Poll - on behalf of Jungle1810

Dear Forum Members

In view of the last attempt to let individual members attend the re-union evening meal, and getting a negative result from Wrexham for this request because the meal and buffet are subsidised. But it contradicts itself by letting every one attend the buffet.So would the ladies and independant members consider attending the meal.

In view of the last verdict in refusing entry to the ladies et al would a sense of personal affront discourage a re think of going to the meal.

If any person or even couple are in doubt or even dogmatic that they will not attend can they provide a view on why they will not attend

I would welcome all views on this subject either for or against and any explicit reasons for not going at this stage.

I am (And the exec committee) are expected to try and resolve this situation if possible.

On a personal note I would like to see them at the meal.

Ref all members - Thanks for your help and your vote. It is a difficult position to try and resolve.

Jungle 1810.


If you or your circle of friends male or female have any special questions not listed in my e mail please be free to speak your mind. I will need answers by December the 1st.

Seriously, women and non members of the Regiment should please not attend any Regimental function whatever it may be.

I served, but not in the Royal Welch. I am only one of the unofficial regimental historians. As such, I would not dream of attending any function unless specifically invited by the organising committee or a very senior member of the Regt. I think that, not being 'one of the boys', it's no more than reasonable.

John

I fear that a poll on the forum could prove futile in as much as not all forum members are RWFCA members and therefore not eligible to vote on Annual Reunion activities.

Matters such as wives/partners/guests attending the evening dinner are subject to AGM discussion (held in Sep) and proposals ratified by those Association members present. I believe that we should put sexist matters behind us - we now have women in the services involved in life threatening activities and should be treated equal. That said, it's only a matter of time before we have female Association applicants.

When I was Chief Clerk with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, my counterpart, a NRPS female Chief Clerk, badged RRF (Not WRAC) applied for and was granted membership of the RRF Comrades Association - she is currently a member of the local Birmingham Branch and quite active in promoting female activity in both Association and RBL/Poppy Appeal matters.. The point I'm trying to make here, is, it's only a matter of time before the RWFCA/RWCA will be expected to accept female members.

That said, the Annual Reunion for our Branch members is a pilgrimage - there are those who live in the closet for 11 months of the year who have the opportunity to let their hair down, re-live past experiences and be painfully reminded by their mates of embarrassing war stories and activities and I doubt they would wish their spouses/partners to be in earshot of such revelations!. No matter how good your mates are, when the alcohol is in, the common sense is out. Could be quite uncomfortable!!

When this subject came up at the last dinner, one or two members identified their reluctance to attend the dinner should ladies be allowed.

It's only a suggestion, but the Memorial Hall has a dual function facilty - An annex for those who wish to be accompanied by partners, and a hall for those who wish to be stud!

Age Consideration.

There was a positive absence of the upper age members this year as a result of the non availability of the barracks. These members are creatures of habit and not used to being denied accommodation "Back Home" in the Keep, "A session in the Mess" and the early morning reminiscing. Indeed, those senior members of the Association who, as I have previously stated are Creatures of Habit, made it quite clear to me that the Association had lost it's way with regard to their welfare. As pensioners they had been denied the Keep and had to compete for Accommodation at Hotels and B & B within Wrexham Town Centre - they certainly didn't relish evening activity at the Wynstay etc and wouldn't be attending next year.

Sad really when we are so desparately trying to recruit new members but don't have any answers to the questions posed by our senior members such as "Why can't we use the Barracks"?

For Hingey and Jungle 1810.

I know this is a splintered thread totally divorced from the thread you generated regarding future Annual Reunions. I will, however, merge them accordingly.

Just a quick note in responce to Jase. We cannot exclude women from the RWFCA as we have women who have served with both the 1st and 3rd Battalions who wore the flash and hackle and therefore have every right to attend RWFCA events in their own right and Gerry has hilighted this in the above thread.
The whole reason for looking at thr reunion is that yes we do have considerable and diverse needs to cater for within the Association. The elder statesmen need to have their needs catered for as do the younger element this is why there is a need to have as wide a discussion as possible so we can cater for the broadest church of fellow comrades needs during our Annual reunion.

Hingey

Thank you Paul, but may I say I have no objection to females attending such functions if they have served. No problem at all. My comment was aimed at women and men with no right to attend such events. We should be represented by serving or ex serving members only.

All,

Please excuse my ignorance if it appears obvious in my query with regards to this thread. I was under the impression rightly or wrongly that the R WELSH comrades had been formed this year with clear direction from the Col Of the Regt that this new associtaion was to be developed for the benefit of all, whether from the antecedent regiments or from the R WELSH.

If this is the case I am slighlty confused as to what direction the comrades are currently heading (are we discussing RWF or R WELSH or infact both). I would be most grateful for a brief appraisal on the future direction or constitution of the comrades association of both the RWF / R WELSH in order that I and undoubtedly with others, that are still serving can form an honest and blanced opinion for the future.

Paul, as a matter of interest, only attached Officers (ie not ORs') wear the flash alongside all R WELSH badged personnel and this, I believe is at the behest of the Commanding Officer.

Regards

Vic 53

Vic hi Dai 55 here,
can you tell me a bit more on only attached officers were the flash,just interested to find out a bit more,

Many thanks
dai 55

Hello All,
A most interesting bag of answers to my post. I welcome them all this is what we all fought for. I may have been a little ambiguous in my e mail re the ladies going to the evening meal. My view was that many individual members either go or do not attend the evening meal. They of course know what is best for their needs.but their wives and partners are precluded from going to the evening meal.the situation mentioned by Gerry is quite correct In regards to the distaff side of a regimental dinner in as much as technically they should have served in a regiment and been badged in that regiment.I am as a matter of fact against changing our constitution in any way shape or form. It is a matter for the AGM as stated by Gerry. In answer to 53's query for years we have voted to remain RWFC comrades.and as such the RWFCA branches are autonomous and run them selves but naturally come under the umbrella of Wrexham. The $64,000 question is of course what are the intentions of soldiers leaving the service do they go for the couple of amalgamated branches ie those that have merged under the same terms of the two active service battalions or join the RWFCA branches? In point of fact according to present rules any one who has not served in the Royal Welch are unable to hold any of the offices on any branch.
Regards RBD

Vic,
You pose an interesting cunundrum. Yes we as the RWFCA did vote to have a formalised closer relationship with the newly formed RWRA to help facilitate those members who are now serving under the new Regimental construct to have a home to come to when leaving the regiment. What we did not vote for was for the RWFCA to be subsumed into the RWRA. We envisage this will happen over the years as the RWFCA members pass on to that great parade ground above but as you can see from this forum's threads etc the RWFCA is alive and kicking.
As you probably know, the newly formed RWRA has an Executive Committee that has equal numbers of former RRW(Welch,SWB) and RWF on its Board so there will be a formalised structure that will see the new RWRA grow and flourish for our newer comrades to take advantage of and enjoy the comaraderie we hold so dear.

Hingey