RHQ - Letter to Regimental Association Branch Secretaries

I wanted to provide an update prior to meeting all of you in Newtown on 8th May 24 and ahead of DRAGON CONNECT going live on 1st March.

The Regimental Committee has decided to trial holding the Regimental Reunion South at the Ty Llewellyn Reserve Centre in Cardiff on Saturday 27th July 2024. This is due to dwindling numbers attending the previously held reunion in Brecon (you will recall we had to cancel the event in 2023). The aim is to spread Regimental Association events more evenly across Wales in each calendar year to maximise attendance. So, in 2024 this delivers the Isandlwana / Rorke’s Drift commemoration in January in Brecon, a Regimental Reunion South in Cardiff (July) and a Regimental Reunion North in Wrexham (September). As well as the planned visit by the Regimental Association to Normandy in June to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. I know that returning the reunion event to Cardiff will disappoint some of the Association members, but we need to adapt and ensure that we organise a sustainable network of events. We endeavour to better link the veteran community of The Royal Welsh Regimental Association with the younger Royal Welsh veterans who perhaps sit beyond the formal Branch structure.

So, we will organise a curry luncheon in Cardiff on Saturday 27th July and Capt Des Williams (your Association Secretary) will write to you shortly with the details. Can I ask that you advertise the lunch within your Branches but also to any former serving veterans of The Royal Welsh and antecedent Regiments. You do not need to be a Branch member to attend the curry lunch just be a former serving member of The Royal Welsh and antecedent Regiments.

It is hoped that the curry lunch could be a prelude to Association members then attending the Royal Regiment of Wales annual informal event also held in Cardiff on the same day (at the Gatekeeper Pub in Westgate Street), or for those members of the Association who just wish to gather, meet, and greet in a casual setting for a curry lunch and a pint.

The curry will only cost £5.00 per head, and you will be able to park in the Ty Llewellyn Reserve Centre on the day. Wives / partners would be very welcome too. The dress code will be smart casual so I would hope to see a sea of different Regimental ties, blazers however I equally hope to see younger veterans in regimental Polo shirts / rugby shirts or just civilian clothes.

Please advertise far and wide and I hope to see as many of you as possible at The Regimental Reunion South in Cardiff in July or The Regimental Reunion North in Wrexham in September. And I look forward to hearing your feedback on the developing plans as I travel around Wales and at the various events throughout the year. We are your Regimental Headquarters and welcome any ideas to enhance the Regimental Association network. The future of your Regimental Association will be safe if we bring the younger and older veteran communities together over the coming years. That might mean will try novel and new ways of staying connected.

Yours aye,

Rob Dickinson
Colonel (Retired)
Chairman of The Royal Welsh Regimental Association / Regimental Secretary The Royal Welsh