Page 112 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2019
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                                Regimental Secretary Assistant Regimental Secretary Assistant Regimental Secretary (Heritage) Administrative Officer Grantham Administrative Officer Wigston Administrative Assistant Grantham Administrative Assistant Wigston
There have been a few changes at HHQ since the last Chapka. Liz Reeves retired in the Summer and her duties have been taken up by Suresh Mamnani and Susan McClean. The big news is that Capt Mick Holtby (Assistant Regimental Secretary (Her- itage)) has also retired. Mick has served the Regiment (in and out of uniform) for 50 years which is a remarkable achievement. We wish Sue and Mick a long and happy retirement. However, if you visit the museum in Thoresby you may be lucky and find him there as he is doing some consultancy work for the museum!
Further changes at HHQ are in the pipeline. Nearly five years af- ter amalgamation the Army is reducing our headcount from eight at the time of Amalgamation to four with effect from 1st March 2020. Sadly, this means that in the course of the coming months Mrs Celia Bokenham, the E2 Administrative Assistant at Wig- ston will be leaving us after ten years of loyal service. Mrs Susan McClean, currently the Administrative Assistant in Grantham, will also lose her job as her post has been regraded to a higher lev- el. However, she is keen to stay and apply under the Civil Service rules for the more senior role. We will do our best to make sure she is treated fairly. As a result of the closure of the office in Wig- ston, Mr Suresh Mamnani will transfer to Grantham. If all goes to plan we will retain a person from each of the previous offices working in HHQ and maintaining the all-important continuity that has served us so well for many years.
The threat of closure of Prince William of Gloucester Barracks is very real but as yet an alternative location for HHQ has not been
Maj MDA Pocock Maj PA Watson Capt JM Holtby Mrs L Reeves
Mr S Mamnani Mrs S McClean Mrs C Bokenham
found. I have been told that we will be given two years’ notice of closure and that it is the responsibility of the Army to find us a new home.
The Colonel of the Regiment has initiated a study to improve the connectedness of all Lancers, both serving and retired. I am confident that this will lead to improvements in how we remain connected to one another but you can play your part. Although ‘once a Lancer, always a Lancer’ is true and cannot be denied, we have lost touch with many of you over the years. Data Protection legislation has played a part and perhaps when you left the Army you didn’t give it a thought to tell us where you were going but the only way we can keep in touch, is if you tell us how we can do that. Please contact HHQ and make sure we have you registered and that we have up to date contact details.
Maj Phil Watson will report on the benevolence activities that HHQ and the Regimental Trust have been involved in during 2019 – incidentally those of you who are interested in seeing the 2018 accounts of Regimental Trust (the 2019 accounts are currently with the examiner), you can find them on the web- site home page (https://theroyallancers.org) and an overview has been included at the end of this article.
MDAP
REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
 Home Headquarters
Home Headquarters: The Royal Lancers, Lancer House, Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG13 7TJ Telephone: 0115 9573195 Email: first initial.surname@theroyallancers.org
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