effort being the pre-deployment training and the deployment for many of the Mess members to Cyprus on Operation TOSCA 28.
The Rear Operations Group (ROG) continued to provide top level sustainment to those deployed. Meanwhile the Mess in Catterick lay dormant eagerly awaiting the return of all the mess members from tour. Whilst in Cyprus, the Mess members held various events including a dinner night for the Troopers. This was to prepare them for the next step up to the Mess. Mean- while Corporal Thompson organised an entertaining Hawaiian night full of fun and games enjoyed by all those Mess members present.
Once everyone had returned to Catterick the Mess was brought back to life with the Mess committee. This included the PMC (Corporal ‘Baz’ Brooks) reinstating tea and toast and to Corporal ‘Mikey’ Pipe opening the bar most evenings. These were wel- comed with open arms by many a Mess member.
One of the biggest events to happen this year was the medals pa- rade. Here the Mess welcomed serving soldiers along with their families and friends to share a few drinks. This allowed all to chat over the successful tour the Regiment had in Cyprus and the tireless efforts made by all those on the ROG.
Towards the end of 2018, Mess members from all Squadrons were engaged upon ‘return to role’ training and low-level exer- cises. This resulted in the whole Regiment being incredibly busy right up to Christmas stand down period. Seeing no viable space in the diary for a Christmas Ball the Mess committee decided to hold a Winter Ball in January. This was held not in the Mess but the grand and impressive Blackwell Grange in County Durham. Organised to the highest of standards and executed with hard work from the committee, all stops were pulled to ensure this event was a success. All those that attended agreed that they had a great time with fine dining and top-class entertainment. This was in addition to an array of amazing prizes available to be won
by all Mess members on the night. The top prizes were won by Corporal ‘Shadrack’ Shannon who won an iMac computer and Lance Corporal ‘Bones’ Bonnell winning the 55” LG TV and accompanying sound bar. This was the first time the Mess had ventured to an outside venue but judging by the success it is now the bench mark to follow. The next committee will need to pull something special out of the bag to compete with it for the Christmas Ball next year.
The PMC and Mess committee are now preparing for the send- off of all send-offs, saying ‘thank you’ and ‘good bye’ to Warrant Officer Class I (Regimental Sergeant Major) Hough and to wel- come in Warrant Officer Class I (Regimental Sergeant Major) Pook as presiding member for the Corporals’ Mess. It will be during this period that a new committee will be elected along with preparations for the Regimental Weekend in June. We look forward to this event where we will meet old friends and make new friends alike.
BRB
Corporals’ Mess