Page 246 - The Bugle 2018

The Rifles Office Taunton – Southwest & West Region
ONE CANNOT FORESEE THE FUTURE BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2014 A CLOUD HAS BEEN LIFTED
Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire
Recent years have seen change within regions and within the county offices of The Rifles. The inclusion of Herefordshire led to the region being renamed the South West and West Region. Concurrently we are seeing change to county offices most notable of which, in Spring 2018, was the closure of the Gloucester office. More positively the Administrative Officer at Taunton received a letter, in January 2018, stating the ‘legacy change programme’ that had intended to disestablish her post in April 2018 had now ceased. One cannot foresee the future but for the
first time since 2014 a cloud has been lifted. In the meantime the county and regional offices continue to have an important role to play within firm base relationships and “capitalising on the five pillars to sustain the Regiment and build esprit de corps, ensuring full manning”. (Regimental Directive, 31 July 2017).
Similarly, The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and its independent Charitable Trust are enjoying a brighter outlook. The Museum lost its MOD sponsored status in 2017 but is now getting focused on purchasing their building from the MOD via the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. The Rifles and RGBW Regimental Association is increasingly standing on its own two feet under the guidance of its volunteer Secretary and Chairman. Change is afoot at Taunton as well. Major General Rupert Jones, Rifles Regional Colonel, and Brigadier (Retd) Richard Toomey as Rifles County Colonel recognise the importance of being engaged with a core county and it was great to see Rifles recruiting much in evidence at the Bath and West Show and elsewhere. Meanwhile the transfer of B Coy 6 RIFLES to 675 (Rifles) Sqn AAC required much support to make it work. Now well established, it is appropriate to renew the opportunity of joining the Infantry Reserves within Somerset. In sum it is hoped the long-held aspiration to re-introduce The Rifles in Somerset will be a reality.
Notes on Herefordshire, as well as the Hereford- shire Light Infantry Museum, appear elsewhere. We are fortunate to have a platoon of A Coy 6 RIFLES at Suvla Barracks, Hereford as well as Bn HQ of the Hereford and Worcester ACF. As before reaching out, for purposes of community engagement, will require their continued engagement and support.
252 REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
THE RIFLES
County Shows are fertile recuirting events
...where diversity and quality is found