Page 250 - The Bugle 2018

WE ARE RELUCTANT TO ADMIT THAT THE MARGIN OF VICTORY WAS VERY NARROW!
Norton Radstock Branch
The Norton Radstock Branch of the Rifles and Light Infantry Association Somerset continues to enjoy good gatherings. Meanwhile the good is balanced by the sad such as the loss of Mr Gerald Padfield. Of further note both Mr David Hamblin and his wife Jean (respectively Chairman and Treasurer) have retired after serving the branch for many years. We wish them well.
On the social side our annual dinner at the Standerwick Centre continues to be very popular with our members and those from other branches. Many Officers also support this excellent event. Its success is partly attributed to the involvement of our ladies. Our annual Christmas lunch, at the Poachers Pocket, organised by Mr Norman Whale and Wife Carol was a further success. The Annual Association Skittles competition, hosted by the Bath Branch at the Prattens Club Midsomer Norton was a great evening with Norton Radstock Mens and Ladies teams sweeping the board once more; commiser- ations go to Bath and Bristol. We are reluctant to admit that the margin of victory was very narrow! Our thanks to Debbie Hards for sorting the prizes and travelling from Taunton.
In conclusion we have had another marvellous year of comradeship and enjoying what the Associ- ation has to offer. We are soon off to St Audries Bay Holiday Club and thereafter shall also enjoy Associ- ation and other Branch activities this Autumn and Christmas.
Back Badge Lunch
The Officers’ Annual Back Badge Lunch was held, at Chavenage House, Gloucestershire, on Sunday 22nd October 2017. This beautiful Elizabethan Manor house is home to the Lowlsey–Williams family, long standing friends of the Regiment. The house features regularly as ‘Trenwith’ in the TV series ‘Poldark’. Past and present officers met with their wives and partners at Noon for a champagne reception and prior to an excellent lunch. This was all enhanced by delicious table wine generously donated by David Godfrey, late Glosters. The wine is produced at his own South African vineyard. As ever there was a warm, fun, family atmosphere, an enduring feature of this event. The lunch takes place, at Chavenage House, every October. The next is on Sunday 21st October 2018. All Officers of The Rifles are welcome together with those from RGBW and their forming and antecedent regiments. Those in Gloucestershire with links to The Rifles are particularly welcome. Attendees in 2017 were:
Maj & Mrs AH Ayres, Lt Col M Baker CO 1 RIFLES, Col M E Bennett, Maj & Mrs RJ Bewell, Maj & Maj S Burgess QM 1 RIFLES, Lt Col & Mrs P J Cable, Maj & Mrs TD Cooper, Mrs Jean Crush, Lt Col & Mrs D R Dixon, Col & Mrs PJ Durrant, Capt S Edwards MTO 1 RIFLES, Brig & Mrs SDA Firth, Capt & Mrs II Foster RHQ RIFLES, Maj & Mrs MW Gibson, Col-Dr. RL Giles, Maj D Godfrey, Mrs D Hards, Maj P Hall & Sandra Hopwood, Mr & Mrs T Hamilton, Col & Mrs I V K Harris, Lt Col & Mrs GH Hony, Maj P Hyde QMT 1Rifles, Capt & Mrs TE Lapage-Norris, Col & Mrs MS Lee-Browne, Col & Mrs D Lowsley-Wil- liams, Capt & Mrs JW Mermagen, Mrs F Metcalfe, Mrs C A Michels, Maj & Mrs P Miller, Lt Col & Mrs MJR Motum, Mr & Mrs RJL Paul, Maj & Mrs CPT Rebbeck, Col & Mrs P Rostron, Mrs C Temple, Brig & Mrs MS Vine, Gen Sir John & Lady Waters, Maj Gen & Mrs N Welch, Maj & Mrs PJM Whiteman and Maj & Mrs I J Wood.
Taunton Branch
Our lottery funded trip to the National Armed Forces Memorial at Arlewas was the first event of note and this was followed by the Tiverton dedication ceremony of the plaque for Private Sage VC SOM LI. The Branch Annual Dinner was held on the Saturday before Remembrance Day at Taunton RFC and was very well attended by 93 members and guests. Our principal guest was Major Rod Williams, a Somerset County Councillor with responsibility for the Armed Forces Covenant. The branch was well represented at all Remem- brance events: Chris Hindley gave the Exhortation at the Regimental Burma Memorial; Dave Thomas and Roy Chubb laid the Regimental Wreath.
December saw the very popular Christmas Lunch held again at Taunton RFC. We remain delighted the Bath and Norton Radstock Branches also support the event. Sunday 8th April 2018, was the Jellalabad Lunch, heralded by a band display from the Silver Bugles. It was great to see Robert and Tessa Cox together with Jack and Jean Leeming from 2 LI. In late Spring the branch laid on a coach to take members and their guests to the reception and Sounding Retreat by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas held at the Royal Bath & West Show. This was followed by a Weymouth coach trip to partic- ipate within the Annual Veterans for Parade Armed Forces Day. The weather was very hot and those who marched enjoyed their pint at the end! We now look forward to our summer bar-b-que on 19th August.
In concluding our thanks go to Jimmy and Sigrid Durant for checking that the flowers in The Soldiers Corner of St Mary Magdalen Church are always fresh and watered. Special praise to Bob Staple the Branch Standard bearer who attends a multitude of functions and funerals with the Standard. We are also hugely indebted to our hard-working secretary Lawrie Hodges.
THE WEATHER WAS VERY HOT AND THOSE WHO MARCHED ENJOYED THEIR PINT AT THE END!
Somerset Light Infantry Officers’ Lunch
The annual Officers’ Club luncheon for The Somerset Light Infantry took place at the Mount Somerset Hotel, Henlade, Near Taunton, on Friday 6th April 2018. Captain John White presided and the event attracted 48 attendees. The next lunch will be held on Monday 8th April 2019 at the Mount Somerset Hotel. Attendees in 2018 were:
Lt Col & Mrs ACH Bennett; Lt Col & Mrs AJ Collyns; Maj & Mrs S C Firbank, Maj DA Forbes; Brig AIH & the Revd D Fyfe; Mr & Mrs P Gage; Mrs S Goddard; Capt AK Green; Mrs D Hards; Mr J Hare, Brig J & Dr L Hemsley; Rt Rev C Hollis; Mrs P Hunt; Maj E J Kingston; Capt JK Kingston MN; Mrs C Knight; Maj Gen & Mrs BM Lane; Maj IB Loosemore; Miss G Loosemoore; Mrs R McClatchey; Mr & Mrs G Middleton; Mrs D Mitford-Slade; Maj & Mrs JO Morgan; Lt Col MJR Motum; Mrs M Robertson; Maj & Mrs A R C Saunt; Miss S Shields; Maj & Mrs W H Stevens; Maj & Mrs K M F Tuhey; Maj P Vile; Col RE Waight; Mrs A Weller; Maj & Mrs WH White; JSB White Esq; and, Capt DC Wield.
256 REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
THE RIFLES