RECORD OF DECISIONS OF THE RGJ ASSOCIATION MEETING
HELD AT PENINSULA BARRACKS, WINCHESTER, 14 Nov 2008
Present
| Lt Col (Retd) JA Poole-Warren | Chairman RGJRA |
| Lt Col (Retd) J-D von Merveldt | Secretary |
| Mr M Marr | Membership Sec/Treasurer |
| . | |
| Branch Reps | |
| . | |
| Maj (Retd) R Stanger | Winchester and District |
| P Bibby | Winchester and District |
| Col (Retd) G Smythe | London |
| G Driscoll | London |
| Maj (Retd) R Cassidy | Suffolk |
| Maj P Proctor | Milton Keynes |
| GE Sturman | Milton Keynes |
| R Frampton | Australasia |
| Maj (Retd) D Hunt | Wiltshire |
| GW Dixon | North West |
| RC Frost | London (KRRC) |
| . | |
| In Attendance | |
| . | |
| R Hayes | Wiltshire |
| . | |
| Apologies | |
| . | |
| Maj Gen J Balfour | President RGJRA |
| M Coates | Midlands |
| KPM Stevens | Website Manager |
| Maj P Casson-Crook | Oxford |
| S Anderson | Yorkshire |
| G Pilcher | Suffolk |
| D Timms | Bands and Bugles |
| R Gerrard | North West |
ITEM 1. CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS
The Chairman welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending. He highlighted the main events that have taken place since the Apr 08 meeting.
ITEM 2. APOLOGIES
As per above
ITEM 3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Maj Stanger proposed and Mr Dixon seconded that the minutes of the last meeting be accepted as a true record. The meeting unanimously voted in favour.
ITEM 4. MATTERS ARISING
Any matters arising were covered under the main agenda items.
ITEM 5. FINANCIAL UPDATE
a. The Treasurer, Mr Marr, updated the meeting on the financial situation The total equity of the fund as at 12 Nov 08 was £5,608.25 compared to £2,525.03 from the same period of the previous year.
b. The Associate Members’ Fees was set at £5 pa.
c. Reunion income had increased with larger attendance but this only broadly matched the increase in costs.
d. The decrease in regimental grant reflected the fact that no subsidy was required this year to cover the cost of Swift & Bold (The chairman commented that the full grant entitlement was actually £10k).
e. The increase in subscriptions was not as high as anticipated due in part to the percentage of individuals who had not increased their standing orders from £5. The Treasurer intended to write to these individuals again.
f. Maj Cassidy advised that the sale of the RGJ dairy raised £986.46 for RGJA central funds.
g. Swift & Bold Book Sales would be available to the current paid up and newly joining members at ½ the current price plus P&P for as long as stocks last.
h. The chairman noted that the Internet Branch do not pay any Membership Fees to the RGJRA.
ITEM 6. MEMBERSHIP REPORT
a. There are 1,554 non officer paying members of which a notable proportion pays by Standing Order. All members are encouraged to pay by St/O.
b. There are 486 officers members who pay £10 each which is transferred directly from the RJA Officers’ Club Fund to the Association. There were an additional 3 OR life memberships to be processed.
c. There have been an encouraging number of enquiries about membership via e-mail from the website; these are normally responded to on the day of receipt.
ITEM 7. SWIFT AND BOLD PROPOSAL & ASSOCIATION INPUTS TO THE RIFLES JOURNAL ‘THE BUGLE’
1. The Bugle (The Rifles twice a year magazine):
a. The Chairman thanked Branches for their inputs to the Autumn 2008 edition of The Bugle. He reiterated the importance of these inputs to complement the overall value of the journal across the 4 Pillars of the Regiment. The next edition will be Spring 2009 and contributions will be required by 26 Jan 2009 to the Sec (london@the-rifles.co.uk ).
b. It was accepted that some Branches only wished to contribute on an annual basis (Oct issue) due to the paucity of material available and to avoid repetition.
2. THE SWIFT AND BOLD (RGJ ASSN NEWSLETTER) PROPOSAL
a. As the motto “Swift and Bold” was now “patented” to The Rifles the meeting agreed, albeit reluctantly, to propose that the publication is to be called “The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association Journal – 2009.
b. Publication to be at no cost to the RGJA.
c. One publication a year was proposed, with input deadline by 20 Dec of the preceding year and distribution in Jan/Feb of the next.
d. Two pages maximum (with pictures) of input per branch at the editor’s discretion. The Secretary will in due course produce a basic template for contributions.
e. Editorial, content & contractual policy TBC and renegotiated as required by Executive Management Committee.
f. Initial 1st issue to all known addresses of former RGJ as a recruiting tool for the RGJRA.
g. Second & subsequent issues only for fully paid up members of the RGJA.
