Page 200 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

News from Durham
The remaining 1 & 2 DLI
WO’s & SNCO’s: Dennis
Ward, Ted Darwin, Brian McKeith, Stan Sedman, John Pearson, Paul Wharton, Jimmy Murray, Skippy Teasdale, Bill Stableforth and guests
DLI Reunion Weekend 07 to 09 September 2018 1st&2nd Bns DLI WO’s & Serjeants’ Mess Dinner – Durham Rugby Club - 7 Sept
The Dinner was held as it has been for a few years now at the Durham City Rugby Union Club. The membership is now much smaller than in the past as time reduces the number who served as WOs or Sgts in the DLI but it is a good event, hosted as it has been for many years by Paul Wharton (Chairman) ably assisted by Ted Darwin (Secretary/Treasurer).
The 11 members present included Michael Coulson, Ralph Harrison, Jim Murray, John Pearson, Stan Sedman, Paul Wharton, Brian McKeith, Bill Stable- forth, Dennis Ward, Ted Darwin, Chris Lawton and guests, John Heron, Arthur ‘Skippy’ Teasdale, Brian Kilty and T Smith. The Loyal Toast was proposed by Michael Coulson, the toast to the Regiment by Dennis Ward. A photograph of the 1st Bn DLI WOs’ & Sjts’ Mess in Berlin in 1963 was passed round, showing a large and well recruited Battalion.
Visit to Brancepeth Castle - Saturday 8 September 2018
On this occasion, on the day before the Regimental Reunion, the owners of Brancepeth Castle threw open their doors to a large gathering of former DLI personnel and others. Many visitors had served at Brancepeth when it was the DLI Depot, the Officers
THE CHAPEL WAS OPEN, BRINGING BACK MEMORIES FOR MANY OF THE SERMONS GIVEN BY THE REGIMENTAL PADRE
mess being located in the castle, a grade 1 listed building. Since going through a period of neglect the castle has been assisted by English Heritage to begin to restore it to its original condition. The lead on the roof has been repaired in places and replaced in others. There was an exhibition of maps, plans and photographs relating to the Durham Light Infantry. Members of the Brancepeth Armoury also presented a display of rifles of various ages including a WW1 13.3 mm anti-tank rifle, which must have been a formidable piece to fire. This was demon- strated in the courtyard during the afternoon firing blank ammunition. Members of a family history group were present to do searches about former DLI men. The chapel was open, bringing back memories for many of the sermons given by the Regimental Padre. Tea and cakes were served in the dining room. Though changed it was recognisably the same place and many of the visitors shared their experiences of the time they spent there.
Members of the DLI who had served at the Brancepeth DLI Depot and members
of the public were invited
to Brancepeth Castle for a reunion
198 RIFLES OFFICES AND ASSOCIATIONS
THE RIFLES
Afternoon tea was available in the old DLI dining room