Page 219 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Maj Gen Derek Crabtree CB presents Maj Piers Dunn with the Association President’s Certificate. Lt Col Barry Paddison MBE (L) reads the citation
Maiwand Weekend (Reading) - 26th / 27th July
The Ferozeshah Memorial in the Punjab
Ferozeshah Day
Commemoration
Service Devizes
8th December 2013
The second Annual Ferozeshah Gathering and Church Service was held in Devizes on the 8th December 2013. Support from individuals and Association Branches was fantastic and the 80 association members and guests present witnessed the formal handing over of the Colours and the “Charge” recited by Colonel Mike Cornwell OBE .
The Wyvern Club at 1230 remains
both the FUP and the Objective with a Service of Remembrance in St James’ Church, the Regimental Church of the Wiltshire Regiment & the Garrison Church, inbetween. Here the organist supported the Old Comrades as they marched in with the “Vly” and recessed with the “Farmer’s Boy”. The Association Padre, the Venerable Alan Jeans, Archdeacon of Sarum, led the worship.
The Reading Branch, under the dynamic leadership of Lt Col RB Paddison MBE DL and supported by Peter Richen, Branch Secretary, and Ray Povey, coordinated change to previous programmes and managed an enjoyable weekend. The Maiwand Weekend Committee has moved the operational focus from Brock Barracks to the RBL Club in Tilehurst and it proved to be a success.
74 Old Comrades attended the Maiwand Weekend AGM on the Saturday before moving to Forbury Gardens to attend the Service of Remembrance at the Maiwand Lion Statue. The Service was attended
by Councillor Tony Jones, the Mayor of Reading with the Reverend Keri Eynon leading the worship during which hand-outs were issued to the public explaining the history of the statue wrapped up in an account of the Battle of Maiwand on 27th July
1880. The Chairman read out a “Best Wishes to All Ranks at Brock Barracks” message that the Salisbury Office
had received from Mr Henry Leonard Harrington-Jones who will be 100 years old on 28th August 2014 and
had enlisted into 2R.BERKS in 1929 and finished as WO1 (RSM) of the 1st Battalion.
The evening entertainment was held in the function room back at the RBL Tilehurst and a good time was had by all, the buffet supper was excellent and our regular entertainment the “Some Swell Sisters,” an Andrews Sisters tribute group was great hit singing fifties and sixties songs.
The Cenotaph Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving in Brock Barracks on
the Sunday morning was attended by Major General and Mrs Crabtree and 120 members, families and friends. Col MRWC Vernon-Powell read the lesson and wreaths were laid by Major General Crabtree CB,
Lt Col RB Paddison MBE DL and Mr Peter Langford. The Reverend Keri Eynon again
led the worship.
Lt Col RB Paddison MBE DL led the
Old Comrades March Past with Major General Crabtree CB taking the Salute following which he presented President
of the Associations’ Certificate for Outstanding Service to Maj PT Piers-
Dunn.
The Maiwand Weekend
concluded with a Curry Lunch and chota peg in the Dragon Club.
Old Comrades parade at the Cenotaph in Brock Barracks during the Maiwand Reunion
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION NEWS 217