Durham Light Infantry Friends: February 2017

The Durham Light Infantry Association

The 72nd Anniversary of the Guyzance Tragedy occurred on 17 Jan 2017. A short Ceremony was conducted at the memorial beside Guyzance Weir by the DLI Chaplain the Revd Kenneth Crawford accompanied by officers of the Association, Branch representatives, Standard Bearers and a Bugler. This commemorated the drowning, on exercise, of eight DLI and two trainees from the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment there on 17 Jan 1945. Local councillors and parishioners were also present at the commemoration.

WORKING TOGETHER GROUP
1. The Working Together Group of the Association, DLI Friends and Education Staff of the DLI Collection met together on Thursday 26 January and will meet again on 28 February at 1000 hrs at Seven Hills to begin to put together a programme of outreach work to enable the DLI Friends and Education Group to benefit from the skills and military knowledge of the members of the DLI Association.
2. 15 Members of the group have met already and it is hoped that others will join the group.
3. A programme has been drawn up to take this forward.

THE SUBMISSION OF BRANCH ACCOUNTS AND MEMBERSHIP RETURNS
1. The deadline date for submission to the Association Secretary is 17 February 2017.
2. The format was tabled with the meeting papers for the Ordinary Executive Meeting of 16 November 2016, and it was contained in the December bulletin, but can also be obtained from the Association Secretary
3. Both returns can be made on the same sheet.

PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THE 2018 CALENDAR
1. Thanks to those branches which are sending in photos of branch activities for the 2018 Calendar.
2. I am hoping that by around September this year I will have sufficient photos to start putting together the calendar. It may be that we will be able to have two pictures per month. It depends on what you send me. It is important that the pictures you send are as high a quality as possible. If you are taking them on a mobile phone, choose the highest setting possible or when they are enlarged they may become pixillated (individual pixels, small single-coloured square display elements that comprise the bitmap, are visible) to the extent it may be impossible to use them.

DEDICATION OF THE NEW STANDARD FOR THE BISHOP AUCKLAND BRANCH, THE COMMEMORATION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS PAVING STONE FOR ROLAND BOYS BRADFORD & THE UNVEILING OF THE BRADFORD STATUE IN THE NEWLY REFURBISHED MEMORIAL GARDEN AT WITTON PARK
1. This commemoration will take place on Sat 11 March 2017 in the village of Witton Park where all the Bradford brothers were born. The event will begin with a dedication of the new branch standard for Bishop Auckland in the Memorial Park. Following this dedication the Commemorative Paving Stone to Roland Boys Bradford and the new statue will be unveiled. All Association members and branch standards are welcome to the two ceremonies. Sadly there will be no ‘indoor accommodation or refreshments’ for those attending, other than those specifically invited, as the indoor accommodation at Witton Park is too small to accommodate it.
2. Please note that the village will be closed to traffic for the duration of the ceremony, which will mean that parking will be extremely difficult in the area, if not impossible in the village itself and movement for those with mobility problems extremely problematic.

SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES FOR THE DLI ASSOCIATION INDOOR GAMES – 19 MARCH 2017
1. This is to remind Secretaries of the need to submit Entries for the 2017 Association Indoor games by Friday 24 February 2017.
2. For those who require it, a copy of the Indoor Games Branch Entry Form and the Rules governing the Indoor Games can be found at Annex A to this Bulletin.

LIGHT INFANTRY EVENT – SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2017
1. A Light Infantry (North East) Social Event will take place in the Don War Memorial Bar, Silver St, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1SX, on Saturday 25th Feb from 1900 hours. All veterans of the Light Infantry and the County Regiments are welcome. As usual it will be not for profit, and all money raised on the night will be distributed equally between the Light Division and Rifles Bugle Association, the 2017 LI reunion (Shrewsbury) and The Rifles Charity (Care for Casualties). Hot and cold buffet is available. Dress casual. Tickets £5.00, pay at the door. Once again the raffle is a big part of the funds raised and we rely on your generosity for contributions. The venue is open till late.

GRAVENSTAFEL RIDGE COMMEMORATION & 8/11 BATTALIONS O.C.A. DINNER
1. This is the Warning Order for these events which take place on Saturday 22 April 2017.
2. The Gravenstafel Commemoration and Retreat sounded by the Durham Army Cadet Force Band & Bugles takes on the lawn beside the Memorial at the College of Hild-Bede at 1800 hrs.
3. The 8/11 Bns O.C.A. Annual Dinner at the Gilesgate RAC, commencing at 2000 hrs.
4. More details of and application for these events will be issued later by the O.C.A.

DEATHS REPORTED
1. The following been reported to the Rifles Office since the publication of last month’s bulletin.
3. Charles Mark Robinson, born 1935, died 25 November 2016. He served with 1 DLI
4. May He Rest in Peace
Elvet Waterside Durham,
DH1 3BW
06 February 2017

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