Page 102 - QDG 2022

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1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Regimental Home Headquarters
Mark Hawtin – Regimental Secretary • Kate Cox – Assistant Regimental Secretary Sophie Poeton – Shop/Lottery/General Enquiries • Mark Evans – Regimental Curator Hannah Searle – Regimental Assistant Curator
What a varied and busy 2022 here at HHQ with a few changes. With no lockdowns, curfews and with majority of us vacci- nated all our Regimental events could go ahead, a myriad of Branch events throughout Wales and England, the Officers’ Dinner and Cavalry Memorial, Regimental Marches throughout Wales and the Border Counties, the RCA Dinner and Reunion in Cardiff and the KDG luncheon were all held and well attended. 2023 will be an even more eventful with more Branch functions and Op TELIC reunions planned.
HHQ is now a lean team of three as we said farewell to Catherine this summer. Cath has served as our Admin Officer for over 31 years, keeping the office running smoothly. She has supported Major Ken McMillan, Major Alfie Corfield, Lieutenant Colonel Richard ‘Basher’ Brace and me over this time, loyally, with the utmost professionalism and with her wealth of experience and corporate knowledge will be sorely missed. Many of you would have chatted with her on the phone or over a cup of tea in the office, she could write a book with the things she’s seen and stories she’s heard over the years, let’s just hope she changes some of the names! On behalf of us all I’d like to offer Cath, Anthony and James our best wishes for the future.
QDG and several other RAC regiments were extremely fortunate to be awarded a very generous grant of £35,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund and have digital App’s produced. Our App will be called ‘QDG Connect,’ developed for us by the firm ‘2Viz.’ This will enable the
regiment to reach out to QDGs, serving and retired, especially those traditionally hard to contact; enabling both serving and retired regimental personnel to connect and renew friendships, pool their skills and help each other; and to extend the comradeship of regimental service to all. We expect to receive a preview of the App at the end of February
have also awarded quarterly, annual, fuel and Christmas grants and distrib- uted Christmas hampers to members of our Regimental family. The total value of grants awarded by the Regimental Benevolence Fund for 2022 has been just over £18,000. We have also once again received great support from the
2023 followed by full roll out in mid March. Once we go live, please support and download the App and if you have any constructive criticism or ideas on how to improve it contact the team at HHQ and we’ll pass your suggestions on to 2Viz. A big thank you to all those who supported the planning of the App with a special mention to Dave Way and Rob Coleridge for their expertise in ensuring that we receive a great product that fit for purpose.
I would once again like to
thank all those of you who
donate to our Regimental Benevolence Fund, via the 1
Days’ Pay Scheme or through
our ‘Give as You Live’ tab on
the RCA website. All benev-
olence grants awarded,
many of which are life changing, are gratefully received, HHQ has received many letters and phone calls of thanks on your behalf. This past year has seen the amount of grants pledged return to pre pandemic levels with 17 given, we
ABF, BLESMA, H4H, RBL, and SSAFA. I would also like to thank those of you who have personally assisted comrades or their imme- diate families who have found themselves strug- gling, whether it’s a bag of shopping, household items, or a chat over a coffee.
As you have read, your support is vital in assisting those comrades, serving and retired, or their imme- diate families that find themselves in times of need. If you know of anybody who is struggling, mentally, finan- cially, or physically please contact HHQ in the first instance, all information is treated in confidence and with discretion.
To finish I would once again like to thank all who have supported the HHQ team
over this year, it has been greatly appreci- ated. If you have any queries or questions, please don’t hesitate in contacting the team, or if you find yourself in Cardiff pop in for a cup of tea and a chat.
MH
As you have read, your support
is vital in assisting those comrades, serving and retired, or their immediate families
that find themselves in times of need
Officers Regimental Dinner
The annual Regimental Officers Dinner took place at the Cavalry and Guards Club on Friday 6th May, attended by 89 officers both past and serving. The food was, as usual, quite outstanding and above all, the company was excellent. Loyal greetings were sent to our Colonel-in-Chief and his reply was read out by the Colonel of the Regiment. Those who attended are listed below: B Williams, H Sugden, M Botsford, C Ruggles-Brise, R Ward, S Stewart, J Cowan, G Jackson, Q Browell, E Owen, J Lough, O Larminie, E Grounds, J Beatson-Hird, T Wilson, A Campbell, A Roe, C Peacocke, S Farebrother, J Brooke, D Warner, R Robinson, W Groome, C Homewood, A Richmond, K O’Connor, C Shepherd-Barron, J Hacker Hughes, N Fenton, T Oakley, T Wills, D Thomas,
M Van Grutten, C Martel, S Maxwell, A Walsh, R Fulloway, S Upward, H Swailes, Clarke, R Dennis, G Fearn, J Hoenich, B Matthews, M Mckechnie, H Gates, J Davies, E Dillon, E Fetherstonhaugh, R Charlesworth, J Coleman, D Sheehan, P Benham-Crosswell, S Mayall, E Stenhouse, J Whelan, K McGinnity, P Andrews, N Garland, E Barham, M Thompson, A Dumont, C Kierstead, M Ashley-Miller, B Lewis, J Brock- less, M Machale, J Stenhouse, M Hansen, J Banbury, M Hawtin, R Coleridge, Groves, R Chambers, C Poppleton, C Byrd, P Corfield, R Ferguson, H Pilcher, H Renshaw, H Chaplin, P Marques, D Owen, B Maltman, J de Quincey- Adams, W Asquith, J Carroll, F Maddison