ITEM 8. THE ANNUAL REUNION 2008 UPDATE
a. The annual reunion was deemed a success and Maj Stanger and his team were formally thanked for their efforts.
b. It was agreed that the front gate team needed to be strengthened to clock people in and that local access to the overall RGJA database would be helpful.
c. The 2009 Reunion is planned for 11 July 2009 at Sir John Moore Bks, Winchester.
ITEM 9. The Rifles 2008-2009 ACTIVITIES
Regular Battalions of The Rifles:
High operational tempo since before and after formation of the regiment.
1 Rifles are currently an operational tour for 6 month in Afghanistan (wef.Nov 08).
2 Rifles recently returned from a peace support ops in Kosovo (Jul 08).
3 Rifles recently rotated their Coys through the Falkland Islands (Aug 08).
5 Rifles deployed to Iraq for a 6 month tour at the end of Nov 08.
2 Rifles are now on pre-deployment training for ops in Afghanistan in Mar 09.
4 Rifles are due for operations in late 09.
TA Battalions:
The TA contribution has been significant in the form of composite companies
& lots of individual reinforcements for both Iraq and Afghanistan.
A 7 Rifles composite company returned from Afghanistan in Jan 08.
6 Rifles have dispatched a TA company (Corunna Coy) of 110 to Afghanistan
with 1 Rifles (Nov 08).
7 Rifles are due to send a contingent with 2 Rifles to Afghanistan in Mar 09.
The Bands & Bugles of The Rifles:
Active programme in 2009 for all three bands.
The following public events are confirmed over the next few months:
a. 19th Feb 2009 – London, 56 Davies Str W1K 5HR, KRRC Concert
b. 29th March 2009 - Gloucester
c. 23rd - 24th May 2009 - Liverpool - Military Show
d. 31 May 2009 Truro - Freedom Parade
e. 6th - 7th June 2009 - Royal Cornwall Show
f. 12th June 2009 - ABF Bakewell
g. 20th June 2009 - Littleton Music Festival
h. There are a number of Freedom Parades and other Band & Bugle events throughout the UK that are still TBC.
i. Contact The Rifles Band & Bugles of The Rifles in Winchester for more information about their future events: Tel: 01962 888 217 E-mail: admin@winchester.atr.mod.uk
j. Contact The Waterloo Band & Bugles of The Rifles in Oxford for more information about their future events: Tel: 01865 780 148 E-mail: 7rifles-band-psi@mod.uk
k. Contact The Salamanca Band & Bugles of The Rifles in Exeter for more information about their future events: Tel: 01392 492 458 Email: 6rifles-band-psi@mod.uk
ITEM 10. BRANCH REPORTS
The Chairman noted that the membership of those branches represented at the meeting totalled 836.
Reports were received from the under mentioned branches and the key points noted where relevant:
Milton Keynes.
Meet on a monthly basis, participated in The Rifles Freedom of MK this year, supported the Fovant (Military) Badges annual service.
Oxford.
Slade Park Bks Museum is now closed and moving to Woodstock, successful annual Band concert at Slade Park Bks, successful Oxford reunion, The Rifles Oxford office to be relocated wef. 1 Dec 08 to: Edward Brooks Bks, Cholswell Road, Shippon, ABINGDON,OX13 6HW Tel:01235 546018, Mil Tel:94256 6018 E-mail: oxford@the-rifles.co.uk
Suffolk.
Monthly meetings, substantial membership with well attended social functions, good turnout for the Arboretum in May.
London.
Very active with social gatherings and Battlefield tours, Calais, Berlin & Colditz Castle with a unique dinner held in the castle, making increasing use of Royal Hospital for social events, raised £7,500 for Help for Heroes through branch activities & Andy Mc Nab lecture/fund raising, attendance at the Regents Park Band Memorial continues, programme of visiting RGJ, Ox & Bucks, KRRC & RB Chelsea RH in-pensioners, organise annual RGJ participation at the Cenotaph Parade – 230 attended this year.
Winchester and District.
