Visits and Events during 2018

The Branch goes from strength to strength with meetings every 2nd Tuesday of the month at Mapperley golf club. We average 20 members per meeting all of which are Sherwood Rangers or ex PSI’s. We are extremely grateful to the Club Captain and his committee for hosting us. Melvyn Mawer our chairman keeps us on the straight and narrow whilst Captain Gren Turner continues to cook our books accurately. Chris Walker and Martin Kerry continue organising our functions and outings with help from Lee Walker and Marc Hallam.

We went on the 29th March to see our new association flag being manufactured - an idea from Chris Walker. On the branch viewing the flag Colonel Jonathan requested he pay for it as his leaving gift to the Regimental Association, as he left post as our chairman after many, many years’ service. After much pressure from Colonel Jonathan, Melvyn agreed, and the Colonel generously bought the flag.

On Saturday 7th April we held a buffet disco proceeds from which help fund Cavalry Memorial trip. The 11th April we attended the Tank talk at the drill hall, whilst on the 21st April the branch took part in the regimental dinner again at Carlton we are most grateful for our serving sqn hosting this important regimental event.

On May 13th we travelled to London to take part in Cavalry Memorial parade at Hyde Park along with the Sqn and called in at Bushey on return journey for refreshments.

On Saturday 2nd of June we attended the Knightsbridge and Normandy Landings dinner hosted by the SNH at Bulwell ARC. Despite recent restrictions on opening times by the military the newly formed gun troop at Bulwell managed to take the function into the early hours.  On Thursday the 28th Alan Lindley took our new Association Flag to the Armed forces day Flag raising at Arnold Gedling Borough Council House.

Lee Walker organised a branch day trip to Alrewas NMA and then the RAF Cosford air museum branch members travelled by private car and enjoyed a great day out.

11th August saw the branch along with our serving sqn organise Yeomanry Day an idea we stole from the QOY. The ARC was fully open to the public with many stands, including lots of different real history enthusiasts who were very well organised by Alan Slater. We had a Stuart tank, and a Fox armoured car both of which were runners and lots of re-enactors in uniform. Our sqn put on several stands and were joined by the re-established gun troop from Bulwell ARC with a light gun. The footfall for the day was very high, although recruiting was the main aim it put our sqn back on the map in the local area. The open day finished at 1600 and at 2000 we had a disco dance in the drill hall which was also very successful.

On September the 2nd Lee Walker organised a trip to the Leicester victory show for the branch. On September 29th we travelled to Alrewas NMA to unveil our splendid new memorial we enjoyed a short parade under the SSM. Our new flag was carried by Alan Lindley the memorial was unveiled by the Lord-Lieutenant. We then enjoyed a smashing reception with old friends and as ever many rangers were the last to leave, in fact the last six left by golf cart to the car park.

In October 12th to 14th Martin Kerry organised a trip to Ypres and the Menin Gate ceremony where our new Association Flag was on parade again this time carried by Pete Bollands.  Saturday 27th saw us celebrating El Alamein with a black tie dinner at the golf club which was well attended and enjoyed by all. A big thank you to Chris Walker for organising the evening so successfully.

November was a very busy month for the branch on Thursday 8th we attended the remembrance football games where the British army played the German army. In the morning Martin Kerry took a large party of school children from Carlton Central School to support the women’s team at County ground. In the evening we attended the men’s game at the Forest ground.  Friday 9th November the branch attended Central school along with the serving sqn to take part in a remembrance service. September 10th saw the branch at Gedling Borough Council house in Arnold, where branch members took part in a static display with our Vickers machine gun. Thank you to Martin for organising the day and Chris Walker, Alan Lindley, and Melvyn for supporting the event. In the evening 16 members of the branch attended the SNH remembrance dinner which was very special occasion, we were joined by Colonel Mark Smith, our new honorary Colonel.  On the Sunday morning the 11th November the branch paraded at Newark with the Sqn and then returned for a hot buffet in the sgts mess at Carlton many thanks to the Sqn for the lunch. Sunday 18th of November saw the branch attend Mapperley Top to be part of the RBL remembrance parade. Our flag was carried by Alan Lindley and Derek Extall laid our wreath expertly. After the parade we retired to Weatherspoon’s for refreshments.  Our planned disco buffet on December 1st was cancelled due to lack of numbers.

All in all a very busy year for Arnold Branch, thank you to all our members, the Sqn and our association for assisting us.

The Branch does not send out a printed newsletter but we have built an email distribution list of 86 members to which anyone can be added by contacting me by email at ArnoldBranch@sry.org.uk

Capt Alan Brooks

Honorary Secretary, Arnold Branch