1. St Georges Day 2010 Those members and guests who attended the St Georges Day branch social evening enjoyed a great night of fine food, along with excellent entertainment, and good company. Thank you to those members who supported the branch with their attendance.
The committee worked hard and decked out the Conservative Club in the red and white of St George and regimental colours. The ladies received a button hole of beautiful red and white roses, the gentlemen wore the traditional regimental roses as they have done every year since 1968.
The decision to include an entertainer this year was proved right, the female singer and saxophonist really added to the success of the night by getting everyone to join in with a sing song and even encouraged all to get up and dance. This was by far the best social evening we have enjoyed since moving to the Conservative Club. More photographs of the evening can be viewed on the photographs page on this site.
2. Award of Elizabeth Cross Thirteen RRF Association SE Kent Branch members travelled to Regimental Headquarters, HM Tower of London on Friday 16th April for the annual Albuhera Lunch.
This year was particularly special and poignant as families of Fusiliers Killed in Action received the award of the Elizabeth Cross and Elizabeth Cross Memorial Scrolls.
Sir David Brewer CMG JP HM Lord Lieutenant for Greater London, assisted by Brigadier T.J. Minter OBE DL Colonel of the Regiment and Colonel M.J. Dudding OBE TD DL presented the Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scrolls to the families of those Fusiliers Killed in Action since St Georges Day 1968.
Major Jeremy Snow 2RRF Killed in Action Northern Ireland 8th December 1971 aged 35
Sergeant Simon Francis 3RRF Killed in Action Northern Ireland 21st November 1975 aged 29
Fusilier Peter McDonald 3RRF Killed in Action Northern Ireland 22nd November 1975 aged 19
Fusilier Stephen Satchell 3RRF Killed by Friendly Fire 1st Gulf War Iraq 25th February 1991 aged 18
Fusilier Kelan Turrington M.I.D. 1RRF Killed in Action Iraq 6th April 2003 aged 18
Fusilier Stephen Manning 2RRF Killed in Action Iraq 5th September 2005 aged 18
Fusilier Donald Meade 2RRF Killed in Action Iraq 5th September 2005 aged 20
Sergeant John (Jonah) Jones 1RRF Killed in Action Iraq 20th November aged 31
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
3. Armed Forces Day Parade and Hythe Festival Parade Nine branch members represented the SE Kent Branch on two separate parades in Hythe. The Big Parade part of the Hythe Festival was held on Saturday 3rd August. Various organisations took part in the march around the town which included regimental associations, re-enactment societies, (Grenadier Guards) Local Navy and Army cadets and an assortment of military vehicles. Kohima Band of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment led the way. The RRF SE Kent Branch was the largest Regimental Association on parade and obviously the smartest as it was our photograph that was chosen to be included in print by the Folkestone and Hythe Herald.
It was one of the hottest days of the summer, so it was fitting that a few very cold beers were consumed back at the Hythe Conservative Club.
The following Sunday the contingent was back on parade in Hythe and also joined by 92 year old John (excused boots) Gidley for Armed Forces Veterans Day Parade. The parade and service was led by a 42 strong St Cecilia Brass band from Poperinge Belgium. We later had drinks over lunch with the band members at the Conservative Club. Later that afternoon the Band thrilled the people of Hythe by performing a concert at the Band Stand alongside the Royal Military Canal. It was a fantastic week with the Regimental Standard and the Red and White Hackle prominent in the public eye. A big thank you to the branch members that took part in both of the parades on what were very hot days.
4. Branch Summer Social Evening The Branch Summer Social Evening took place at on Saturday 17th July 2010 at the Hythe Conservative Club. Although a good time was had by the 15 branch members and guests that attended it was a disappointing turnout. Obviously several members were unable to attend through ill health; others gave their apologies as they were away on their summer holidays. This summer social evening will be reviewed at the next Annual General Meeting to consider whether a social evening in the summer months is actually required.
5. Step – Short: Remembering the Soldiers of the Great War Millions of men marched down Folkestone’s Road of Remembrance between 1914 and 1918 making their way to the Harbour.
These men were soldiers heading for the ferries that would take them to Boulogne, the trenches of France and Belgium and an uncertain future.
As they prepared to march down the hill they would hear the order “Step Short”, a command to shorten their stride to make tackling the steep gradient safer. Records show that 10 million crossings were made from Folkestone to Boulogne during the war, although there were two million fewer return journeys. Not all the passengers were soldiers but the vast majority were fighting men, many of them seeing Folkestone for the first-and perhaps the last time.
Step Short is now the working title of a project that aims to pay tribute to those soldiers by renovating the Road of Remembrance and tackling a number of other initiatives in advance of the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War in 2014.
On Sunday 1st August nine stalwart SE Kent Branch Members took part in the Step Short Commemorative March. The parade started on the Leas and progressed down the Road of Remembrance to Folkestone Harbour.
