Freedom Parade snub by Mayor!

I have just been informed that at the Freedom of Bangor Parade last weekend the incumbent Mayor of Bangor (the titular head of the city) refused to inspect the troops as his political persuasion meant he was a pacifist.

What is happening in this great country of ours? Yes people should have their beliefs but 1. Don't thrust them down other’s throats and 2. If you seek public office with it comes civic responsibility...where was his?

I feel saddened that the troops and comrades on parade were snubbed by the Mayor and take my hat off to the Deputy Mayor for taking his responsibilities of office correctly.

What's your take on this snub fellow forum members?


Hingey

Don't they have a sort of Assistant incase the Mayor/Mayoress is Ill? Anyway I hope the Locals remember this come next time he's up for Election. Ar#e Hole. Braz

Get rid of him, Bangor.

Just to boil the blood a little more, Comrades of the Bangor & Caernarfon branch were not invited (by the council) to Penrhyn Hall for the lunch and a few beers with the boys after the parade. Apparantly there was insufficient room! i can tell you, there was plenty of room.
Tom
Parade CSM

He is a disgrace.

It is a disgrace that the mayor did not attend the parade and that they weren't invited for a meal afterwards but then again they snubbed the charity football match which they could have well attended following the parade, being only a few miles down the road. Two worthwhile causes, the Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes, I hope no one needs their services!

Who gives a monkeys about a stupid Mayor with some stupid chain around his neck,did you really need him there,your better than him all mayors should be stopped throughout the country waste of public cash,
Dai 55

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Originally Posted by Dai 55

Who gives a monkeys about a stupid Mayor with some stupid chain around his neck,did you really need him there,your better than him all mayors should be stopped throughout the country waste of public cash,
Dai 55

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Dai

Your thoughts on this a very strong. Whether there should be Mayor's etc is a question for another debate I would argue. My point was that as the person who is charged with being the "first person" of the area and their representative it was his council who granted the Freedom and as such he should have put his personal issues to the side or stand aside and his deputy should have taken the whole parade. Instead he chosen to read out the freedom charter and sign it then he snubbed the troops and the people of Bangor by not carrying out his duties to the full! That's why I put the thread up!

Hingey

Paul i fully appreciate what you are saying,and fully understand your reason for putting this on the thread,and i was just disgusted that the parade was snubbed by a public cash waster,yes my views were strong and maybe should have waited before i reacted,thanks for removing the bad words,but my views are my views,

dai 55

Did he tell the people who voted for him (members of the town council?) that he was a pacifist and he would not be doing things like supporting the link between the town and the military? and if he did and he was STILL voted into the post then it is the members of the council who are responsible, not the mayor himself!

Amazing!! One waste of space Mayor snubs a PARADE and there is uproar. Our Comrades are being snubbed with their annual reunion in Wrexham FOREVER and hardly a raised eyebrow on this Forum. Words for once, absolutely fail me! Slag off a councillor, easy pickings no comebacks no ex-Colonels of the Regiment to upset there, no "disloyalty" to the head shed, no upsetting the status quo (not the group). If it was in his remit he should be sacked, if not he has done no wrong in the eyes of his employer. He must answer to his concience at the end of the day that is the freedom that the lads fight for, whether we like it or not. We all answer to our own concience no matter what we do, and I doubt any of us worry too much if we fail to fall in step with everyone else. Seems words didn't fail me after all.

My sources in Caernarfon inform me he never told anyone.

Normal form for that part of wales, I was IC Regimental recruiting for 4 years and only ever had trouble with north west wales, all citing the same reason that they were not in support of the Army and its policy. I had to speak directly to councils all over North and mid Wales in order to be granted permission to carry out a public military event and like I said North West Wales was the worst. No shock to read nothing has changed. And I agree with Dai 55s, waste of time and public money are Mayors anyway.

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Originally Posted by Gwyn Nicholas

Amazing!! One waste of space Mayor snubs a PARADE and there is uproar. Our Comrades are being snubbed with their annual reunion in Wrexham FOREVER and hardly a raised eyebrow on this Forum. Words for once, absolutely fail me! Slag off a councillor, easy pickings no comebacks no ex-Colonels of the Regiment to upset there, no "disloyalty" to the head shed, no upsetting the status quo (not the group). If it was in his remit he should be sacked, if not he has done no wrong in the eyes of his employer. He must answer to his concience at the end of the day that is the freedom that the lads fight for, whether we like it or not. We all answer to our own concience no matter what we do, and I doubt any of us worry too much if we fail to fall in step with everyone else. Seems words didn't fail me after all.

