Reunion issues

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Ian

I will continue to "spout off " as much as I wish until someone gives me the answers I want to hear which is basically the truth. If you think you are a better Royal Welch Fusilier than the rest of us just because you attend a "dinner" I have to wonder how you hold your position in your branch. Once again, you have used words that are at best ill-advised and at worst insulting to members of this forum and indeed Ex- Royal Welch Fusiliers everywhere who do not conform to your agenda. If your attitude is what the RWFCA is all about it is doomed anyway, but as I have said already, Royal Welchmen will continue to meet wherever and whenever they wish with or without your consent, and if they want to go on the raz and let their hair down instead of sitting down to a meal and a "mess meeting" so be it. It has always been that way for as long as I remember but the loss of the use of the Barracks has had a profound affect as I believe "people" knew it would. By all means fight the good fight for the RWFCA but insults will do little to help the cause.

[Dai 55]

Gwyn well said,
As i said in a previous thread i dont attend any reunions,dinners,agm,etc but have a great time meeting up with past and present members every year,this year i was presented with my 2 Royal Welsh honary membership of the Prince of Wales bar by the commanding officer,and i have great pleasure visiting the lads and having a few beers,i go home and away to all the rugby matches and have a great time i am sure if the reunion dies out the lads will still meet up and have a good time,if it is time for change then change it simple as that,

dai 55

[Paul Davies 701]

Wow this debate is really heating up. I've attended the Annual Reunion Dinner on a number of occasions but there has been times when I haven't, however, I've always tried to get to the barracks at some stage over the weekend and found it to be a good focal point for everyone to meet up with old friends. Now that the barracks has gone and the other focal meeting point, The Wynstay, has closed, there is a danger of the Reunion being splintered as certain groups of friends will meet at their preferred drinking establishment around the town but ultimately, where as these groups of friends drifted up to the barracks at the end of the night to meet up with other friends, they will now drift off to their various hotels etc. We have a good opportunity to make the Memorial Hall the new focal point for ALL friends to meet. You don't need to go to the Dinner or the AGM but at some stage of the weekend if we could all meet at the Hall I'm sure we can in some way recreate the atmosphere that was generated at the barracks. I know Des is keen to see this happen and is working damm hard to see it come to fruition, I know he'd welcome any suggestions in order to get you guys into the Hall. Lets be honest, its closer to all the pubs than the barracks was so it wouldn't take much to pop in there and meet old friends.

[BennytheBall]

Gwyn and All,

My intention was not to upset any ex RWF member wether they a member of a branch or not, I was just pointing as have been said before If we don't support the Reunions by getting involved with its agenda, as Hingey said the " Branch will wither and Die"

I apologise to all if I put this post across with the wrong intention and I hope not to offend anyone again on this Reunion Debate issue.

Gwyn,

My attitude is quite the reverse towards the RWFCA, I believe I am, for one a great supporter of my branch and the RWFCA.

and I will gladly retract any misleading comments that i made that has offended you or any RWFCA member, ex RWF member and the Association in not to belittle the Association in any way.


Once again my apologies to All

Best Regards
BennytheBall

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Ian

I would not question your loyalty or attitude toward the RWFCA (I think you misread my post), nor would I question your pride of being a staunch and loyal Royal Welch Fusilier. I question only your attitude to those who speak freely outside the Branch environment, and your expectation of what members should and should not do at a reunion. As a matter of interest (and I am not being flippant) should every comrade turn up at the reunion from all branches and individual members, could they all attend the meeting and the sit down meal, in terms of space available. I think I already know the answer but please humour me. The point I am making is this, if there is a shortfall of numbers down to attend the dinner, would it not be a better idea to be honest and say there that there is a shortfall in numbers (give the numbers) and ask for those who are attending the reunion weekend to reconsider attending. That is far better than the way it was previously put which serves only to put peoples backs up. (accepted that you have now put that right, thank you)

A point that has only been lightly touched upon is the fact that the Wynnstay closed and quite a few people lost their deposits and whilst some maybe able to take a hit like that, there may be some who cannot. It is unfortunate, but this year things have just not worked out well for the reunion, it is a hurdle that the comrades has to get over, that it would seem, is the test for the future of the RWFCA.

[BennytheBall]

Gwyn

I always looked upon you as a very wise gentleman and many thanks for your rewording of the post and your acceptance of my apologies and the answer to your question for the reunion dinner seating the Memorial Hall has always been chosen for the numbers that can sit down to dinner, I remember past dinners that they've had 250 sitting down. I know this year that there is way below that number (please don't qoute me but think there is only a 120 this year, Des Williams will know the exact figure)

Gwyn and all ex RWF members are all Comrades' in my eyes.

With the Wynnstay closing I realise that has put "hand Grenade in the ammo bunker" for a lot of the comrades' this year and my sympathy to those who had booked and lost their deposits etc.

Gwyn once again for your wise words and I hope that we will remain comrades' in years to come.

Hope you and Pam are both well?

Best Regards

Ian (BennytheBall)

[Gerrycc943]

I have enjoyed and monitored the quite interesting and positive posts on this thread and offer my own opiniated thoughts as follows:

1st Bn Festival Day at Chester 3rd Sep.

