Saturday 29 November 2014

Guild Update 31st October 2014



AGM 2014

Mike Peters writes:

Preparation for what promises to be an excellent AGM weekend is now in its final stages and the full programme should be released in the next week. I am aware that many new members have no previous experience of AGM weekends and are therefore curious about the content of the weekend. Now that the validation programme has firmed up I am in a position to pull the overall plan together. We have some excellent speakers and presentations to look forward to. I will list them for you:

·         Our Patron Lord Faulkner will spend most of the weekend with us and he is keen to hear your views on military heritage generally and your opinions on the FWW Centenary so far. We will be holding an open forum to allow members to raise issues with the patron directly.

·         Our President, Prof Gary Sheffield will also be attending the weekend and he has agreed to talk about the balance between storytelling on the battlefield and the delivery of hard fact - should be interesting.

·         We are honoured to have Valmai and Tonie Holt along to reflect on the development of the battlefield tour industry in recent times, the progress of the Guild and where we will all be after the FWW Centenary - interesting stuff!

·         We also have the Director of the Belgian Tourist Office, Francoise Sheepers talking to us about Belgium's plans for Waterloo 200 and the next year of the FWW Centenary.

·         Guild Member Simon Bendry will be representing the UK Institute of Education - he will give us a progress report on the UK Govt FWW Centenary Schools Programme and the role of our badged Guides within it.

·         There is also a good mix of Assignment 1 and Fellowship Presentations from our own membership to look forward to.

·         Joel Stoppels and Willem Kleijn will be talking to us all about the use of social media to enhance your profile as a Battlefield Guide.

·         The FWW Guides will also have a chance to take a look at the new Linesman 2 tablet and all that it offers.

·         We will of course have our Annual Dinner and Awards night - have you voted for the Will Townend Award?

These are just some of the presentations that are already in the programme and we have more in the pipeline. Please make Tony Smith’s job easier and submit your application to attend - because, if your name’s not down, you can’t attend. It is going to be a great weekend, please come along and take the opportunity to enjoy yourselves socialising with your fellow Battlefield Guides.

AGM Accommodation Requirements - FINAL NOTICE

Secretary writes:

On Monday 3rd November I will be releasing all the non-allocated accommodation that we have on hold at the Holiday Inn. I need to do this to avoid the Guild being charged for rooms that are not taken up. Accordingly if you would like to come to the AGM weekend and have not yet returned your requirements to me please do so by midday on Sunday 2nd November or you will have to make your own arrangements if you want to come and will be charged the day delegate rate.

To date the following people have booked places at the event:

Vivienne Whelpton
Mike Scott
Tony Smith
Mike Peters
Chris Finn
David Harvey
John Greene
Paul Oldfield
Wybo Boersma
Willem Kleijn
Carlo Larosa
Chris Scott
Glen Hearnden
Bob Brunsdon
John Cotterill
Alan Wood
John Pratt
Terry Webb
Andy Johnson
Tim Stoneman
Tony Coutts Britton
Ray Wilkinson
Andy Thompson
James Porter
Alain Chissel
Mike Mizen
Christopher Newbould
Stuart Barltrop
Tim Pritchard Barrett
Alison Pritchard Barrett
Brian & Mrs Shaw
John Hamill
Major & Mrs Holt
Tom Dormer
Andrew Duff
John Chapman
Simon Bendry
Gordon Hill
Kirk Drew
John Coppen
Anthony Rich
Lord Faulkner
Laurie Evanson-Goddard
Kathleen Neagle
Alan Rooney
Joe Harmon
Richard Barnes
Garry Sheffield
Chris Preston
Glyn Oakley
Joel Stoppels
Dan Mills
John Greenacre
Clive Harris

If your name is not on this list and you would like to attend you must let me know by midday on Sunday 2nd November.  

Will Townend Award

Secretary writes:

All members will by now have received details of the Will Townend Award which honours the memory of the late Will Townend, in particular his willingness to share his extensive technical knowledge of Artillery and his wider knowledge of battlefields in general with his fellow Battlefield Guides.
It is also intended that those nominated for the award will be recognised as selfless members of the GBG who freely and unselfishly share their knowledge with their peers.

I have received a few nominations to date. Would all members consider who they would like to nominate for the award and send them to me as soon as possible please?

