Branch Reports - B&C 105 Dec 05

GORLESTON AND GREAT YARMOUTH DISTRICT
At the Oct 05 Branch AGM, Stan King, our former Secretary, was voted in as Chairman, succeeding the late Capt Ray Pillar. The new Secretary is Doug Adams,
The Branch meet on the last Thu of the month at The Albion PH, Lowestoft Rd, Gorleston at 8 pm. Anyone in the area is most welcome to visit the Branch and have a yarn. You never know, you might meet an old friend!
The Annual Dinner was held on Sat 3 Dec 2005 at The Pier Hotel, Gorleston.
Contact Doug Adams (Secretary) via the Norfolk Section Editor.
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KING`S LYNN SOCIAL AND WELFARE CLUB
The R Norfolk and RAnglian Social and Welfare Club meet every 3rd Sun at The RBL Club, 33a Tower Street, King`s Lynn, at 10.30 am.
Contact Mrs G Slater via the Norfolk Section Editor.
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KING'S LYNN BRANCH
The Annual Dinner was held on Fri 4 Nov 2005 at The Town Hall, King’s Lynn.
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LONDON BRANCH
The London Branch closed in 2002 after 80 years of meetings. Click here for a report.
However, an informal meeting of Branch members commenced in Dec 02 at 'The One Tun', Saffron Hill, EC1 (near Farringdon Street Tube Station). Now, led by Ron Stokoe, they meet in Jun and on the first Mon in Dec, along with family and friends.
Contact Ron via the Norfolk Section Editor.

NORWICH AND DISTRICT BRANCH
Meetings at the Norwich RBL Club in Edmund Bacon Court, Aylsham Rd, Norwich at 1100 am, generally on the 3rd or 4th Sunday, continue to attract a good attendance. Our newest, and youngest, member is ex-1 and 6 R Anglian David Eyles, pictured below .
3 members marked the 60th Anniversary of the end of WW2 in style: Ray Segon as a Standard Bearer in The Mall (click to see his report), Geoff Ransome at a Buckingham Palace lunch and the Late Gwyn Button in Bury St Edmunds with the Suffolk Lord Lt, The Lord Tollemache - in their respective roles as former Royal Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Suffolk soldiers.
The joining of the ‘Forward Recce Group’ by Gwyn Button in Aug 05 deprives the Branch of a concluding item before we retire to the bar - an excruciating joke! (Click here for his last one.) An obituary appeared in the Suffolk Section, included on this site. ‘May your duties be light and forget the gardening!’

A hired coach took 22 members and guests to the R Anglian Gathering at Duxford on Sun 4 Sep where a most excellent day was enjoyed in glorious sunshine. Ray Segon carried the Branch Standard. Parade Marshall was Maj Stan Bullock MBE R&Y.

On Fri 23 Sep 05 it was a 3-line-whip at the Aylsham Road TA Centre to set up the Drill Hall for the Regimental Assocn Dinner on Sat 24 Sep 05. Making a surprise appearance (we have only seen him at 3 meetings since October 2004) was our Treasurer. For once, he was not away ‘playing soldiers’, swanning ‘over the Pond’ nor disturbing the peace of the leafy lanes of Norfolk in his race-spec Austin-Healey 3000. This year the Erection XI numbered 20. Col Tony Taylor and Andrew Wolvin - RHQ; Capt Tam Steele, CSgt Glen Keeble, Cpl Michelle Stone, Ptes Mac McMurtry and Pte Phillip Gough - A Coy EER; Caretaker Nancy Barnard; Peter Cranfield, Maurice Eke, Paul Garman, John Gilbert, Gordon Hare, Alan Nichols, George Osborne, Geoff Ransome, John Raybould, Ivor Read, Ray Segon and David Shearwood - Norwich Branch. The oldest present was George Osborne, aged 88. On the Monday, Members cleared the Drill Hall.

Guess who ?

