Drinkers raise cheer and cash for old soldier

South Wales Argos
7:30am Friday 21st November 2008

[img2=left]http://www.rwf-forum.co.uk/misc_pix/MM.jpg.jpg[/img2]REGULARS at a Gwent pub raised £1,200 for former Royal Welch Fusiliers, inspired by one of the oldest surviving members of the regiment.
John Trickey, 92, is the second oldest ex-Royal Welch Fusilier. Originally from Llandegveth, but now living in Llanhennock, he was called up to the regiment in 1940.

Mr Trickey was at his local, the Wheatsheaf Inn, Llanhennock on Wednesday for a special presentation.

The regulars raised £1,200 through themed nights, meals and quizzes and presented a cheque for the money to assistant regiment secretary of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Major Arthur Ellingham.

They decided to help after Mr Ellingham travelled down from Hightown Barracks, Wrexham to present Mr Trickey with a regimental plaque on his 90th birthday.

The regiment has 300 years of history and the money will be spent on former members with mobility problems and those wounded with the first battalion which has recently returned from Afghanistan.

Mr Ellingham presented Mr Trickey with a regimental tankard on this visit.
Mr Trickey narrowly misses out on being the oldest surviving former member of the regiment. John Evans from Chester is seven months older than him.

After leaving the regiment as a Lance Corporal in 1946, Mr Trickey moved to Llanhennock.

Landowner Richard Laybourne took him on as his chauffeur and he worked driving his Rolls Royce around Monmouthshire.

Mr Trickey, who served in Ireland during the Second World War, still lives in the village with wife Doreen, 70.