St Davids Day in the 2nd Battalion

St David’s Day was celebrated in true Regimental tradition last Thursday the 4th March. It was the first time in 18 months that the Battalion was complete and not deployed on Operations.
The day started with gun fire then a scale a breakfast in the Messes followed by a Battalion parade.
We had the pleasure of Brigadier Aitkin on the day that presented the leeks to the Officers and Warrant Officers and then spoke to the soldiers.
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After a church parade we went over to the Regimental Restaurant which saw the Officers and SNCO,s serve lunch to the soldiers, not before practicing the aged old tradition of eating the leek. This year was won by a Pte soldier from HQ Company.
We then finished off the day with a 10,s inter Company rugby competition. There was some very good rugby played and the final was between the Officers Mess and B (Rorke’s Drift) Coy, with B (Rorke’s Drift) Coy walking away the winners.
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We were also honored to have members from the Regimental Association present with us for the day, we are intending to invite the association members every year so hopefully this will grow in numbers.
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Hopefully I will see some of you in Aldershot on the 17th March for a Welsh Final and also if you are about on Sat the 27th March in Pontypridd then C Company will be excepting the Freedom from the Rhonda Cynon Taff Council. This will start at 1100hrs in the memorial park, it would be great to see you there and you are also invited to take part on the parade.

I have not had the chance to speak to the RSM 1 Royal Welsh but I am sure they would have celebrtated St Davids Day in some shape or form. They remain in my thoughts and I am sure you will join me in wishing them a safe and speedy return from there current Operations in Afghanistan.
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Dai Davies 29
RSM
2 ROYAL WELSH

Dai, It's good to see that our Patron Saint's Day is celebrated as it should be by all Welshmen. I've printed below how we in Aberystwyth RWFCA celebrated our Patron Saint's Day.

Cofion cynnes

Paul Hinge

ABERYSTWYTH BRANCH THE ROYAL WELCH FUSILIERS COMRADES ASSOCIATION
St DAVID’S DAY CELEBRATIONS

This year’s St David’s Day saw the Aberystwyth Branch celebrate our Patron Saints Day in fine style at Llety Parc Hotel, with a Traditional Regimental Dinner of Leek Soup and Roast Welsh Lamb followed by traditional regimental toasts. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Paul Hinge Hon. Secretary who read out the many greetings from other branch’s of the RWFCA as well as from the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers) who are at present serving in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. The assembled guests and association members also heard a message from H.M. Queen read out on the occasion of St David’s Day. Her Majesty is the patron of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers Comrades Association. Following the regimental toasts Lt/General Jonathon Riley CB DSO PhD Master of the Royal Armoires gave the dinner guests an insight into the Afghanistan War and our involvement having been Deputy Commander there up until quite recently.
The evening was rounded off in traditional style with the Leek Eating Ceremony. Those attending the dinner are individually honoured if chosen by the Branch to participate in this aged old annual tradition. This year the Branch was privileged to have the Leek Party drawn from the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh who were under the guidance of Drum Major Ian Salmond who ensured that the high standards and traditions of the RWF were carried out in this traditional ceremony.
After being selected to eat the leek, participants are invited to stand on a chair, given a raw leek to eat from a silver platter and when all participants have consumed their leeks they are invited to drink from the Loving Cup calling out at the top of their voice after finishing their drink “A Dewi Sant.” All participant were presented a certificate and an enamelled leek badge to signify they had participated in the ancient ceremony by Lt/ General Riley who was the former Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion RWF when they were afforded the ‘Right of Entry’ by Aberystwyth Town Council.
The Branch was honoured to have the Chairman of Ceredigion County Council, Cllr Ivor Williams present on the evening together with other councillors who had military service. Members from the RBL, RNA, RAFA, Royal Marines, Royal Artillery and Welsh Guards Associations and the Sea Cadets all supported the branch in celebrating our Patron Saint’s Day.
This year’s leek eating participants were Mr Ron Vaughan (Branch Member), Cllr Trevor Shaftoe (Aberystwyth Town Mayor), Sara Edwards (TV Presenter) and Mrs Martina Price (Aberystwyth Branch Royal British Legion)

Dai 29/Paul
The Shotton and Deeside Branch RWFCA will be celebrating the Patron Saint of Wales at our Annual St David's Day Dinner this coming Friday the 12th March 2010 our attendence this year is a record breaking 79 members and their guests sitting down for dinner. A full report on the celebrations will follow in due course.

Glad to hear both yours went off all OK and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Best Regards
BennytheBall
Branch Hon Secretary Shotton and Deeside RWFCA

Dont forget guys maximum support for the 2nd battalion on the 17th March lets out sing the Welsh guards and keep the cup were it belongs with the royal welch,plenty of time to book a day off and i am sure there will be plenty of old faces there,

Fives

The Denbigh and District Branch held their Annual St David's Day Dinner at the Oriel House Hotel St Asaph on Sat 6th March 2010. A great Night was had by all. We would like to thank Cap Des Williams DCM, for supplying us with a section of Drums/Flutes for the Eating of the Leeks Ceremony. They did the Regiment proud with their High standard of turnout/drill etc.

It was great to see Maj Arthur Ellingham partaking in the Eating of the Leek along with several other lucky people. We would like to thank everyone for their very kind Telegrams/Messages and everyone who helped Organise this event plus All Members and Guests who attended. Diolch yn fawr i ti. Braz

glad you had agood day, and the best of luck on the 17'th and bring the cup to its home in the royal welch, best of luck wally 15

Information only,
The Andover advertiser page 4 has some good pictures of the 2nd Battalion celebrating saint Davids day,also a nice picture of Taffy the goat,all the Tidworth based troops can get a copy from there local newsagents in Tidworth.

Thanks
Fivs

Hi All
The Shotton and Deeside Branch held their Annual St David's Day dinner at the Labour club Connah's Quay last evening (Fri 12 Mar 10).

78 in total sat down for dinner, Our Guest of Honour was Assistant Regimental and RWF Comrades' Assocition Secretary Capt Des Williams DCM and his wife Paulette. Other guests attended was Carl Sergeant Welsh Assembly Member and his wife Bernie and their son Jack the Welsh Girl and Welsh Boy were Holly Jones granddaughter of our branch treasurer Mr LP Davies and Jake Tong grandson of our Branch President Mr Hugh Evans, Sgt Jason Hill Royal Welsh Support Team and his wife Sharon.

The Pioneers and Leek party where provided by the 3rd Bn The Royal Welsh Corps of Drums (North) a execellent performance by them.

The Dinner consisted of the the traditional Lamb dinner followed by toasts, St David's Day Greetings/Messages and speeches.

We then "cleared the decks" for the grand raffle and Disco.

I would like to take this opportunity as Branch Hon Secretary to thank all who helped organise what was a successful evening enjoyed by all.

Best Regards
BennyTheBall
Branch Hon Secretary
Shotton and Deeside RWFCA