Page 253 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

Branch Member Ian Jones at the Marne Remembrance
Branch Members at Gloucester Cathedral
January to July 2019
Stumpy as he is known to his many friends). The Branch AGM was held on March 22nd held
Several Branch members also attended with the Branch Poppy Wreath laid by Mick Bodman. This was followed by a parade through the centre of Gloucester finishing at Gloucester Cathedral where a service of Remembrance was held in the afternoon at which, due to limited numbers, branch President, Jim Beeley attended on our behalf.
The second service attended by the Branch was held at Hucclecote War Memorial which was attended by Branch President, Jim Beeley, and Committee Member Steve Knight where Jim, ably assisted by his grandson, laid a wreath on behalf of the Branch.
This year as in previous years the Branch held its annual Christmas Lunch on December 5th at The Dog at Over near to Gloucester with 30 members, guests and widows in attendance.
Branch President, Jim Beeley gave a short address thanking all Branch members for making 2018 such a successful year for the Branch with membership numbers increasing and an increase in activities enjoyed by Branch members and he hoped that 2019 would continue along similar lines.
at Saintbridge Rugby Club in Gloucester with 21 members attending. The members expressed their gratitude to branch founder member Stan Knipe who has stepped down from the committee after 25 years of continual service. Stan has held every post within the branch, and I am sure he will continue to cast his eye over the direction of the branch over the coming years and will continue to be a very active branch member. The branch voted to make Bill Spires an Honorary Life Member on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Ex-Royal Berkshire veteran Bill is also a founding member of the branch in the days when it was mainly for ex members of the Royal Berkshires.
Several members of the Gloucester Severn Branch attended the Weymouth Armed Forces event over the weekend of June 22nd and 23rd. This event is very much a firm favourite of branch members with this now becoming more of an annual pilgrimage. The Branch Standard was carried by Roger Smith and the Crete Veterans Standard was carried by Stumpy.
For the first time since 2015 the City of Gloucester held an Armed Forces Day which took place on June 29th with the Branch parading the Branch and Crete veterans’ standards and several branch members taking part in the parade.
STAN KNIPE
WHO HAS
STEPPED
DOWN
FROM THE
COMMITTEE
AFTER 25
YEARS OF
CONTINUAL
SERVICE
THE RIFLES
RIFLES OFFICES AND ASSOCIATIONS 251