Page 247 - The Bugle 2018

Meanwhile Bristol ACF, like Hereford and Worcester, is another multi-cap badged Cadet Bn. Conse- quently, much regimental representation relies on the large Rifles Platoon at HMS Flying Fox. Bristol, being a large city and home to many reserve units and sub-units, will never be dominated by a single Platoon unit. Consequently, there is a need to be more subtle. The success and size of Bristol’s platoon suggests things are going well. Glouces- tershire now has a new Rifles County Colonel. We are most grateful to Robert Dixon and all that he achieved and now welcome Tony Ayres. Glouces- tershire has also adopted a new look and highly successful Back Badge Reunion. Our thanks go to Len Keeling for driving that forward.
The Rifles vision for the Association was first articulated by the Colonel Commandant. He saw it being “built on the forming branches” albeit recog- nised this would take time. Meanwhile he advocated change at a pace that “finds its own level”. The second successive and successful Gathering of The Rifles Association at Allianz Park is heralding and hastening change. Members from the Rifles & LI Association, Somerset attended the Gathering and enjoyed it enormously. The establishment of this annual Gathering is really welcome and is hoped in time, that several other Associations will support it.
Many of the varied activities of the five pillars are reflected within these notes and articles. The Regimental Directive reminds us “that our ethos starts from the position that we are a national regiment with strong historical ties to the cities and counties whence our forming Regiments were raised”. Projecting the deeds of The Rifles along with forming and antecedent regiments remains more important than ever.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE NOW HAS A NEW RIFLES COUNTY COLONEL. WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL TO ROBERT DIXON AND ALL THAT HE ACHIEVED AND NOW WELCOME TONY AYRES
Cap Len Keeling and Col Rob Dixon – Back Badge 2018
The new County Colonel Gloucestershire – Tony Ayres
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS 253