Durham Light Infantry Friends: February 2011

Thursday 24 February 2011

The Durham Light Infantry Association

BRANCH BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2011

10.11 INDOOR GAMES

Branches have indicated that 161 Members will attend the Indoor games being held in the RBL Dubmire Club at Fencehouses on Sunday 6 March 2011. 114 will be taking lunch and lunch tickets will be supplied to branches at the Games. A raffle prize is required from each branch and to these will be added the two unclaimed Annual Reunion raffle prizes.

11.11 LIGHT INFANTRY REUNION & ALREWAS

Any member requiring transport to the LI Reunion and return via the Arboretum at Alrewas should contact the Treasurer of the Chester -le -Street Branch Dave Simpson,

Cost: £18.00. Tele No: 0191 3886343

12.11 FREE NIGHT – PELAW GRANGE DOGS

Pelaw Grange Greyhound Stadium has supplied tickets which are valid any Friday, Saturday or Sunday until 13 March 2011. FREE admission, Race Card and TWO Drinks. The tickets are being held at the Rifles Durham Office but can also be obtained direct from the Grange Club, Drum Road, Chester Le Street Co. Durham , Tele No 0191 410 2141. Tickets should be handed in at the main entrance before 8.30 pm on Friday and Saturday and 1.00 pm on Sunday.

13,11 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION – 90^TH ANNIVERSARY

A Thanksgiving Service celebrating the 90^th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion will be held in Durham Cathedral on Sunday 13th March 2011 commencing at 1400 hrs. After the Service there will be a parade around the Cathedral Precinct. Three branches of the Association have indicated their intention to carry their Standards, any other interested branches should notify the Rifles Durham Office by 8 March 2011.

14.11 BRANCH ELECTION & FINANCE STATEMENTS

Will branches who have not yet submitted their Branch Election Returns where their AGMs have taken place and their Annual Finance Returns as at 31 December 2010, please do so as soon as they are able to do so.

15.11 DLI MEMORIAL APPEAL – CRICKET MEMORABILIA

Rob Cairns a Director of the Cassop Victoria Inn at Front Street North Cassop, Co Durham has graciously donated the following items for sale or auction with the whole of the proceeds being donated to the Durham Light Infantry Memorial Appeal.

1) A framed traditional cricket sweater formerly the property of Mike Atherton the ex- England and Lancashire cricket captain. The sweater has the letters L.C.C.C. on the body and the name M. Atherton on the left breast. The neck of the sweater bears the county colours of Lancashire.

2. A cricket bat signed by the Australian & English cricket teams. The year is unknown but amongst the legible signatures are those of Michael Atherton (England) and Glen McGrath (Australia).

Anyone interested should make a bid in Writing to the Rifles Durham Office, Elvet Waterside, Durham DH1 3BW. Further information or for an appointment to view should be made by telephone on 0191 3865496 or email durham@the-rifles.co.uk

LINK

16.11 BOOK – MY SON THE ENEMY by DAVID HUGHES

Durham Round Table (Bede) have donated 42 copies of the above book to be sold in aid of the DLI Memorial Fund the book was originally promoted by The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street with all profits to go to “Help the Heroes” & the “Army Benevolent Fund”. It is a fictional account of the tribulations of the Jews in 1945 when they were attempting to build a homeland in Palestine. Col Alex Johnson MBE, TD. DL remarks on the back cover “I read the story three times and grew to like it more each time. A fine piece of writing, Price £6.50 reduced from £9.95. Copies are held in The Rifles Durham Office and can be collected from that location or ordered by telephone on 0191 3865496.

17.11 DEATHS

The following deaths have been reported to the Rifles Office since the last Bulletin:

JOE LUKE -9DLI/2DLI – Gateshead & Newcastle Branch

JOHN CRAWFORD ROGERS – 9DLI – Aged 98

MATT DILLON – 1 DLI

May they Rest in Peace

Kevin Storey BEM.

Secretary Rifles Office

Thursday 17 February 2011

DLI Dads’ Fun Day

Join 1,000 dads and kids on a fun day exploring military dads past and present.

Here a military band,dress up as a Roman soldier, try cooking in the field.

Many more activities on offer.

To attend book through Fathers Plus;

Tel 0845 1307225 or email; dlidads@fathersplus.org.uk

Second to None

A magnificent book to celebrate The Light Infantry.

‘Second to None’ A Portrait of The Light Infantry 1968–2007

General Editor: Colonel Mark Goldsack MBE

On 1 February 2007 The Light Infantry merged into The Rifles. Now that the new regiment has established itself and forged its identity on operations it is timely to celebrate the unique contribution made to the Army by The Light Infantry over the last 40 years. To that end, Second to None: A Portrait of The Light Infantry 1968–2007 will be a richly illustrated celebration of the Regiment, its traditions and exploits.

This will be a book that every Light Infantryman will want to own to remember his time in The Light Infantry. Riflemen, friends of the Regiment and those who served with us from other Arms and Services will want it in their collections. The book will be published and launched on 11 June 2011.

Specifications: Hardback, 305 x 254 mm, 192 pages, printed in colour throughout, up to 150 colour and 50 black and white illustrations, c. 80,000 words, publication June 2011, RRP £40.

To order your copy click HERE.