Page 80 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Patrons

Lunch

Private Leigh Green and
Lance Corporal Paul Kerrigan

attended the Patrons Lunch
Parade, which is viewed by
the Royal Family..

Surprise

By Private Leigh Green

It wasn’t until the last minute that I found
out I was going to be attending the Patrons
Lunch Parade in London. I had an email
two days before saying that a few of those
taking part had to drop out last minute,
and asking if there was anyone willing to
step in to take their place. I didn’t for one Leigh Green before the parade getting ready with the Bands in the rain
second think that I would get to fill the
slot because of how many people would
be interested in doing it, but I had an
email back from the Corps Sergeant Major
saying that I will be attending the Parade, Armed Forces Support parade and everyone was on such a high
so I’d better get my uniform ready. because of all the support that the public
It was now time for the Patrons Lunch was giving to the Armed Forces. I am so
Background Parade in front of the Queen and the rest glad to have been given the opportunity to
of the Royal Family, as well as it being experience something such as this. It was
I got up at 4 o’clock on the Sunday broadcast live on television. We were ready an amazing opportunity to be involved in
morning to get ready and make my in our segments waiting for the parade to something as unique as the Queen’s 90th
way down to Tidworth where I would be begin and the sun started shining, which Birthday, so it will definitely be something
catching the transport to London. After automatically lifted everyone’s spirits I remember for the rest of my life.
waiting a rather long time to get our even higher. We all got given a flag to
wristbands, we were put into our segments carry, each representing Commonwealth The Patrons Lunch
for the day. The segments were divided countries as well as a British flag to carry
into the different categories of the parade to show the unity of our countries. The By Lance Corporal Paul Kerrigan
that you would be in. The Armed Forces parade began and we started marching
were in segment six. We sat in a tent until along the Mall, passing everyone who I was kindly invited by my unit to
called out for the rehearsal. Typically the attended the street party. There was such a attend the Patron’s Lunch event held
rain was pouring down but everyone’s brilliant atmosphere. It was especially nice on the Mall on Sunday 12th June 2016.
spirits and morale were still higher than to hear everyone cheering and showing Following my work with the Royal Military
ever. Once we had finished the rehearsal their support for the Armed Forces. Police Association, I decided to take the
we received Marks and Spencer packed opportunity to use the event to continue
lunches which were lovely and should be Summary to raise the profile of our role and to
enforced for the whole Army. justify our inclusion in the patronage
Eyes right was called and I saw the of more than six hundred charities and
Royal Family which was such a surreal organisations that sent representation on
experience. It was even better that I got the day.
to see Prince Harry. We had finished the

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