A “Wee Bit of Nonsense” by the Secretary of the Derby Branch,
Ronnie Smith At a recent Branch meeting, I was reminded that I had been in the post of Secretary for 25 years. That set me thinking!!!
My first recorded attendance at a Branch meeting was in the Royal British Legion in Green Lane on 7 January 1972: that was 38 years and 456 meetings ago. Also in attendance were Maj Bowmer (Chairman), Jim Tunnicliff, Gordon Carran and Les Baghurst. All the others at that meeting are no longer with us (worrying isn’t it?). I was elected Secretary at the AGM in January 1985 (25 years ago). Including our AGM, we have 13 meetings per year: that’s times 25 years equals 325 meetings. I haven’t missed all that many so, assuming I have attended 300 of those meetings, it means I will have written 300 sets of minutes and, allowing 1 hour per set, that amounts to 300 hours of writing minutes (why do they call them minutes when it takes hours?). I selected a number of minutes and, using the tools on the PC, did a word count then, taking an average, I reckon I have written approaching two hundred thousand words!!!! If the average time of a meeting over those years is 1 hour then I have sat there for around 300 hours.
I was polishing silver for the Branch Dinner even before I was Secretary but, let’s just say I have been doing that for 25 years. That means I have polished around 300 pieces of silver. Again, if the average time spent polishing is 1 hour, that is 25 hours’ worth of polishing.
When I was elected Secretary, I started attending the Area Meetings with Maj Bowmer. I haven’t missed many of those so, 25 years at 2 meetings per year equals 50 meetings at one and a half hours each (some may be a wee bit less) so, let’s say I have been in those meetings for around 60 hours over the years. I have been on the main Association Committee for - I think - 10 years; they have 1 meeting per year and I think I have missed 5 of those: again, a few hours attending them. Derby and District Ex-Services have two meeting per year. I started attending those about 5 years ago. These take a minimum of two hours (they like
to hear themselves talk): that is 10 hours sitting listening to them.
How did I ever find time to go to work, go to the pub and go to Church etc, etc? I hope I can carry on doing this for some time to come!!
[And so do we – Ed!] Long Eaton
by Cliff Housley The year began with an enjoyable regimental dinner in early February attended by thirty members. The event was organised to welcome new members to the fold and to reacquaint old comrades; it is hoped that this will become an annual event.
Events to reflect on from the previous year include the blessing of the new Branch Standard at Crich and also at a ceremony held in St Laurence’s Church, Long Eaton. Just before dawn on Friday 24 October 2009, Branch members left Foresters House to travel across the Channel to Zonnebeke, Belgium. Whilst there, they took part in the daily 8pm ceremony at the Menin Gate on the Friday. On Saturday morning, the members attended the moving ceremony to unveil the Sherwood Foresters Western Front Memorial in Tyne Cot cemetery. This Service was a fitting tribute to those men of the Sherwood Foresters who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the Western Front. Afterwards, we moved to Zonnebeke School where the Mayor hosted a Reception and, afterwards, an oak tree sapling from Major Oak in Sherwood Forest was planted by the Mayor and the High Sheriffs of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire: this was then dedicated to the fallen of the Regiment.
On Saturday 6 March, large crowds gathered in Long Eaton town centre to witness the members of 2 MERCIAN exercise their Freedom of the
Borough of Erewash and march through the town. The salute was taken by the Mayor of Long Eaton, Mr W Tucker, Lord Lieutenant for Derbyshire, Col D R Sneath TD DL, the Mayoress, Councillor Mrs M Boam and Mayor of Erewash, Councillor T Holbrook. After a Civic Reception in the Town Hall, local soldiers of the 2nd Battalion mingled with civic guests and the old and bold of Long Eaton Branch. In the afternoon, 2 MERCIAN paraded through the nearby town of Ilkeston.
Long Eaton Branch wish express their thanks to Standard Bearer, Phil Twells, for his attendance at all of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Freedom Parades, at LCpl Kieron Hill’s Memorial Dedication and at the Annual Pilgrimage Crich in July. Phil also helped with manning the display and stand at the Armed Forces’ Weekend event in Wollaton Park on 26/27 June.
Any reader who would like to join our Branch would be made most welcome; our monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 7.30 pm at Brennans, Regent Street, Long Eaton.
Mansfield
by Keith Kenworthy Our notes are making their first appearance in the, to us, new journal. However, we trust that a few lines from the ancient heart of Sherwood (there is a plaque on West Gate marking the site of the Centre Tree) would add a little tone to an otherwise fairly banal effort. We are a small branch and getting smaller by the hour of late. The past year has seen changes in our officials to the point where we now rely on a semi- absentee Vice Chairman because the Chairman of the past 18 years, Harry Jackson, retired at our AGM this year: well, he is 92 years young!
Derby Branch WFRA at Soldier’s Corner with the Mayor of Derby, Councillor Sean Marshall, 11 November 2009
Derby Branch at the Crich Weekend The Mercian Eagle October 2010 145
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