Page 58 - Bugle Issue 16 Autumn 2020

DURHAM NEWS
Final Dinner: 1 & 2 DLI SNCO’s: Ted Darwin, Pal Wharton,
The “Final Dinner” of the WO’s & Sjt’s Mess of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry was held on the evening
of Friday 6th September 2019 at the Durham City Rugby Club.
Bill Stableforth, In-Pensioner Arthur Teasdale, Chris Lawton,
Brian McKeith, Dennis Ward and Jim Murray
Bike ride to
the National
Memorial
Arboretum
“The Ride of Remembrance” organised by Richy Tough of the Houghton-le-Spring Branch of the Association to the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas was
held on Saturday 6th October 2019. It is estimated that 6,600 motorbikes with their riders, as well as folk in coaches, cars and motor homes attended this year, to total an estimated 11,000 attendees. This is a bigger turn-out this year than last year, and the biggest since the RTTW started in 2008; £151,000 was raised last year to support the maintenance and development of the NMA
Commemoration of the 1945 Guyzance Tragedy
Sunday 20 Oct 19 saw the unveiling and dedication of the Pelton War Memorial in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, Pelton.
There was a good turn-out on 17th January 2020 from the Association Branches at the Commemoration to the trainees drowned at Guyzance on 17 January 1945 and strong support from the local community of Acklington, Northumberland. Members and Standards from the Association Branches of Durham, Bishop Auckland, Ryhope & Silksworth, Houghton-le-Spring, Stockton,
and Washington assembled at the Guyzance Memorial at the Weir on the River Coquet
to commemorate the death of 8 Durham Light Infantry trainee soldiers and 2 from the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment who, while practising for river crossings in Europe on 17 January 1945, and weighed down by heavy kit, were washed over the weir at Guyzance and drowned.
LIGHT INFANTRY NORTHERN REUNION
The LI Northern Reunion took
place on 29th February at the Don Memorial Bar in Stockton, organised by the Hartlepool and Sunderland Branches. The reunion of 2020 was the normal, informal, boisterous, noisy, well attended, well organised event as it is every year. Branches of the DLI Association were well represented with branch tables and members everywhere. Greeting members not seen since last year, drinking copious quantities of beer and taking selfies took place in all areas.
Also in attendance were members of the Light Infantry & Rifles Buglers Association who played the calls for Remembrance. Taking part were 9 buglers of the Association who played a great range of music, as well as a singer who had been a former RIFLES Cadet who sang a song of her own composition. The key bugle piece, ‘High on a Hill,’ considered by some to be the best of all the calls, was played to great acclaim. It was a good night and we all hope to be there again next year.
Outstanding Sporting Achievement
It is with great pride that we include this photograph of Bob Martin of the Sunderland Branch and offer him our sincere congratulations for his outstanding achievement.
Michael McMahon Secretary of the branch said “we don’t get achieve- ments like this every day!.” Bob won 3 gold medals in the
Paralysed Veterans Association Games in Louisville Kentucky USA, which were for 100m Back-
stroke, 100m Freestyle, and
Wheel- chair Slalom.
58 RIFLES The Bugle