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Hereford- shire and Forest of Dean Branch
As the COVID restrictions were lifted, and after many false starts we finally managed to have our inaugural dinner and dance, a St David’s black tie affair at Hereford Rowing Club. Water, alcohol and soldiers a dodgy and possibly dangerous combina- tion, luckily on this occasion no major mishaps and the evening was a complete success with close on fifty people gathered together to break bread and two lucky “volunteers” having a munch on raw leek. We look forward to many more gatherings and are happy to take on board any other suggestions to keep the Dragoon spirit alive and kicking in “The Shire and Forest”.
RC
A Gog, eating a leak, celebrating St David......in Hereford!
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Wessex Branch Tank Fest BBQ
Wessex Branch
It has been an eventful 2022 as COVID restrictions were finally fully lifted and we could once again get together. As both the Wessex Branch Secretary and RCA Banner Carrier, I had the honour to represent the RCA at several funerals and memorial services. We were all able to march at the Cavalry Memorial service at Hyde Park. There was the Freedom Parade in Cardiff, the Field of Remem- brance at Westminster Abbey and the Remembrance Parade in Cardiff, as well as supporting other Branches events.
Once again Sally and I had the pleasure of hosting our RCA Wessex Branch “Tankfest” BBQ on the 25th of June at our home in Bovington. With 40 plus guests it was great to see so many of our regulars but this year to have so many new faces attending, some of whom have not attended any reunions since finishing their service in the Regiment in the 1980’s. It was good to see for the first time at the event, Tony and Diane Evans, Phil and Anne Marie Allan, Tony Hillman, Graham “Harry the Dog” Harrison, Jamie James and Claire and Glyn “Twiggy” Thomas and Jane and Jane, Jeff “H” Crane’s wife on her first visit and Col Christopher and Lynne MacKenzie-Beevor. It was also great to have some of the serving Regiment present in Lt Col Jerome Tyson and Sgt Ross Retallack. We also had the pleasure of the company of the Bovington GSM Jason Bain KRH and his wife Cerrie who were taken aback at how our RCA is so active and well supported.
Once again, the event was supported by Mr Jorg Braese aka “The Sausage Man UK Ltd” www.sausageman.co.uk who supplies us with the Bratwurst and VW Factory Currywurst which always go down well. Jorg kindly donated £200 of vouchers to our raffle. This year we had a great range of prizes in the raffle and my thanks go to those who kindly donated prizes and who purchased tickets even if they were not attending. We were able to raise in total on the evening £615.00.
Buying more tickets as we know increases the chances of a win and Harry Cragg who supported us remotely was the winner of the most prizes which where duly handed over at the Cardiff Reunion weekend and the winners of the Bratty Vouchers were £50 to Stephen “Sully ” Sullivan, £50 to Christopher MacKenzie-Beevor and for the second time the £100 voucher went to Johnny and Jenny O’Brien.
All in all, everyone had a great time, old friends reunited, and some new friends made. A special thanks go out to Tony Hillman, Graham Harrison and Sully for helping with the post event clearing up in the morning.
We will be holding our BBQ again in 2023 on Saturday 24th June if you want to attend, please email me at qdgrca. wessex@btinternet.com or ask to join our QDG Wessex Branch RCA Facebook page. Numbers are limited to 60 so first come served.
DW
The Sandbaggers
2022 started quietly with everyone catching up on family events as we came out of COVID restrictions. We managed to gather a few times, joined in with the Oswestry dinner, filling the car park with our usual mix of vans, caravans and tents on the fields. 2023 plans are to join in with the Oswestry dinner once again in July, and to support the Hereford St David’s day dinner. Derby, Bovington and others are also on the cards so keep an eye on the RCA website for dates, we will try to get around so more people can join us even of only for a day. We are looking at heading to Wolfenbüttel for the Waterloo weekend with a scenic route planned via WW1 and WW2 memorials and battlefields, early days but possibly via D Day beaches, Ypres and other memorials and museums or
we could just give an officer the map and have a lucky dip. More details to follow in the New Year. So, if you fancy pulling up a sandbag, swinging a lamp, having brew of your choice and a natter then watch out for our mobile branch, coming to a site near you soon.
NB
The Sandbaggers, reversing into position...pffft