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I totally agree that the mayor should be dispensed with but was shocked to see you say about the annual reunion being snubbed. Please explain what's happened? Also could someone tell me what has happened to the Wynnstay? Didn't I read earlier that it had closed? What's going on folks?
Take care
Anita x

Anita

The annual reunion is not being snubbed. It's carrying on as per normal but it would be nice to have more former RWF personnel take part in the organised events. Golf is always well attended but shooting comp, standard bearers comp and the dinner is declining year on year. PM me and we can talk this through at length. The Wynnstay in Wrexham is in Administration and is closed for the present time if you've booked in then you'll need to find alternative accom.

Hingey

Thanks for the info Paul but we're not booked in luckily. I do hope those who are will be able to sort somehting else out without being out of pocket. Clive & I won't be attending this year or if I'm honest probably not any year again~ lots of reasons why.
I do hope it continues though and I'll look forward to hearing all about it as always.
Take care
Anita xx

Paul, does that mean that the bar in the barracks is now going to be available for the weekend of the reunion. Well that would be good news, that the CO REME has relented to allow the use of the facility. Any idea how that was achieved.

If I recall correctly there was also a snub during their Remembrance Sunday Parade by the same person and his lackeys. The thing that rankles me is the people who repeatedly spout off their pacifist indoctrine don't actually "get" why they have the rights and freedom to do this.
I also think they are far more verbally aggressive when dictating their pacifist regime than a lot of organised groups.

Ah well, he was voted in and he can voted out. Just hope for more negative publicity !

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Originally Posted by Gwyn Nicholas

Paul, does that mean that the bar in the barracks is now going to be available for the weekend of the reunion. Well that would be good news, that the CO REME has relented to allow the use of the facility. Any idea how that was achieved.

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Gwyn
I wish! No there is a bar in the Memorial Hall (where the dinner is held) and all the weekends events are being facilitated from there. You do pose an interesting question re REME although there are no cutbacks to the Welsh establishment the REME are part of a regt being redeployed from Germany so at the moment I don't know what the plans are for them with regards to Hightown Barracks.....have you got any info?

Hingey

I too would like to enhance Paul's words, that Capt Des Williams DCM and his team sadly inherited off Major Arthur Ellingham (NO Fault of his, I might had) a SDR Policy by the MOD that due to TA man training days,insurance issues, financial constraints etc. that comrades' reunion's would NO longer take place at Military Establishments.

I have spoken to various counterparts of other Comrades and service associations and they have given me the same feedback.

As for the RWFCA Re-Union and AGM it will continue to be held in Wrexham every year until such time that it is not viable due to the lack of support.

I think that Des and his staff work extremely hard with other outside agencies to continue to hold the Reunion in Wrexham town.

Laying on The Reunion Dinner, Lunches, Shooting Competition and Standard Bearers' Competition Mayor's Parlour etc. (all need supporting)

There is a lot of negative vibes lately about the RWFCA Reunion in Wrexham, nobody forces anyone to attend, but as true Royal Welch Fusiliers I would like think that a lot of ex members of the Regiment would make an extra effort to attend (This is the 87th this year) a lot of Royal Welch Fusiliers have had many a good reunion in the past.

I for one will continue to support our reunion (I save up all my pennies each year to attend)

I know with the Wynstay closing that a lot have comrades' have been put out of pocket and this has put a damper on things and a lot of the "mini reunions" have either had to cancel or move to another venue, also the Wynstay was I know for a lot of people a "focal point" for meeting, but there are lot of other "focal points" in Wrexham town that weekend to meet (1 comes to mind the Memorial Hall).

Just to also enhance what Des Williams DCM said "Its our Association and Reunion, so let us Support it!

Hope to meet lots of RWFCA/RWRA comrades and old friends there this year, let's make it a good one.

BennytheBall

As Benny said there must be lots of other places that would welcome your freindship and money,that you could make your new meeting point,the Wynasty sounds like is now history and how many great times you have had there,it is time to move on good luck and hope this reunion is the best,

Dai 55