Page 22 - The Bugle 2018

Bugles on tour
Bugler Trip to Central Asia
In June, two buglers were invited to Central Asia to provide support to the Queen’s Birthday Celebra- tions taking place at the British Embassies out there. LCpl Craddock and Rfn Phillips, escorted by Lt Clarke, spent two weeks touring Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan being hosted by the Defence Attaché and his team. The two buglers played at three Queen’s Birthday Parties in Bishkek, Astana and Dushanbe and received a special thanks from the UK’s Ambassadors in each Country. LCpl Craddock and Rfn Phillips also led a team building day at Haileybury School, Astana where they even had the Year 5s students doing press ups! The buglers spent 4 days driving from Bishkek to Astana through some incredible scenery. The trip gave LCpl Craddock and Rfn Phillips a chance to experience a new culture and was extremely successful. Hopefully, this will become a regular fixture for 1 RIFLES’ buglers.
Lt Seb Clarke OC 2 Pl
Enjoying the scenery in Central Asia
THE MESSIEST EVENT WE HAVE HELD, TOOK THE FORM OF A ‘POWDER PAINT ART’ SESSION... MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF PARENTS AND THEIR WASHING MACHINES!
Welfare Office
It has been a very busy period for the welfare team supporting the service persons and their dependents. The Battalion deployed to Kenya and company groups have conducted numerous overseas engagements and training exercises. This period has also seen a number of manning changes within the Welfare office, we have said good bye to Capt Owen Mitchell and CSjt Martin Thompson – both have done a sterling job and will be greatly missed. Capt Chris Mills, Sjt Rob Bason and Rfn ‘Daz’ Evans will continue to deliver full support to the Rfn and their families.
Family events have been occurring on a regular basis, normally taking the form of a BBQ in the vicinity of the community centre. Most recently, the inclusion of a live band and great weather made for a fantastic day in support of Armed Forces Day.
In addition to functions we have conducted some first aid training for the dependents. A big thank you to Rfn ‘Daz’ Evans who organised a fantastic paedi- atric first aid course for our community. St John’s Ambulance provided a free training course, which was greatly received by the families – future first aid courses are in the pipeline!
Beachley Youth Club has held some great events every Wednesday for our children. The driving force behind the running of the youth club is Miss Catherine Wisbey (who attended Beachley youth club in her younger days!). Catherine, the regular team of volunteers and the welfare team have conducted card making, arts and craft, sports events, bonfire building and recently a special ‘treat’ trip to ‘Techniquest’ in Cardiff. However, the messiest event we have held, took the form of a ‘powder paint art’ session... much to the dismay of
parents and their washing machines!
Some of the 1 RIFLES community have also been
involved with a participatory arts project, with a local company called Bread and Goose. The project named ‘Return’ focused on the experiences of military families during deployment. A great inter- action, which enabled families to share their thoughts about deployment and express the emotions they experience in poetry and art – a fantastic book was produced by Bread and Goose.
The welfare team have supported several local events raising money for Royal British Legion and SSAFA and keeping 1 RIFLES in the public eye of our local town, where we always receive a warm welcome.
Capt Chris Mills Unit Welfare Officer
From left to right, Mrs Bray, Keating, Chitty and Bradley practising the first aid practical skills taught by Jean from the St John’s Ambulance
28 FIRST BATTALION
THE RIFLES