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6. Branch Chairman John Sheldon It was good to see John and his good lady Manya at the Summer Social looking fit and well on their return from their holiday.
John brought along a photograph of himself taken after The First Battalion Royal Fusiliers Presentation of Colours Parade 1956. The photograph shows John as a very young 2nd Lt along with his Mother, Aunty and his Cousin. I have scanned the Presentation of Colours Programme and uploaded the very interesting pages of information to the photographs page on this website. .
Very smart John! A very fine looking `Rupert’.
7. Maureen Gribbon We are all aware that sadly and with great sorrow Mrs Maureen Gribbon Wife of Bob Gribbon sadly passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday 26th May 2010 at the William Harvey Hospital.
Maureen’s Funeral took place at 12.30 on Monday 14th June 2010 at the Hawkinge Crematorium. A large gathering of family, friends including, branch members, paid their respects to Maureen. A lovely lady, and loving wife to Bob, she was also a devoted mother to their children and well loved and respected by her extended family. Understandably all of the family were distressed at Maureen’s sudden passing and thankfully, Bob at his time of need, had them with him providing the love and support he so desperately needed.
Maureen was a fantastic Fusilier’s wife; indeed a true Fusilier herself, she steadfastly supported Bob throughout his army career, and in more recent years was always there alongside him to support him in everything that they did together. Maureen was also the life and soul of all the branch events and consequently our social evenings.
At time of Maureen’s demise numerous past Regimental friends, acquaintances and, Branch members contacted Bob by phone, letter and card and assured him that he, Maureen, and family were in their thoughts and prayers. All without exception also offered on behalf of themselves and their families, their deepest sympathy, condolences and, support with regard to the sad departure of Maureen the beloved wife of Bob Gribbon.
8. Moira Le Her It is with great regret, sorrow and, indeed shock that we have to inform you all of the passing of Mrs Moira Le Her, wife of Ray Le Her who aged fifty five years, after a very long period of illness, left us this morning Thursday 19 August 2010. Ray was at Moira’s bedside when her demise occurred and both he and their children are understandably grief stricken. Moira’s vocation was that of a truly dedicated nurse which makes her loss all the more less perceptible. A caring, kind, dedicated and, intelligent person, whose life revolved around her family, and her profession. Moira will be truly missed by all of us, and more so by Ray, his family and friends at this very sad time. Our thoughts and prayers at this time are of course with Moira, Ray and, their immediate family who are overwhelmed by the departure of both their mother and wife at such an early age.
9. Branch Annual Dinner The Branch Dinner took place at the Hythe Conservative Club on Saturday 16th October 2010. Fifty branch members along with their wives/partners and guests sat down to dinner for a most enjoyable evening. The guests of honour this year was Colin Bowes-Crick and his wife Doreen. The Branch Secretary Mick Wischussen thanked Colin on behalf of all branch members for the way he has strongly supported and financed the workings of the Branch. Mick went on to say that the support was reflected through the décor of the Conservative Club Function Room by way of the various prints and photos currently on display. In association Colin had also purchased and had made up our own Branch Standard that was proudly displayed in front of the top table.
John Buckley was also a top table guest. John had travelled from Plymouth. Devon He had served with the Royal Fusiliers and later the 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers retiring with the rank of Captain It was good to see John who most branch members had served with.
Mick gave apologies from members who were unable to attend the dinner and in particular the Branch President Bertie Botwright who whilst still taking an active interest in the workings of the branch by virtue of age & illness was unable to attend the function but still wished to be remembered to all present.
Tom Coward who whilst in poor health is supported by his whole family and who still maintains a very dry sense of humour also sends his regards.
John Gidley our oldest member of 92 was also unable to attend as he was not feeling too good that day.
Peter Bateman who on returning from a holiday in Canada to find that his best friend Bill Simonett whom he had always regarded as a brother had passed away and was devastated that he had not been there with Bill at the time. Peter asked to be remembered to all present and confirmed that will meet up with us on Remembrance Sunday at Holborn.
Mick thanked the committee members and their ladies for their hard work and enthusiasm in the organisation of the dinner and other such functions throughout the year as without their support and enthusiasm the branch would not function or flourish in the manner that it does.
10. Rememberance Sunday A full coach load of branch members travelled to Holborn for this year’s Remembrance Sunday Parade at the Regimental War Memorial.
The new RRF SE Kent Association Standard was on parade proudly carried by Bob Gribbon. The parade then marched to St. Sepulchre’s Church. The Deputy Colonel (City of London) took the salute en route. At the Church service the Branch Standard was formally blessed. Following the service the coach departed for the reunion at Fusilier House, Balham where old friends met up once again. It was significant that numbers were dwindling through age, ill health, and sadly the passing away of old comrades and friends. The above photographs have been supplied by kind permission of Robert Crowley (Terry Crowley’s Son) and the video of the parade by stalwart branch member Ray Le-Her. All the other photographs taken by these two gentlemen can be viewed via the 'Photo's' section on this site.
