MINUTES OF THE RGJRA MANAGEMENT BOARD
Held at Peninsula Barracks Winchester on 11th April 2008
Attendance
| Maj Gen Jamie Balfour | President |
| Capt Patrick Mitford-Slade | RGJRA Executive (Chairman RGJ Trustees) |
| Lt Col John Poole-Warren | Chairman RGJRA Branches |
| Lt Gen Christopher Wallace | Chairman RGJ Museum KRRC Rep |
| Capt Bill Shipton | RGJ Executive Board (IT) |
| Col Robin Evelegh Chairman | ORACLE(43rd/52nd Rep) |
| Col George Smythe | President London Branch |
| Garry Driscoll | Chairman London Branch |
| Maj Roy Stanger | Chairman Winchester Branch |
Apologies: Mrs Liz Vyvyan, Brig David Homer, Brig Hugh Willing, Lt Col Maurice Coulon. Kevin stevens .
1. Introduction.
The President apologised for the failure to get the Minutes of the previous meeting out much earlier, and promised to do better this time. The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed after clarification from Lt Gen Wallace over funding of windows in the RMAS Chapel
2. Financial Update.
a. RGJ Funds. Capt Mitford-Slade briefed that all RGJ funds had now been transferred to The Rifles, and that RGJ Property would follow once property checks in 2, 4 and 7 Rifles were complete. £1.065m was being reserved for the RGJRA, but 65k and the sales of the RGJ Account book would be transferred to The Rifles in 2008/9. It was also agreed that at end each year, income available to the RGJRA that was not required would be transferred back to The Rifles for use by the serving regiment.
b. RGJRA Budget. The current budget was explained which was based on income from the £1m reserved for RGJRA plus a 1% capital drawdown each year, a total annual income of approx £37500. The first year was complicated by the cost of the RGJ Memorial Dedication and the need to establish the new data base, which included the cost of buying out the previous data base from Kelston. Otherwise the main aim was to identify all the costs likely to be borne by the RGJRA now that funding and RHQ support was limited, to ensure an accurate budget for 2009 onwards.
c. Memorial Funding. A need was identified for The Rifles to have a memorial fund, as former regt memorial funding was no longer available and RGJ funds had been transferred to The Rifles with the liability for memorial upkeep. Maj Gen Balfour would be writing to RHQ The Rifles on the issue, including the issue of VC gravestones.
3. Website Update.
The new RGJRA data base and its capabilities were explained, and a letter explaining the new system would go out shortly. The Internet Branch would become the RGJRA website, available to all, but RGJRA paid up members would have greater access into the data base than non members. Security of the data base would be enhanced and individuals would all have the option of having their details available or not. The old Kelston and MOD RGJ sponsored sites would close by 1 July, once the RGJ Museum new site was operational, and RHQ Rifles (Steve Kinrade) would have the capability of inserting RGJ news on the Rifles RGJ page and on the RGJRA website.
4. RGJ Updates.
a. Association Branches. RGJRA membership was steady, but there was a discrepancy in the data and in the variety of subscriptions, which needed to be resolved. There was a busy programme of events for 2008, but the concern over communication to members remained, so a 2 page newsletter would be produced in June. The next Bugle magazine would have greater coverage of RGJRA matters. The 20 July Regents Park memorial would be informal from now on, but all welcome at 1000hrs. The Field of Remembrance event would have indiv regtl plots under an overall Rifles grouping, and the Cenotaph parade was the responsibility of the London Branch. It was agreed that an AGM on 12 July was not required.
b. Officers Dining Club. The dinner was being held on 24th April with over 100 members attending. Those not paid up RGJRA members would be charged the non members higher rate. For 2009 need to ensure dinner does not coincide in same month as Rifles.
c. RGJ Museum. In 2007 despite a small decline in visitors, the Museum finished in the black, much helped by the books written by Lt Gen Wallace. 2008 was going to be more difficult and the RGJRA budget had allocated the Museum an additional £4k. Maj Ken Gray had been replaced as Curator by Mrs Christine Pullen. In 2009 Rifles Direct will take over the shop which will reduce costs. The cataloguing of the archives would be complete by 1 Oct and the long term aim was to transfer to HCC. The 200th anniversary of the Start of the Peninsular War would be celebrated by two programmes on Radio 4. From 1 April 2009 the Rifles “collections and special exhibitions centre” will open in the Museum complex, replacing the LI Museum which will be closed later this year.
d. RGJ Ladies Guild. They would continue to support their existing widows, whilst all new ones would be dealt with by the newly established Rifles Families Network, with volunteers based in every Rifles office.
e. Former Regts. • 43rd/52nd. Focus was on the archives, now fully digitised, and integration of memorabilia etc into the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (SOOM). An exhibition planned to coincide with TA 100, and funds being raised for a new building in 2009. £20k funds had been transferred to the RGJ Museum, who also now owned all 43rd/52nd items. • 60th KRRC. New journal was out shortly, now 1570 members, Offr subscriptions were £10, ORs free. Two new categories of Hon Members had been created to pick up Hon Members of the GJ Club, and a joint RB/60th reunion was planned for Davies Street on Cup Final night.
f. RGJ Account. Sales were slow and a more proactive marketing strategy was required by Rifles Direct. 3 new amended copies had been produced which would go to HM The Queen, Cpl Rigby’s family and the RGJ Museum.
g. RGJ Memorial Dedication. Numbers attending are now expected to be over 1000, and admin arrangements were well advanced. Branches were asked to ensure as many widows as possible were contacted and looked after. Full photographic coverage was being arranged.
h. RGJ Normandy Memorial. The current state of planning was explained, and the opposition to it by some. It was explained that this was RGJ memorial of the role of RGJ former regts in the Normandy Campaign, in the context of Normandy being the unifying battle honour for The Rifles. Maj Gen Balfour would be writing to Col Comdt Rifles seeking wider Rifles involvement.
5. RHQ Rifles. Regtl Sec The Rifles gave a concise overview. The Regt was going well and meeting recruiting figures, but retention in trg and in bns needed constant attention. The Rifles officers dinner was on 17 Apr, 4-6 July was Rifles cricket festival at St Cross. A Rifles chronicle would be produced, slightly bigger than the previous RGJ chronicle, free to offrs serving, otherwise £16. Officer members of the RGJRA would get one free as part of their subscription. Sir John Moore and Corunna would be the main theme for The Rifles for 2009, with a major event in Tidworth and other events regionally. A policy had been issued by RHQ on the issue of representation at funerals and on obituaries, which would be placed on the RGJRA website.
6. Future RGJ Events.
| 2008 | |
| 24th April | Offrs Dining Club Annual Dinner |
| 11th May | RGJ Memorial Dedication |
| 5th July | St Cross Briefing (1030) |
| 6th July | Fovant Badges Drumhead Service |
| 11th July | R Company (1971) Reunion |
| 12th July | RGJRA Annual Reunion |
| 2009 | |
| 4th-6th June | Project 65 |
7. AOB.
a. Hon Membership. RGJRA rules had provision for Hon Membership, to be considered on a case by case membership.
b. TA. No official RGJRA involvement in TA 100, RHQ Rifles lead. TA Rifles now introducing one days pay scheme.
c. RGJ Band Banners. When Rifles band banners were produced, Waterloo RGJ band banners to be retained by RGJRA, with one going to each branch.
8. Dates Next Meeting.
Friday 26th Sept and Friday 14th Nov 2008, both 1400hrs in Winchester.
