A miserable day weather wise, cold and rain but it could not dampen the spirits of the many who were there. It was good to see a small cohort of Welsh Guards Club members able to come and the Association out in force with a strong showing from North and South Wales as well as the London Branch. Well over a hundred. A good Battalion presence as well given that The Prince of Wales’s Company and No 3 Company had not yet deployed.
The Battalion did exceptionally well in organising all aspects of the day. Blaenau and Cwm Rhondda were belted out during the Service as were the National Anthems. The leek presentations given in our time-honoured way and then onto lunch where the gym had been transformed into a Blue Red Blue Marquee, really quite effective as were the lunch and drinks! Then on to see the Corporals Mess v the Guardsmen in a 7’s Rugby match which was fast and furious with both sides scoring over 30 points. The Corporals just snatched it and it was great to see such quality on the field and such spirit between both teams afterwards. A real credit to them.
The rest of the day was taken up with entertainment and singing back in the Marquee until both Messes retired at 1830 to their respective Messes. In the Sergeants Mess a painting was unveiled of AcSM Carl Taylor (now Major Carl Taylor) following a decision by the Trustees that any Welsh Guards Warrant Officer who fills the post and any other such similar appointments should have their portrait painted. We have already done one of WO1 (GSM) Billy Mott when he was the Garrison Sergeant Major in London and next up is WO1 (Command Sergeant Major Home Command) Dean Morgan 10 (although technically he has been selected for promotion and is a Captain).
As has become a tradition, the Assistant Secretary General, Neil Rice, attended and took a series of wonderful photographs all of which can be viewed and downloaded here.
