Cardiff Comrades Branch.

There are rumours abound, that the Cardiff branch of Comrades is closing down. Any truth in that?

Very sad if that's true Gwyn. Especially with that strong group centred around the Borough.

The Boro boys are chatting about rallying around Al. Sent Keith a message but no reply yet.

Keith messaged me back on his way to work. He confirmed the branch is closing due to lack of membership. Hopefully anyone in or around the area who's is not a member of a branch will consider helping and supporting Keith to keep this Branch alive. It is the slippery slope when even one branch disappears especially one in our capital city.

Comrades/Gentlemen ,

It would be a crying shame if this Branch RWFCA closes.

There are well over 200 members of the Boro Boys.

The cost is less than three pints a year.

get your heads together ..sort this out..

Hear,Hear
All ex RWF/RWelsh members in the Cardiff area please go and support this branch and let us keep the RWF brand going.

It would be a sad day if we lose our capital city branch.

Having been involved with the Welshpool Branch for over four years(now treasurer), and one of those who really failed to see the value of the branches in the past, As a convert, I'm very happy to provide advice privately to anyone in the Cardiff area thinking of picking up the mantle from Keith. Half the battle is already won, in that there is already a strong group of lads, socialising together every few weeks. It's not about medals, shiny shoes and parades, (although great if you want that, and I'm glad some do). There is also a welfare side, looking after the older boys, which might appeal to some of the guys. What i'm saying is, you get out of it, what you want, without any pressure to conform. Every branch is different, so is every comrade. Best thing I've done in years.

I do not believe that Keith is wanting to close the branch or giving up on his task but rather that the membership/attendance is too low. Four at his last branch meeting. The branch obviously needs new blood who will attend meetings and be a part of it rather than being a "paper member". Like everything else in life, we take things for granted and only when it is gone, do we really realise what we have lost. Cardiff and district lads rally to flag to keep the branch alive, The Royal Welch Fusiliers are not yet dead and gone.

The problem is that although the Boro Boys are a strong group a lot of them are also members of other Branches mine (Bargoed & Blackwood) included so if they join the Cardiff Branch they are effectively weakening another. Unfortunately since the amalgamation the numbers seeking to join the RWFCA are diminishing

Perhaps this is one to discuss at the Executive Meeting in December. One suggestion could be an amalgamation of Branches, renaming and rezoning them, thus a smaller number of Branches but potentially stronger in membership. You have to wonder why these guys like those in the Boro Boys (there are some that are not members of any Branch) won't join any Branches yet they meet up every couple of months for a few pints, another one to discuss at the Executive meeting perhaps???????

There are problems brewing in some of the North Wales branches, no all, too. This needs to be looked at and I agree with Paul a discussion at the Executive Committee Meeting in December would be the correct forum.

Great to discuss at the executive meeting especially any worthwhile proposals, as RWFCA evolves. But unfortunately that alone won't help Keith's branch numbers. Cardiff has a huge pot of potential members and in theory should be able to survive easily, he just needs support from the lads there. This site is part funded by the association, and this thread is exactly what we are about and should be discussing. This is the one place where you can speak directly to those who don't support a branch and to whom executive meetings or their decisions mean nothing.

Why not make the Borough.the place for the branch meeting place the same time the Borough boys meet .

The Boro lads have already planned a meeting for Sunday to discuss the subject. However, if there are members of this site who are in the area and not yet branch members, perhaps they would consider joining and help to keep the branch alive. Someone has already suggested a move of location and I believe will discuss it with Keith.

Thanks for all the messages on the forum like Gwyn said its not l want to close the Cardiff Branch RWFCA but when l only get 4 members turn up for a meeting and that's with me
There is only so much you can do and yes the BORO Boys has got all the members if l had a pound for all the time there was going to come to a meeting l would be a very rich man .
thanks to Al Poole for the help if and when Cardiff DO CLOSE like every were numbers are getting smaller members passing away if and when I DO CLOSE CARDIFF BRANCH I WILL YOU YOU KNOW we will have a vote on our AGM inFEB 2016 LIKE I SAID BEFORE JOIN YOUR BRANCH ITS ONLY ONE HOUR A MONTH LETS KEEP RWFCA GOING FOR YEARS THANKS
FOR THIS FEED BACK TO YOU ANYONE CAN RING ME 02920617448 AND I WILL SPEAK TO YOU

Thanks peter the reason we cant meet at the boro is there is no pass to take a car and some of my members can walk very far

Thanks al very true its alright talking the talk but lets walk the talk

Well said Keith. It seems there is lots of support for being a Royal Welch Fusilier and there is the turn out for reunions but no one seems to think of joining a branch.

We are very fortunate in Wrexham and have an average of 30 every meeting, most of those are 70+. Since I have been a member we have had 1 ex 1 RWF member join in 3 years and 8 who are ex 3 RWF. If any where we should be 1 RWF top heavy is in Wrexham but it seems not.

As Keith said, 1 hour once a month. Support your local branch or they will slowly be a thing of the past and no one wants that.

Best of luck for the future Keith and see you in December.

By any standard 30 is a great number Pete. We have about 10 per meet and that suits us, your size of numbers would not be achievable for us. We normally can get 10-15 guys at functions, so we tailor the functions to our group size, so lots of lunches in bistro's etc, steering away from the larger formal events. Small, intimate and great fun. The older guys enjoy the infomality of it, and they get their comrades gear on for the more serious meets such as Nov 11th, Burma Star etc, supported by the younger guys. Because a lot of our guys are retired, we often meet for a social, mid-week.

Good luck Keith, keep us posted on the progress. Hopefully some of the lads reading this thread might be tempted to step in and help.

When the London Branch had the problem of diminishing numbers, we changed our time and frequency of meeting. From monthly evening timing we switched to quarterly meetings in the afternoon this was more acceptable for members who did not like late evening travel. This improved attendance and membership. I agree with Gwyn it would be a shame to see a Branch with such a large catchment area close so come on you "Bluebirds" get behind Keith and support his efforts and the RWFCA

Regards TC

Absolutely Tony, simple stuff that makes such a difference.

Thanks Tony I did change date and location that's why its on a Friday night and it is in the Exserviceman club city centre 5mins away from the Boro pub but like a lot of Branchs are saying
its like it in most branchs many thanks to all who wrote on here IT WOULD BE A VERY SAD DAY FOR ME AND MY BRANCH IF WE HAD TO CLOSE

From Nick Sigalias. Cardiff:

We had a meeting in the borough after the parade yesterday with keith may. It took five minutes. It was decided that the lads would join and support the cardiff branch and subscribe to it . So that the numbers get back to healthy levels and the standard gets back on parade. It was a no brainer really. We have a branch meeting Friday. It was quickly decided that we may be the boro boys but we are first and formost Royal Welch Fusiliers. The were no arguments as I said took 5 mins. Everyone wanted to help keep the branch going.

Well done to the Boro boys. Hopefully others will now follow their lead and support their local branch.

THANKS FOR THAT NICK MEETING WENT WELL THE NEXT MEETING OF CARDIFF BRANCH RWFCA IS FRIDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2015 AT THE EXSERVICEMANS CLUB CHARLES STREET CARDIFF AROUND THE CORNER OF QUEEN STREET TRAIN STATION WE MEET AT 1930HRS FOR 2000HRS START PLEASE COME AND HAVE A DRINK OR TWO DRESS IS WHAT YOU LIKE NO DRESS OR MAKE UP YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE HAHAHA HAVE A NICE DAY KEITH MAY 02920617448 / 07881656869