THE
COLDSTREAM GUARDS ASSOCIATION
Middlesbrough & District
Founded 1931
DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 2007
Gentlemen;
Here we are again at the end
of another year and time to update you on what has happened since I last wrote,
unfortunately we have lost a member 23650030 John Guy who passed away late
June, John was a lovely man and will be sadly missed.
Our Branch website has been
placed in the top ten military websites in the world and it is down to all the
hard work and many hours burning the midnight oil of Vice President Malcolm
Finkill and I can tell you it has not all been plain sailing, computers are
fickle things and can cause many heartbreaking moments.
Malcolm has been privileged
by RHQ to place on our website the pictorial history of the Regiment
Branch membership continues
to flourish with eleven new members this year the latest being; 23929805 former
Gdsn A Weatherburn, 24754213 former L/Sgt J Anderson, two Liverpool Branch
members who have joined us, 23916942 former L/Sgt P Cassells, 23916892 former
Gdsn M Lewis,24239788 former C/Sgt M Lanham, 23650212 former Gdsn D Wood, Associate member Mr A Stone and three serving
soldiers,25193196 Gdsn J Gajda, son of V/President DJC Gajda,
25209178 Gdsn N Witham and 30011823 Gdsn S Budd and we welcome them all.
We are also privileged to
have two Lt Colonels as Vice Presidents, Lt Col Toby Gray and Lt Col Alan
Barnes.
With
The Battalion is now settled
in
My visits to the Guards ITC
at Catterick for the Passing-out-Parades have always been enjoyable, the
standard of drill is still as impeccable as ever, sadly we have said our
farewells to WOII (D/Sgt) Dec Donaghy who completed his twenty two years
service with the Regiment, in his place we welcome WOII (D/Sgt) Al Aitkin,
Irish Guards, a man very much in the mould of former the former CSM here at
Catterick, John Donaldson, Irish Guards.
Association Day at Newby Hall
was a very enjoyable day although it could have been made better with a bit of
thought, my day was made even more enjoyable because it was my 69th birthday
that day and I was privileged to conduct the Regimental band.
The
to play throughout the day and members of the Recruiting
staff resplendent in tunic order obliging the young ladies with photographs,
the turn-out of Association members gets better every year.
Unfortunately next year due
to improving the course drainage our race meeting is
My thanks to all of you who
purchased/sold sweepstakes tickets, the branch did have one winner who won
£10.00, the branch benefited by a donation from RHQ of £203.69.
Our annual Dinner Dance
although down on numbers due to clashing with
Our final social function is
the Annual Christmas lunch on
And so another fruitful year
comes to an end, my thanks to Malcolm Finkill for making our web-site the envy
of the Association, to John Ferguson for his endless work not only as Chairman
but as social organiser, and to the members of the committee for their valuable
contribution, not forgetting our wives for allowing us the time and space.
Our new Treasurer this year is Mr Ian Camp: his address is
Payment of
Subscriptions for 2008 and Gazettes to Ian please.
May I take this opportunity
to wish you and your families a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year
Mannie Cook
Hon Secretary.