Page 196 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019
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    Pete Bate, Jimmy Anderson, Colin Cranswick & Paul Schofield at the LI Memorial during OP BANNER 50 service at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffs
     ARMED FORCES DAY BECOMES BUSIER YEAR ON YEAR
Hanson; Val Hitchin and Colin Cranswick travelled from Yorkshire to meet up with Capt (Retd) Dickie Dutton KOYLI and Maj (Retd) Stephen Hall KOYLI at Westminster Abbey for the service. Afterwards the group enjoyed lunch at Victory Services Club before the journey back to Yorkshire.
Remembrance weekend was exceptionally busy for our Standard Bearers and Buglers of the Veteran Buglers Association with all the special centenary commemorations taking place. In 2 days they attended over 20 events in our Association area. Our Standard Bearers Ady Waites, Brian Clayton, Harry Newton, Rob Smith, Colin Cranswick were joined by Leeds born and lifelong Leeds United supporter Rob Choudhury who travelled from Shrewsbury to take part in a parade of Standards at Leeds United Elland Road stadium from their Remembrance game.
Armed Forces Day becomes busier year on year.
The Regimental association and branches this year attended and supported Armed Forces Day events in Leeds, Pontefract, Doncaster and Rotherham. Our thanks to the branches members that turned out to represent the Association in the community.
19 Association members from Pontefract, Wakefield and West Leeds branches made the long journey from Yorkshire to London for the Rifleman’s Gathering. The venue for the event was the Allianz Park Stadium (home of the Saracens) which is an excellent venue having ample space to accom- modate the event and that provides cover in the event of bad weather. Our members were also joined by association members from Somerset. The Gathering started with a rugby match between a combined RIFLES team and a guest team. Both teams played well but the RIFLES team were unable to produce a winning score on the day. During halftime Brigadier Charlie Collins, President of the Rifles Light Infantry and KOYLI Association, along with Simon Hazlitt joined our members for a photo and a chat. After a short break we were entertained to an excellent Retreat parade by the Massed Band and Bugles of the Rifles. The final event of the day was a boxing match which sadly we didn’t get to see as it was time to make the long journey back to Yorkshire. The Rifleman’s Gathering is a well organised event that is to be recommended however, due to the distance it requires an overnight stay to get the best out of the event.
5 members; Jimmy Anderson, Peter Bate, Paul Schofield, Colin Cranswick, Ady and Waites attended the OP Banner 50th Anniversary Parade and Service at the National Memorial Arboretum on 14 Aug 19. Despite the appalling weather, it rained all day, the event was attended by thousands of veterans who took part in Britain’s longest military operation in Northern Ireland.
   Brigadier Charlie Collins with RLKA members at the Rifleman’s Gathering
  194 RIFLES OFFICES AND ASSOCIATIONS
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