Page 199 - The Bugle 2018

The Rifles Office Bodmin, Cornwall
Royal Cornwall Show – 7th/8th June 2018
Another successful lunch was held at the County Showground with 120 guests sitting down over the two days. We now make use of the Main caterers who also provide the lunch for the Presi- dent’s tent. This has improved the standard of the lunch although evidently has increased the cost per head. Despite the rising cost of entry to the Showground and the lunch we remain a popular watering hole for our members and friends of the Regiment.
Once again, we rely heavily on the support of D Company to provide manpower for the event.
This year was a first ‘A Military Village’ at the show. This provided the best attended attraction, especially for the youngsters, with a Challenger Tank, Helicopter, zip wire and over eight regiments, including The Rifles, taking part. We hope this is to become a regular feature.
Forthcoming Events
Rifles (SW) Golf Day – 7th September 2018
Held at the prestigious St Enodoc Golf Club overlooking the Camel Estuary, this event has been reduced to one day as the cost of playing on a Saturday has made the event unsustainable. The Club looks after us brilliantly and the lunch is a mini reunion. The afternoon mixed foursomes is probably the only event where our lady golfers get a chance to display their skills with the regiment.
Rally Day – Saturday 8th September 2018
A gathering of Association members from across the country. This event is hosted at The Keep, Bodmin and coordinated annually by The Bodmin Branch of the Association. Last year was very successful and with the event now published on social media we hope to expand the attendance in future years.
Officers Club Lunch – Saturday 29th September 2018
This event will once again be held at The Arundell Arms, Lifton, Devon, a superb country hotel noted for its outdoor leisure activities especially game fishing. It has proved a popular setting and the hotel staff look after us splendidly.
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS 205
Obituaries
Derek Francis (Dick) Burwood of 7 Joiners Close, Dagenham died on 15th February 2016 at the age of eighty four.
Born in Poplar, Dick always remained true to his East London roots in speech and chirpy manner. Called up for National Service in May 1952, he enlisted on a three year engagement with the REME. However, within the next few months he was twice transferred – first to the Devon Regiment, and, a short time later to the DCLI. Initially posted to the 1st Battalion in Minden, he was one of those lucky soldiers of the Battalion when it sailed to the West Indies in HMT Empire Clyde in February 1954. As a member of Support Company he was stationed for a very happy year in Jamaica, before returning to Bodmin to demob in 1955.
Although his time with the DCLI had been comparatively brief, Dick became an outstand- ingly loyal member of the Regiment. On returning home he threw himself wholeheartedly into resurrecting the ailing London Branch of the Association. He set up regular meetings which were held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea; he inaugurated the Annual Band Parade at the Royal Hospital; and, immaculately turned out, he invariably attended the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.
Dick had a quite remarkable enthusiasm for life, radiating a spirit of optimism in everything that he did. The only time that he ever allowed himself to be downcast was when he reluctantly closed down his beloved London Branch of the Associ- ation. At one time it had been by far the largest of the regimental branches, made up of veterans from the pre-war and war era. Inevitably age took
its toll, and, when only two or three stalwarts remained, Dick agreed with a heavy heart that it should be disbanded. He continued however to remain in contact with the Regimental Office in Bodmin, and, until shortly before his death was always present at the Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance.
Dick married Gillian Waters, a fellow Londoner, in 1958. She survives him together with three sons – Richard, Gary and Roy.
We extend our sincere sympathy to them for the loss of a fine husband and father.
DICK HAD A QUITE
REMARKABLE ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE, RADIATING
A SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM IN EVERYTHING THAT HE DID