Page 109 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

5 RIFLES Officers’ Mess
The Other Tasks year is often looked upon with weary and glum faces. It is seen as a threat within the Officers’ Mess; a year in which subalterns and young captains are at the whim of trawls, protected only by the strength of the Ops Officer’s ability to write a strong penalty statement.
The last twelve months have proved no different but, amongst deployments to BATUS, support to training exercises, Op TEMPERER and more, the Officers’ Mess at 5 RIFLES has found the time to travel, to party and to dine in style. There have been two excellent Mess balls; Oktoberfest in the summer and a more refined affair at Christmas. A cool spring night provided the perfect opportunity to wine and dine significant others whilst a hot summer’s day was the backdrop for an excellent Fathers’ Range Day and Dinner Night.
The living-in members have also conducted two excellent ‘G11’ trips; a day at Goodwood Races in August and a lively weekend away in Prague. Those sixteen mess members will not forget the Czech adventure quickly, particularly with an outsized stuffed mole now in residence at the head of the mess breakfast table. The introduction of ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ has been well received, with livers-in and livers-out coming together on the last Thursday of each month to enjoy different theme nights. The Mess continues to go from strength to strength and with a new PMC and SLIM at the helm, there is every confidence that this year will be as, if not more, exciting than the last.
Capt Nathan Flye, SLIM
WITH A NEW PMC AND SLIM AT THE HELM, THERE IS EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT THIS YEAR WILL BE AS, IF NOT MORE, EXCITING THAN THE LAST
As it turns out, 5 RIFLES Officers are no good at betting...
Warrant Officers and Serjeants Mess
It has been a busy and enjoyable period for the 5 RIFLES Warrant Officers’ & Sjts’ Mess. Recovery from Estonia saw the battalion back in Bulford by early November and led straight into drill for the homecoming parade, followed by some well-earned leave after all of the Christmas fun.
The first major event on the return to sunnier shores was the Christmas Ball; led by WO2 Bobby Charlton, it was a memorable night during which the vodka luge saw a lot of mess action after a dry tour to Estonia. The lack of practise was evident to see if RQMS (T) Edwards’ dancing is anything to go by...
All too soon the Mess was hard at work into 2018 with cadres, course and the battalion’s commitment to UK Standby and Op TEMPERER. Despite these commitments the Mess has enjoyed a very good summer with the World Cup (on the big screen thanks to Sjt Moore and Sjt Abraham), great BBQs most weekends, attended by many families, and a superb WO dinner night hosted by WO2 Weatherby. Not to mention the now well established ‘Friday club’ with the resident DJ Sjt Holmes!
The Mess is now having a refurb thanks to the
great work of House Member Sjt Abraham, with a new look ‘Scruffs Bar’ taking shape in which we are looking forward to some great evenings. On the social side we most recently had the ‘Oktoberfest’ and we are looking forward to the ladies’ dinner night in October, thanks to the new PEC CSjt Potter, and the 2018 Christmas function, organised by WO2 Mark Holloway MBE.
The Mess Committee has had a recent changeover, with the previous PMC, WO2 John Gillum, moving onto the Role of RQMS (M). We very much appreciate the hard work that John has put in. We have also said farewell to WO2 Metcalf who needed to dig out the factor 50 in the Omani sun on a two-year loan service posting - the Mess wish him all the best. We have also lost the PEC, CSjt Evans to the RTT, the LIMS, WO2 Nancollis, to 6 RIFLES as Trg WO, and the loud and loveable WO2 Bobby Charlton to ATR Pirbright. WO2 Gillick and WO2 Philp have headed off to civilian life and we wish them all the best.
All in all, a busy but very eventful year for the 5 RIFLES WO & Sjts Mess. We look forward to 2019 with anticipation of the great times ahead.
WO2 Gornall, PMC
THE VODKA LUGE SAW
A LOT OF MESS ACTION AFTER A DRY TOUR TO ESTONIA
THE RIFLES FIFTH BATTALION 107