Re-Unions

**BennytheBall** · 27-09-2006, 14:48

I hope members don't feel that I'm whining or anything, but I'm in dismay in that all these reunions are being set up throughout our members. i.e., Band, Drums, Old Boys Rugby, MT Pln and golf in Canada.

Surely, if us older members want to reunite with past friends, the annual Comrades Reunion in Wrexham is the place to be every year. I know that this can be a financial strain on a lot of members, but I think with all these "off shoots" it will in time destroy the esprit de corps of the RWF Comrades' Association.

Please, I don't want to upset anyone on this matter as it is just a personal view on the subject - each to his own!

**Paul Davies 701** · 27-09-2006, 16:08

Hi Benny

Just had to put my two pence in on this. First of all can I clear up the mis-conception that you and a few like-minded people have, its not "Old Boys Rugby" it is in fact the Red Dragon Old Boys Club, which, as was/is with the Red Dragon Club in the Battalion, emcompasses ALL sports and social activities NOT just rugby. Secondly, I've found that although the various off-shoots of the Comrades hold their own mini reunions ALL recognise the main reunion is the Comrades in Wrexham and most will make the effort to attend. In fact, I've come accross guys who, having attended the mini reunion and talked to the likes of myself about the Comrades weekend but have never bothered going before will then go out of their way to attend the very next Comrades weekend. These mini reunions are no threat to the Comrades weekend, every member recognises the importance of that weekend for keeping the spirit of the RWF alive, in fact I believe they endorse that spirit, its just that guys who have served closely together in the RWF such as the MT, Band, Drums etc wish to get together with those like-minded people on a more regular basis. The League of Friends reunion has been going for donkey years long before any of these other reunions were ever thought of and its had no effect on the numbers attending the Comrades weekend, why should these other ones be any different.

**Fortyfive** · 27-09-2006, 16:52

Re these one off re-unions. I was reading that your looking to have the MT one in Swansea ??? What about lads which live right up in Anglesey & fruther north aswell. I think it should be held more central for us all to attend

**Bob Bacon** · 27-09-2006, 17:15

:argue: Oh dear! I think you have put the cat among the pigeons here, Benny.

I agree with Paul. The allegiance of the majority of those affiliated to two or more clubs or organisations will always remain with the RWFCA. Paul’s case in point regarding members of the LOFs was exactly right. There are almost certainly more of our members attending the annual reunion in Wrexham than they do our own. Several of them attend both. I do not envisage that changing, ever.

Many of the Red Dragon Old Boys Club members started their tour by attending the Wrexham reunion. They could have just as easily given this a miss; however, because of their attachment to the RWFCA they chose not to.

The wished-for golf tour of Canada is primarily for any of our forum members. It isn’t about older members wishing to reunite with past colleagues. It’s just a ‘jolly boys’ outing and a chance to make new experiences, memories and friends.

The feeling of pride in belonging to the Royal Welch Fusiliers Comrades’ Association and the sense of identification with it won’t be destroyed or even diminished by these other get togethers/reunions.

taffylooneytoon · 27-09-2006, 20:42

Hi Benny, i agree with bob and Paul its an opportunity to reinforce links with mates, and does encourage more boys to turn up to annual reunions, the better ties we have with each other preserves comradeship , stronger links benefits everyone, cheers Val.Shades