AGM Validations

Alison Hine writes:

The following candidates have asked to be validated at the AGM:

•             Assignment 1: Anthony Rich, Chris Nation, Dan Mills
•             Assignment 5: Viv Whelpton, Glen Hearnden, James Porter, Joel Stoppels
•             Assignment 6: Carlo Larosa, Viv Whelpton, James Porter, Joel Stoppels

If anyone has been omitted from this list, please would they let Alison Hine know as soon as possible.  Anyone else wishing to validate in November should contact Alison by 7  November.   New Validation email address: validation@hine49.org.uk

AGM Lift Wanted

Kathleen Neagle writes:

I am looking a lift from Birmingham airport on the Friday please and return lift on the sunday, will have flight times this week.

If you can help Kathleen please contact her at kayneagle@eircom.net

Book Launch

Chris John writes:

Members may be interested to note the launch of my new book - “100 Years on – The Great War on Cannock Chase”. Details can be seen at http://www.cannockmercury.co.uk/Book-highlight-Cannock-Chase-s-role-World-War/story-23791765-detail/story.html

Despatches Magazine – Winter Edition

Mike Peters writes:

The Winter Edition of Despatches has just been released to the printer. Members should see it arriving through their post boxes in advance of the AGM weekend 21-23 Nov 14. The magazine contains some very good articles and pictures, thanks go to members who have contributed to date. The Spring edition will go to print at the end of March 2015, copy date for submissions is 28 Feb 15. Articles and pictures should be sent to the Guild Secretary Tony Smith, details are inside the cover of your magazine

The D-Day Club Christmas dinner Friday 19th December 7.15pm for 8.00pm Victory Services Club, Marble Arch

James Dinsdale writes:

Tickets are now available for our annual Christmas Dinner.

Mike Peters has kindly agreed to be our Guest Speaker this year and he will talk about Gliders in Normandy.

The Guest of Honour has not yet confirmed but we are awaiting to hear if a current VC holder will join us, President Blair who lives across the square has declined.

At the request of previous attendees we are making the attire morning suite or smart casual.

Tickets are available from James Dinsdale on 07872 187846 or theddayclub@hotmail.co.uk.

£70 for three courses including wine, and coffee etc, raffle and silent auction. Normal  silly hats and crackers.

There will of course be Normandy veterans in attendance.

Help Wanted

Ryan Gearing writes:

1) Christmas Football required! If any member has access to a period football can they please get in touch as I have an author who has an interview at some point in December and wishes to hold a football when discussing "The Christmas Truce". I can put you in direct contact so you can meet up in London if required.

2) Victoria Cross researchers. I have a potential project requiring some research assistants to work with an author on the Victoria Cross. Please get in touch if you have experience of researching individual recipients of awards and citations.

3) Medical Services Exhibition. Do you have or know anyone who has any of the following which could be loaned for a period Mar-Nov 2015 for a temporary exhibition at the Redoubt Museum in Eastbourne?

•             a Blue Boys Uniform
•             Almeric Paget Military Massage Corps uniform
•             Blue boy doll (sold to raise money for camp funds)
•             Anything specifically about Summerdown Camp (or other convalescent camps)
•             RAMC uniform (any variations i.e. Orderly or Officer?)
•             Any other objects about the Almeric Paget Military Massage Corps

If you can help Ryan with any of these requests please get in touch with him  at ryan@tommiesguides.co.uk

The Battle of Gheluvelt

Bruce Littley writes:

Members may be interested to note this excellent website about the Battle of Gheluvelt - http://battleofgheluvelt.co.uk/

BBC News

·         Everton FC honours former player Wilf Toman, killed in WW1 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-29759777
·         Bradford museum displays field of fabric poppies to mark WW1 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-29762212
·         World War One medal stolen from Leicester Cathedral - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-29770821
·         Kempley unveils memorial to WW1 and WW2 lost sons - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-29772009
·         Postcombe homes evacuated after WWII shell discovered - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-29777785
·         WW1: Memorial march for lost Royal Welsh Fusiliers in Belgium - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-29777599
·         Viewpoint: Why are so few WW1 heroines remembered? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29706831
·         Rockport School's Blue Plaque for WW1 poet and ex-teacher Weaving - http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/29741901