Page 97 - The Bugle Autumn 2016 Issue 12

Of cers’ Mess
Having moved from Ward Barracks, Bulford to New Normandy Barracks, Aldershot during the Summer of 2015, 4 RIFLES now has an excellent new Mess with charming staff and a tremendously proactive Mess Manager. The Mess Committee has been particularly busy, spending an enormous amount of time and effort purchasing new furniture, repairing our current property and with RHQ’s help, restoring some of the more notable portraits.
Following a busy period of training, culminating in Exercise WESSEX STORM and the build up to High Readiness, the Of cers of 4 RIFLES have had a busy period. Since Christmas however the Mess has once again been thriving, with an excellent Christmas Ball, expertly put together by Tom Jamison, and a Ladies’ Dinner night. The Mess has also introduced Black Tie Nights on Thursdays welcoming a number of guest speakers including Maj Simon Greenman from 77 Bde and Dr Matthias Stohn, an academic from RMAS. The 2016 Summer Ball is much anticipated; this year themed as ‘Those Magni cent Men in their Flying Machines’ and scheduled to coincide with Farnborough International Air Show.
The Mess has recently said goodbye to a number of individuals. Tom Jamison moved to instruct at ITC Catterick, taking over from Tom Legge who has returned to 4 RIFLES as OC Mortars. Steve Sharpe has moved down to Exeter as Adjutant at 6 RIFLES
while Alex Perry has moved to 3 RIFLES as Opera- tions Of cer, Charlie Barratt has taken on the role of Intelligence Analyst at PJHQ and Tom Hamblin has handed over the Recce Platoon to Dave Stirling to become the Adjutant at ATR Pirbright. Of particular note is the outgoing PMC, Bertie Basset, who having served as a Ri e Platoon Commander, Company 2IC and Reconnaissance Platoon Commander in this Battalion, leaves the Army this summer following a tremendous two years commanding R Company. He will be remembered for his extremely innovative approach to training and passion for his job. We wish all those moving on from 4 RIFLES all the very best with their new roles and also to Bertie as he begins a new life out of uniform.
Recent additions to the Mess and indeed the Regiment are Tom Court, Tom Lane and Matt Smith who is due to arrive from Brecon in August. The Mess would nally like to congratulate Matt O’Connor who recently married Helen and Andy Norton who married Jessica in October last year. Capt Andy Norton, Mess Secretary
THE MESS HAS ALSO INTRODUCED BLACK TIE NIGHTS ON THURSDAYS
Corporals’ Mess
In mid-2015 we moved the Cpls mess from Bulford to Aldershot and set to putting up the mess photos, displays and awards. Next was to provide some personal facilities to replace what was to be left behind in Bulford, so we now have a modern looking bar and a bespoke trophy cabinet for the mess. The Cpls Mess has hosted two poker nights where the last two players have taken home cash prizes, a bring a boss night with a pub style quiz and too many Dominos pizzas as well as attending the Army v Navy rugby game earlier this year.
The Cpls mess also held its regular Christmas function with a full Christmas dinner, a 1980s rock band and nished off with a DJ and campervan photo booth. The Summer Function, which was organised by the PMC Cpl Goodhall, PEC Cpl Sheren and Cpl Goodwin, took place at the end
of July. This was an Oktoberfest theme. The day’s activities started early at 1400, due to the bar closing at midnight. The day featured a tradi- tional German Brass band, two highly attractive German Beer Maids, a ropey DJ and a load of hay bales which were scattered around the Beer Garden. Every mess member put the effort in with the German Dress. It has been noted that there are a lot of cross dressers and Sadomaso- chists in the Cpls Mess.
Under Cpl Goodhall the Cpls Mess is becoming a good social hub to all the JNCO’s. Efforts toward the end of the year will be upgrading the entertainment systems in the bar so that every member will be able to watch Football, Rugby and get the most out of the facilities.
WO2 S Metcalf, Cpls Mess Warrant Of cer
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