There has been little or no mention of this clashing event despite all Branch Secretaries receiving notification from RHQ. Indeed, the 1st Bn event taking place on Sat 3rd Sep, the same day as the Comrades competitive acivity such as Standard Bearers and Shooting, may well have contributed to the cancellation of the competitions as a result of "No Interest" maybe the no interest is the the result of some comrades having placed emphasis on the Dale! activity! During my early service days, my memory of the Comrades weekends was the 1st Bn co-hosting even accommodating Comrades and NOT the organising of a conflicting event over that Annual Pilgrimage Weekend. This doesn't bode well at all in terms of the Regular Battalion support towards the future of the RWFCA. Why couln't the 1st Bn event have taken place at Hightown Barracks to coincide with the Comrades Reunion weekend - Wrexham is after all the home of the RWFCA and the 1st Bn?

Attendance - Bums on Seats

Benny refers to the low attendance at the Dinner and the declining numbers over the past few years. In those same past few years, there has been an awareness of members who travel up to attend Splinter Reunions on the Fri evening, accompanied by their wives or partners for the duration of the weekend. Perhaps the enhancement of the Fri Splinter Reunions has been to the detrement of the Dinner, which is an unaccompanied event!

Support for the Comrades Association

The RWFCA is going through a turbulent time at present and rely on the maximum support from all 3 Bn's, as do the RWCA. Organising events that coincide or overshadow Comrade events doesn't help or even enhance our future and I refer to my early service days comments above for reference.

Conclusion.

My own attendance this year is doubtful but if I can, I shall certainly attend. I telephone an old friend of mine (RWF) regarding availability of last minute accommodation, and attendance at the Dinner, only to be told that the Dinner is for the "Old F**ts, and he will be in the Nags Head on the Sat night. This bloke isn't a forum member or even a Branch member, thus probably totally unaware of recent or current acivity and discussion with regard to the future Reunion issues. If I make it to the reunion I'll work on him. What bothers me, however, how many other ex RWF personnel out there, with no affiliation or access to the forum etc share the same view.

Speak to you soon,

[TRAV 24]

A very interesting thread indeed, i have been going to the reunion for the last 9(nine) years now i have been out of the Army 20 and every year i have payed for a Reunion Dinner with the best intentions of going and every year i have met up with different mates/comrades from all over some i havent seen for nearly 30 years, got talking catching up on things and basicly getting caught up in the atmosphere of having a good time a few beers here and there as you do i know the atmosphere is bad the way the RWFCA is being treated/sidelined see the Reunion weekend forcast of events programe to start with,this year i will be making a point of going to the AGM and the dinner just to find out more about the situation

[davidhuntley]

Hi all,
I have been following this thread closely, and i am finding it hard to put into words what i am thinking.I would like to start by thanking the London branch of the RWFCA for the commitment they have shown to myself as a branch member, i have not attended a meeting as yet due to my work commitments, but i am always kept up to date with E-Mail and normal post,thank you Gerry for that.
I attended the reunion in 97,and the next time i attended was 2010 and it was then that i realised what i had been missing, my family. I feel priveliged to have been a Royal Welch Fusilier and to have served with, in my eyes some great men.When i feel down i just think of the time spent with this great Battalion and the lads i had the chance to serve with and it brings a smile to my face,I will be at the reunion and the next and the next,wether it be 2 or 200 Royal Welchmen getting together it will be a reunion,to all those with a bit of clout and in the position of giving our point of view across better than people like myself, please dont let this proud bunch down and fight for what we all know is right.
I was always told, if your in a tight spot just shout "Royal Welch" and they will be there. I think its time to make that shout.
good luck and good health all.
NED

[Vic Hughes 53]

I have enjoyed and monitored the quite interesting and positive posts on this thread and offer my own opiniated thoughts as follows: 1st Bn Festival Day at Chester 3rd Sep. There has been little or no mention of this clashing event despite all Branch Secretaries receiving notification from RHQ. Indeed, the 1st Bn event taking place on Sat 3rd Sep, the same day as the Comrades competitive acivity such as Standard Bearers and Shooting, may well have contributed to the cancellation of the competitions as a result of "No Interest" maybe the no interest is the the result of some comrades having placed emphasis on the Dale! activity! During my early service days, my memory of the Comrades weekends was the 1st Bn co-hosting even accommodating Comrades and NOT the organising of a conflicting event over that Annual Pilgrimage Weekend. This doesn't bode well at all in terms of the Regular Battalion support towards the future of the RWFCA. Why couln't the 1st Bn event have taken place at Hightown Barracks to coincide with the Comrades Reunion weekend - Wrexham is after all the home of the RWFCA and the 1st Bn?

Good Evening All,

I have followed this thread with interest and have been impartial, however, I feel I must respond to the very unjust and ignorant comment above.

The Ist Bn are struggling to fit in any extra ciricular activity outside their Mission Specific Training (MST) (pre Afghan deployement trg) which ramps up in Sept. As you are all aware they re-deploy to Afghan next April. Note that since the beginning of Jan this year the 1st Bn has deployed to Brecon for a month on Field Firing, deployed to Kenya for two months of high tempo austere training, deployed to Otterburn for two months in support of training for other units currently conducting thier own MST. Concurrent to this has been platoon / coy training which in most parts has to be conducted away from Chester as there is minimal trg area real estate around there. Bear in mind that as of Sept, their training steps up another gear as they enter their 4 months of MST then you will perhaps begin to grasp the 1st Bn planning and subsequent timelines.

I would suggest comparsions to yesteryear are uncalled for and that if this attitude or expectancy is wide spread amongst old RWF members, then there is quite frankly small hope of you generating support amongst the young fusiliers who to be quite honest have other pressing matters to hand.

On a final point, it should be noted over the last couple of years that most of us who are Sgts Mess members have been in attendance at comrades weekends to show support to the RWFCA and our routes.

Regards

Vic

Still serving and still as proud as you all