THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS ASSOCIATION

 

Middlesbrough & District Branch

Founded 1931

 

JUNE NEWSLETTER 2008

 

Gentlemen.

Where does the time go? It only seems like five minutes ago since I last wrote in December, it appears the older you get the faster the time goes.

Sadly it is my duty to inform you that we have lost two members since then, a gentleman I only met once when I visited him at home to present him with a Certificate of Merit from the Branch,

No 4837822 Mr John V Kelley who passed away on February 18th, and also a man who was a local postmaster here in Eston until he suffered Alzheimer’s, No24125565 Mr David Whitehouse who passed away on 27th February, both were excellent Coldstreamers.

Thing a have been a little bit quiet on the new members side of things, but we welcome a Coldstreamer who has played a big part in the branch, firstly as the Recruiting Sergeant at Middlesbrough, then in Northern Ireland when he along with Vice President, Mac Finkill co-ordinated our visit to the Battalion out there, and finally as WOII (D/Sgt) at Catterick, No 24754970 Dec Donaghy.

Also No 23907415 former Sgt Owen Parkes, we welcome them both.

The web-site continues in excellent shape thanks to Mac Finkill and the endless hours he puts to keep it the top ten of military web-sites.

No 7 Company now settled in Napier Barracks, Woolwich, continue with Public Duties.

The 1st Battalion returned from a very successful seven months tour of Afghanistan late in April and having enjoyed a nice spell of leave are settling back in Windsor.

On Saturday May 3rd 2008 saw the satisfactory visit of the Regimental Band and serving Boro members of the 1st Battalion, when a homecoming parade was carried out at Middlesbrough Football Club, also joining the parade was Vice President, Captain Stuart Beattie MSM MBE who had also just returned from a tour of Afghanistan all dressed in desert combat order, the three North East, Recruiting Sergeants, Waters, Bumby and Wiles dressed in combat fatigues.

They were honoured to be joined by Mrs Lisa and Tommy Leach, wife and son of the late Carl Leach a former Coldstream Sergeant who was tragically killed while serving at Catterick, as most of you will know Tommy as born without ears and is the subject of a huge fundraising campaign being lead from the front by Mac Finkill.

I have paid a few visits to Catterick this year to date and the standard of drill continues to be high, sadly WOII CSM Ron Corbett, Scots guards has rejoined the battalion and we welcome another Scots Guards In his place WOII CSM Craig Hutton a man with a voice like Jan Hooper, but who has made me most welcome.

The next pass-out unfortunately clashes with Coldstream week, August 8th 2008.

Our St George’s Dinner which is the envy of the Association was a great success, in our Company we had the Commanding Officer elect of the 1st Battalion Lt Colonel T W Gray and we congratulate him on his recent promotion also a branch Vice President, Major David Hall, and Captain Stuart Beattie MSM MBE and a man who is re-known world wide for his after dinner speeches, former Coldstreamer, Mr John Welsh and he was his brilliant self.

York Races on Saturday 31st May 2008, came early this year and I thank all of you who helped by selling/buying the sweepstakes tickets, unfortunately we had no luck this year, but no doubt the branch will benefit from your actions, but the race day itself was very enjoyable with warm sunshine and meeting up with old friends, due to the same day being the first rehearsal for Trooping the Colour the band were unable to attend.

 

 

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The next big occasion will be Coldstream Civic Week which is being held from 3rd the 19th August 2008.

Thursday 7th August Flodden day commencing 11.30am and Friday 8th commencing 10.30am is the big parade to the War Memorial with the Yorkshire Corps of Drums, No 7 Company, the Coldstream Guards Associations and the Coldstream cadets for a short service and wreath laying.

So come along and join us and meet old friends/comrades.

Our branches next function is the Annual Dinner Dance note being held on Saturday 11th October 2008, please note the change of date. Being held in the Ballroom of the Marton Hotel & Country Club.

And then on Saturday 20th December 2008 we hold our Christmas Lunch which will be held in the Sun Lounge of the same venue, so put these dates in your diary and come and join us.

For those of you who ordered Coldstream gazettes for this year I can only apologise for the late delivery, I have been chasing them up for months, but all I get is excuses, but I do know that the printers and RHQ is having problems

Now for the usual little reminder, for those of you who have not yet paid your subscriptions or paid for next years Gazette, or in the case of Vice Presidents a donation, please do so ASAP.

 

The Treasurer is: Mr I Camp, 102 Valley Road, Middlesbrough. TS4 2RX. Thank you.

 

Some late news Gentlemen; I have just been informed that Major David Hall QM, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and I am pleased to say a very good friend of the branch, has been awarded the MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours List. I have on behalf of the President, Vice Presidents, Chairman and members of the Branch sent a letter of congratulation to him.

Now another piece of news, I have just been informed that Vice President Captain Stuart Beattie MSM MBE has been selected to be QM (T) in BATUK British Army training Unit Kenya, operating form Nairobi for two years, he hopes to deploy end of September beginning of October 2008, we wish him well in his new posting.

 

Mannie Cook

Hon Secretary