Main organisers of annual RGJ reunion in Sir John Moore Bks, active social programme with a successful Ladies Dinner Night in Romsey, organisers of the annual RGJ/The Rifles Golf meeting locally, representatives sent to Remembrance parades in London, Morecombe and at Winchester Cathedral.
Australasian.
52 members plus 20 in the UK, monthly gatherings in Perth, participation and marching on ANZAC Day.
The branch is striving to obtain a Bugle to sound calls on various occasions; Hon Sec KRRC Assn offered to look into this.
North West
A very active branch activities which makes an effort to send supporters to The Rifles passing out parades at Catterick and members will support The Rifles Band & Bugles in Liverpool 23-25 May 09.
North East
Currently not active but NW reported that Mr Jake Cheetham will try to reopen one shortly.
Wiltshire
22 members, active programme of meetings, incl annual BBQ and Dinner Night, participation in Warminster Remembrance Parade, laid wreath at Pegasus Bridge, France.
KRRC
1,500 members (300-400 active), annual Journal, annual Band Concert (all welcome) 19 Feb 09 Davies Str. annual reunion now joint with RB, continue to support Regents Park Band Memorial, active support given to Rifles activity in London.
Band and Bugles.
Active but not represented at the meeting, a short report submitted, and stated that the branch will continue to mark the anniversary of the Regents Park Bandstand IRA atrocity on the nearest Sunday to the 20th July annually.
Internet
Active but not represented at the meeting.
Shrewsbury:
Active but not represented at the meeting.
Yorkshire
Active but not represented at the meeting.
General Comment (by Chairman):
a. All branches have a good programme of events.
b. Membership has remained steady with a few increases in some branches.
c. There continues to be a discrepancy between Branch membership/membership fees/Internet Branch (community) figures.
d. Branches were thanked for the support they are giving The Rifles throughout the country.
ITEM 11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a. The RGJ Memorial at the National Arboretum is now well established, has been very favourably received and is much admired as it is in pole position for the main memorial and features in the Arboretum guided tour.
b. The future of the Bert Henshaw photographic collection was noted sympathetically by the meeting but its purchase or otherwise for the RGJ Museum/ Archives is a matter for the RGJ Museum Trustees.
c. The visit to the Chelsea Pensioners with their Xmas cheque will be conducted by Lt Col J-D v Merveldt & Mr Richard Frost from the London Office of The Rifles on 11 Dec 08.
d. Ex CSgt Albert Storey RB/RGJ has joined the ranks of Green Jackets Close in Winchester.
e. The next Fovant Badge service is on 5 Jul 2009.
f. The Rifles will be exercising Freedoms/Home comings in 2009 in:
28 Mar 09; 6 Rifles Homecoming Corunna Coy Exeter
25 Apr 09; 4 Rifles Freedom – Exmouth
10 May 09; 3 Rifles Freedom – Buckingham
TBC May 09, 1 Rifles Homecoming & Freedom – Chepstow
TBC Jun; 1 Rifles Homecoming & Freedom - Forest of Dean
16 May 09; 6 Rifles Homecoming & Laying up 6LI Colours - Taunton
31 May 09; 4 Rifles Freedom – Truro
23 Jul 09; Bands & Bugles Freedom S of R Guildhall - City of London
TBC Jul 09; 5 Rifles Homecoming - Paderborn, Birmingham & Mansfield
1 Aug 09; 5 Rifles Freedom – Leeds
1 Aug 09; 5 Rifles 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Minden - Minden Germany
5 Sep 09; 1 Rifles Freedom – Shaftsbury
12 Sep 09; 4 Rifles Freedom – Wells
TBC Oct 09; 2 Rifles, Homecoming - Ballykinler
27 Oct 09; 2 Rifles, Homecoming - Merseyside TBC
29 Oct 09; 2 Rifles, Homecoming - A London Borough TBC
8 Nov 09; All; Remembrance Day Wreath laying in all 56 Freedom Towns and Towns/Cities/Villages of those RIFLES Riflemen KIA since 1 Feb 07.
The meeting noted with great sadness the most recent reported deaths of:
Maj Frank Sainsbury MC
Cpl Bert Henshaw
Maj Christopher Steele
CSgt Rattigan
Cpl Mick Jackson
ITEM 12. DATE AND LOCATION OF NEXT MEETING
The date of the next meeting is 17 April 2009 starting at 1000 hrs in The Rifles RHQ Conference Room, Peninsula Barracks, Winchester SO23 8TS
JA Poole-Warren
Chairman
RGJA
