News From the Glosters

The funeral of Tony Taylor

Service Notice. We have now received details and service requests for the funeral of Tony Taylor of The Gloucestershire Regiment, who passed away on Wednesday 20thDecember 2024. His daughter Dawn has requested full Association support for the funeral which will take place at Weston Super Mare Crematorium, Ebdon Road, Worle, Weston Super Mare, Somerset, BS22 9NY on Tuesday the 16th of January 2024 at 1330hrs.

The county chairman will be supplying the regimental Drape, Wreath, Hat and belt and Dawn has also requested a Bugler, Standard bearers and pallbearers if possible. Could any standard bearer who is available to attend please contact me directly. We have already had two volunteers as pallbearers, four more are required, if possible, again names to me please in advance.

All Tony's pals and association members are welcome to attend the funeral and afterwards, at 1445hrs, there will be a wake at the 49 Social Club, 24 - 28 Baker Street, Weston super Mare, Somerset, BS23 3AE.

Anyone wishing to attend the wake should contact me to book catering numbers for Dawn. Tony requested that any donations at his funeral should be made to the Regimental Association to enable its continued funeral support for members and families.

There will also be a collection on the day, but for those who cannot attend or for easier payment, bank details are RGBW Association Somerset, Sort Code: 30 99 51 Acct No 00545601 and include “TT” in the description box. Thank you

Imjin Lunch 2024

Imjin Lunch 2024
Good afternoon all
Well, what can one say? What a cracking Imjin lunch at the Taunton Rugby Club. I am sure you will agree with me that the food and staff were excellent. A big thank you to Martin, Len, and the team that put this event together. A thank you to Richard James for the awaited update for the Glosters Memorial at the Arboretum. But most of all a great big thank you to all of you who came to this fantastic lunch, and hope to see you all next year for another great Imjin lunch.
Here are some photos from the lunch.
imjin1
imjin1
imjin2
imjin2
imjin3
imjin3
imjin4
imjin4
imjin5
imjin5
imjin6
imjin6
imjin7
imjin7
imjin8
imjin8
imjin9
imjin9
imjin10
imjin10
imjin11
imjin11
imjin12
imjin12
imjin13
imjin13

Parking at the late Roy Watkins funeral on Wednesday 13 March 2024

Val Watkins daughter Alison has put a message on Facebook about parking.

Ali has spoken to the Berkeley Estate Manager and we can use the Berkeley Castle Car Park and gain entrance to St Mary's Church at 1300hrs.

You drive through the main gates into Berkeley Castle Car Park, go up to the right and drive into the top car park which is tarmac with painted parking spaces.  There is a field with a wooden gate for cars and then the pedestrian gate through which you can gain entrance. If you arrive before 1300hrs you will have to wait in your cars.

There is a cafe there but it is closed at present as Berkeley Castle itself is not yet open to the public. 

Hopefully this is all clear. Please pass on to any others you know are attending.  There is a car park in Berkeley but it is very small.

Len is making a contribution from his Funeral Fund for the special parking permission.  Individual Contributions will be welcome.

The Glosters Regimental Association New Years Lunch

The Glosters Regimental Association New Years Lunch

Here are some photo's from the Glosters Regimental Association New Years Lunch at the Orchard Inn, West Huntspill. Klaus Galeitzke, Ray Margaret, Nick and Dawn were present.

 

Private Anthony Reginald Aspinwall

Private Anthony Reginald Aspinwall
Private Anthony Reginald Aspinwall
Aged 22
Gloucestershire Regiment
Murdered by terrorists 17th December 1971
Private Aspinwall was mortally wounded by an IRA Sniper in a street off the Falls Road on the night of 16th December 1971. He was shot in the stomach, but he still managed to fire six shots at the snipers position. When the ambulance arrived to pick him up they also came under fire. He was taken to the RVH where he died of his wounds the 17th December 1971 at 3am. His wife, father, sister and brother was at his bedside. That was the time when the CO gave orders that the cap badge to be darkened. After that every regiment in Northern Ireland that had bright badges were blackened. He was native of Somerset.

Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan

Dear All,

Please see attached details re an Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan. Whilst this is unlikely to directly affect our veterans, I forward it to you for your (and their) information. As it is likely that the subject will soon feature in the news, it is important to give our veterans the facts. 

Please pass it on to those that you think will benefit from the information contained within.

Afghanistan_Inderpendant_Inquiry
Popular 365.71 KB 54 		15/12/2023 15:43:29

Staff Letter
Popular 210.62 KB 54 		15/12/2023 15:41:46

 

Post Service Report – Brian (Bri) Wright

Friday saw the funeral of Brian Wright take place at Torbay Crematorium, Devon, and later a celebration of his life at The Crown and Sceptre, St Marychurch, Torquay. The Regiment was extremely well represented, It was a huge challenge to get over 150 people into an 80-seater facility but using every square inch of standing room we accomplished it! I would like to thank Len Keeling for organising the minibus down from Gloucester, the four Standard Bearers: Scott McBryde, Roger Smith, Steven Tierney and the local British Legion representative. Also grateful to the six volunteer pallbearers on the day, Eddie Kenneford, Ben Casey, John Davies, Tony Jones, Allan Winchester and Dave Stone.
Chas Deacon the Celebrant held it all together nicely and the two Senior Rank musicians from The Rifles gave a great rendition of the Last Post, leaving hardly a dry eye in the building. The live service video link has been taken down for editing but will be published again shortly using the details issued previously. Feedback from the family during the day was outstanding and made all the hard work very worthwhile. I would like to thank Bob, Sadie and Clair for hosting the day's events including the most welcoming celebrations I have ever attended in a Pub. Last, but not least, a huge thank you to all the members of the Regiment who turned up and made the day such a great success, it was a great tribute to the “Glosters” family and its former members.
Should anyone have missed donating during the day, and would like to do so, the details are as follows: RGBW Association Somerset. Sort Code: 30 99 51 Acct No 00545601 and include “BW” in the description box, thank you.

Martin Talling
“by our deeds, we are known”

Brian Wright's funeral

The funeral of Brian Wright which took place yesterday was well supported due to his popularity.
The crematorium was small hence standing room only nonetheless the Standard Bearers, Buglers x2, wreath presentation and general military side was professionally organised by Martin Talling and went down well with family and friends
RIP Bri
Len RU

Brian Wright's Funeral - Webcast

For those who cannot attend in person the funeral service of Brian Wright will be live streamed;
Webcast order summary
Webcast details for the service of Brian Wright at 10:30 (GMT) on Friday 8th December, at Torbay Crematorium Chapel, run by Torbay & District Funeral Service are as below.
Link:
https://watch.obitus.com/rgKCsM
Username: zaro2122
Password: 643919
Webcast | Obitus
WATCH.OBITUS.COM
Webcast | Obitus
Obitus webcast

The 2023 Forest of Dean Branch Christmas Lunch

Forest of Dean branch Chrismas lunch. Today at the Orepool. Great turnout, good food. Old friends. Much Banter. Roll on next year when we can do it all again. Thanks to Gill Phelps, Jenny McBride and Judy for putting this together. Our guests for gracing us with their presence. Splash and Mandy, Keith Kinsey, Mel Dawes and Eddie Kenneford. Brigadier Martin Vine. Members of the Severnside Branch Association and Forest members.

Curtesy of Ken Durham

Page 1 of 3