Thanks to the initiative of Ray Segon, The Regt again had a presence at the annual Commemoration Service for Edith Cavell at Norwich Cathedral, on Sat 15 Oct.
In Oct 1918 HM Queen Alexandra unveiled a memorial to Edith Cavell in Tombland, Norwich, opposite the Edith Cavell Nursing Home. The memorial is in the form of a bronze bust, mounted on a stone column. On 19 May 1919, after a memorial service in Westminster Abbey, the body of Edith Cavell was re-interred in Life’s Green in the precincts of Norwich Cathedral. (The place of burial is on the outside of The Regimental Chapel, otherwise known as St Saviour’s Chapel - a fittingly named resting place for a brave lady. Ed.)
At the AGM on 23 Oct the following were re-elected: President - Capt William Gaymer TD, Chairman/Secretary - Lt Col Paul Garman, Vice Chairman - Barney Taylor, Treasurer - Maj John Raybould TD, Publicity and Welfare - Lt Col Paul Garman, Standard Bearer - Ray Segon.
Journal deadlines require that this copy is submitted to RHQ Norwich before the following 2 events - but we are confident they were the usual success!
A Branch Lunch for members, ladies and guests was held on Sun 27 Nov 2005 at the Cumberland Hotel, Norwich.
In Dec we had a non-business meeting consisting of drinks with the ladies, at noon on Sun 11 Dec 2005.
Sadly, one of our newer members, David Shearwood, R Norfolk National Serviceman 1954-56 then PARA, is emigrating to Melbourne in Oz. We all wish him well.
Branch Meeting dates for 2006 are: at 11 am on Sun 22 Jan, 19 Feb, 19 Mar, 21 May, 18 Jun, 23 Jul, 17 Sep, 22 Oct (AGM), 26 Nov (Lunch), 10 Dec (Drinks at 12 noon). On Sun 23 Apr 06 we will be attending The Almanza Service in Norwich Cathedral.
Tel: Lt Col Paul Garman 01603 300953.
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10 JUL 2005 - 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WW2
Norwich Branch Standard Bearer Ray Segon reports:
It was a dry hot day as London got ready to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the ending of WW2 and despite the horror of the 7th July, Londoners and visitors alike were determined to enjoy the day.
My family and I joined the crowds to view the collection of WW2 vehicles on show beside the Mall before I reported to security with my passport. I emerged with a shining gold wristband declaring me an ‘unusual’, much to my family’s amusement.
I returned to our hotel to collect the Standard and joined fellow Standard Bearers at security where many stories were exchanged as we waited to join the march on the Mall after the WW2 Vets had enjoyed the concert on Horseguards Parade.
Timings had been altered and we had an extra one and a half hours to wait so the bottles of water, readily available, were very welcome.
We were formed up at Admiralty Arch for about an hour awaiting the order to march off. Substitute Standard Bearers for those who felt they could not manage the March were available but I saw no takers. One lady fainted while we waited but she insisted on carrying her Standard.
As we heard the Massed Band, which was following Her Majesty the Queen down the Mall, shoulders straightened and we were all away. The vast crowds were cheering and lifted our spirits even higher. My thoughts were with the men of the Regiment who are longer with us who would have every reason to be proud on this day and to Paul Boxall who made the Standard I was honoured to carry.
We marched into Buckingham Palace forecourt to await the Royal Party on the Balcony and the flypast of the WW2 aircraft. Our lady fainted once more but she had made it, a job well done!
The flypast was quite a sight with the Memorial Flight last. Escorted by a Spitfire and Hurricane, the Lancaster dropped poppies. Not all the poppies drifted down, some came down in lumps of 2 to 3 pounds. One such lump fell with a thump 2 feet from my fellow Standard Bearers, causing comments of ‘near death by friendly poppies’ plus some, which cannot be repeated here!
The band played and the crowd sang. We had expected to be dismissed from the forecourt but the crowds were so large it was decided we would be marched off. The police clear a way for us as this was unexpected but my family said they soon had the friendly crowds in order.
We were marched out of the palace grounds and into Birdcage Walk past the Guards Barracks before dismissal. However, whilst marching, one of the more senior Standard Bearers wondered when we would be dismissed and voiced this to the Guards Drill Sergeant who quipped: ‘That was just the practice. We are now off to do the real thing.’ Yet again the old soldier made a comment that I am unable to repeat!
At the end of this tiring and hot day my family and I reflected on what an emotional yet uplifting day we had experienced.
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