**jungle1810** · 27-09-2006, 21:56

Hello All,
I think a lot of truth exists in Benny's post. It does make for a more homogeonus comrades association in a way. There has been a proliferation of reunions, by lots of off shoot sections. It is all well and good as far as it goes but many do it and I some times wonder do they give full support to the branch they joined.In my case I can categorically say no. I also think that the Red Dragon Club has lost it's way since it's inception by Griff 70.The other small reunions are ok but it seems the Red Dragon is a bit like Leoncavllo's "I Pagliacci" a play within a play. It does encourage people from all parts to join.
Some times this can have a deleterious effect on small branches.Re the query on travelling this problem exists with "A" Coy 2/RWF who go to North Wales for a get together.Some drive over 300 miles others take 15 minutes to reach the venue. As a result this function will either die out next year or be poorly attended, I suppose this situation exists with the League of Friends, but the age old argument is that they are unable to get a mid distance hotel to take them.I remember long ago I attended the L.O.F. and we used two hotels The Bear was one, and the other whose name I forget was down the road a bit.No animosity intended but I do feel we are getting slightly fragmented. I do feel that the branch is the be all and end all for the R.W.F.C.A.As it stands a lot of people are being conned into secondment with these clandestine organisations.Another serous drawback to these functions is that they largely confine it to members from South Wales or Mid Wales, So North Wales may be justified in their view about not being invited or even being unable to attend due to distance and B&B
Felicitations to all and sundry.
RBD

**ap1** · 28-09-2006, 00:00

Some very interesting points that you have raised Don, and well done to Benny for bringing this discussion to the fore.

Both of you are staunch long-serving branch members, and membership levels of your particular branches are vitally important to you, which possibly has a bearing on your views. However, there are many former members of the regiment who don't wish to belong to a branch, although they want to stay part of the regimental family and therefore become Individual Members like myself, attend the Reunion, but also attend other events, such as the LOF.

I would suggest that many of the guys who attend these offshoots, also attend the annual reunion, purely as a result of initially attending an offshoot function such as the Drums reunion. Perhaps after having no contact with their former mates for many years. In addition many are indeed good branch members(take a look at the Red Dragon Old Boys Cyprus pictures).

We all know everyone enjoys the annual reunion, but why should only those persons who are Branch members, have the opportunity to mix with each other at other times throughout the year?

Rather than decrying these groups such as The Red Dragon Old Boys(who incidently are supported by The Comrades Association), we should be celebrating the fact that after many years of naturally declining numbers within the Comrades Association, motivated individuals, unprompted are taking the Bull by the Horns, making full use of the internet and reinvigorating all the whole notion of The Comrades. Its up to the Regiment and the Comrades Association to play catch up.

Nothing stays the same, and I have a sneaky feeling that without these groups organising functions and sporting events throughout the year, overall numbers at the Reunion would be down. I think these groups have a vital role to play in bringing people into the fold.

Al

taffylooneytoon · 28-09-2006, 00:22

Well, said, Bob and al, Val.

**John Turner** · 28-09-2006, 01:08

The annual comrades reunion will always be THE annual ......

Any other so-called spin off will and cannot compete and that is not their aim - otherwise they would have their reunion at the same time.

Nothing wrong with getting specific and meeting with people that you have served with long term and can talk about things that would bore others ****less!

Benny - if they had a Mortars re-union within 40 miles of you - 6 months before the comrades meeting - would you attend? Shame on you if not!

I'm way down on the W Sussex coast - Wrexham is not that easy - the LOFs reunion in Llandrindod Wells is great for me - very central - no-one can moan about that. OK I'd prefer the Warwick services on the M40 but I can't have everything!

Thing is - if it's there in you to re-kindle and meet with like-minded people and/or those that you have lived and worked with for years and years but are now estranged from............. UK is a ****-ant sized place - anywhere is 'near' for Chrissakes!

I've driven from Stranraer to Canterbury just to ................... nah - mind your own business!!!

Hey if I can win the caption competition with JUST ONE WORD - maybe I could have replied here with just one too?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm let's see ...OK - got one.

BOLL****!

**Thom15** · 28-09-2006, 03:38

I love the RWF, I love this forum, I love the Red Dragon Club (I spent enough time in there), I love the Comrades Associations but it's a heck of a way to come for a re-union every year (Ontario, Canada). Perhaps we can meet in the Azores one year.
I thinks it's fantastic that so many "old" pals get together whenever and wherever they can. Long shall it last.
Cheers to you all
Dilwyn