11. Terry Crowley - Obituary Terry Crowley, long serving secretary to the1st Battalion branch, died at the age of 75 after along illness on 7th January 2011.
Terry was born in Westminster in 1935, the youngest of 5 children. He was evacuated along with his brother Pat to Somerset at the start of the Second World War, returning after 18 months. He spent the rest of the war growing up in Catford, SE London.
In 1953 Terry was called up for National Service and followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the Royal Fusiliers. Terry’s grandfather was born in Cork, Ireland and Terry’s father served in the First World War, initially with the Royal Fusiliers then with the Royal Munster Fusiliers.
Terry spent most of his National Service in Sudan and Egypt, mainly in the medical centre as a RAP driver. He was also part of a very successful Regimental boxing team, weighing in at Lightwelter.
After being demobbed in 1955, Terry returned to the printing trade in Camberwell, South London, where before National Service he had met his future wife Betty. They married in 1958.
During the seventies Terry took an interest in model making and in particular military models, some of which he successfully entered in competitions. He joined the Royal Fusiliers Association in the late seventies and was asked to become secretary in 1982, a post he held for nearly thirty years. When Terry took over the role membership was less than 100, but within a few years this number had increased to well above 450.
Soon after becoming secretary, Terry decided a newsletter should be produced in order to keep the growing number of members informed of events and other news concerning the Association. ‘The White Hackle’ began as an A5, 8 page photocopied newsletter, published twice a year. Such was its success funds were made available – with plenty of encouragement from Terry – for it to be professionally printed in full colour as A4 and 12 pages. Terry was editor and main contributor. Spanning 27 years, his last ‘White Hackle’ was published in November 2010.
Terry became the Standard Bearer for the Association, a duty which he took on with a huge amount of pride. He was a familiar site at the Menin Gate in Ypres, a place he loved and very much respected.
In 1997 he was awarded the ‘Regimental Certificate and Medal of Merit’ from Col. Patrick Shervington, for services to the Regiment.
When Terry and Betty moved to Hawkinge, near Folkestone in 2004, he joined the South East branch where they both made new friends and enjoyed a social life that was local to them.
Terry was a much loved and now a much missed husband, father and grandfather. More than 150 people, including five buglers and two Major Generals, attended his funeral.
Those members and guests who attended the St Georges Day branch social evening enjoyed a great night of fine food, along with excellent entertainment, and good company. Thank you to those members who supported the branch with their attendance.
The committee worked hard and decked out the Conservative Club in the red and white of St George and regimental colours. The ladies received a button hole of beautiful red and white roses, the gentlemen wore the traditional regimental roses as they have done every year since 1968.
Nine branch members represented the SE Kent Branch on two separate parades in Hythe. The Big Parade part of the Hythe Festival was held on Saturday 3rd August. Various organisations took part in the march around the town which included regimental associations, re-enactment societies, (Grenadier Guards) Local Navy and Army cadets and an assortment of military vehicles. Kohima Band of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment led the way. The RRF SE Kent Branch was the largest Regimental Association on parade and obviously the smartest as it was our photograph that was chosen to be included in print by the Folkestone and Hythe Herald. 
It was good to see John and his good lady Manya at the Summer Social looking fit and well on their return from their holiday.
The Branch Dinner took place at the Hythe Conservative Club on Saturday 16th October 2010. Fifty branch members along with their wives/partners and guests sat down to dinner for a most enjoyable evening. The guests of honour this year was Colin Bowes-Crick and his wife Doreen. The Branch Secretary Mick Wischussen thanked Colin on behalf of all branch members for the way he has strongly supported and financed the workings of the Branch. Mick went on to say that the support was reflected through the décor of the Conservative Club Function Room by way of the various prints and photos currently on display. In association Colin had also purchased and had made up our own Branch Standard that was proudly displayed in front of the top table.
John Buckley was also a top table guest. John had travelled from Plymouth. Devon He had served with the Royal Fusiliers and later the 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers retiring with the rank of Captain It was good to see John who most branch members had served with. 
Peter Bateman who on returning from a holiday in Canada to find that his best friend Bill Simonett whom he had always regarded as a brother had passed away and was devastated that he had not been there with Bill at the time. Peter asked to be remembered to all present and confirmed that will meet up with us on Remembrance Sunday at Holborn.
Terry was born in Westminster in 1935, the youngest of 5 children. He was evacuated along with his brother Pat to Somerset at the start of the Second World War, returning after 18 months. He spent the rest of the war growing up in Catford, SE London.