Regimental Bowler Hat Appeal

NORWICH AND DISTRICT BRANCH NEWS - B&C 88 Jun 97 Arising from a chance remark at a Norwich Branch meeting of the Regimental Association by CSM Ted Shepherd MM (died 1998), a Branch collection is underway for the purchase of a more respectable bowler hat for a Regimental personage. The target date is the Millennium. Donations would be welcomed.
BOWLER PROGRESS - B&C 89 Dec 97 The Norwich Branch collection for the purchase of a more respectable bowler hat so far amounts to a ship ha'penny, 2 rupees and fourpence three farthings in Irish coins, collected by a Branch search of the armchairs in the bar, plus a generous donation from the London Branch (in Pounds Sterling! - thanks Bill Seymour) and 12 dinar from a collection among the Royal Anglians in Bosnia. Now that the Branch are temporarily dispossessed from their usual meeting place while the Norman Centre is renovated, the search continues among the chairs at the TA Centre. The Norfolk editor's daughter will see if her bank will change the coins, white fiver, ten bob note and the pound note. The target date is the Millennium. Our Branch scouts are about looking for a suitable bowler at the right price and would appreciate your assistance in your searching the emporia, outhouses and attics in your area. Donations would be welcomed so send in those spare foreign coins and notes.
Since the last appeal, the Norfolk editor was sent, albeit anonymously, a photograph of a back view of the gold brimmed bowler! An 'Ace' photograph! Click photographs to enlarge for the full horror!
BOWLER PROGRESS - B&C 90 Jun 98 It must have been a trick of the light at the Regimental Cottages Remembrance Service on 11 Nov 97. The Norfolk Editor is convinced a new bowler hat was on parade. But at an emergency meeting of the Regimental Bowler Hat Fund Trustees the tale was dismissed as a fantasy. It was reported the Branch collection for the purchase of a more respectable bowler hat proceeds exceedingly slowly so an extraordinary AGM was held with the Treasurer of the London Branch, majority shareholders in the Bowler Fund. The consensus of opinion was that at the present rate of income it will be difficult to meet the cost of the ideal article located in O'Flaherty's Emporium in Magdalen Street, Norwich, by the Branch Expert in City Junk Shops, Major Miles M Green. Worn by the proprietor's grandfather when he was a plasterer working on the construction of the Chapel Field Drill Hall, Shamus is unwilling to accept our deposit of a white fiver, a pound note, a ten-bob note, a ship ha'penny, 12 dinar and 2 rupees despite having the bonus of fourpence three farthings in Irish coins. We opened the Safety Deposit Box, sent the white fiver, pound note and ten bob note to Colonel David James for auction and await a few brass farthings in exchange. It was proposed and unanimously agreed that should we fail to raise the asking price for the bowler, there is enough in the kitty to purchase from O'Flaherty's a handkerchief, not new but nearly white. The embroidering of the requisite initials will be thrown in free by O'Flaherty's niece Geraldine McSweeney. The target date is the Millennium and it is approaching fast. For this most deserving cause post your spare foreign coins in an envelope bearing no more than the words "The Master". No stamp is necessary and the Post Office will get it to Major Fred Ayers TD the next day.
BOWLER PROGRESS - B&C 92 Jun 99 There is no more to report. The Norwich and District Branch no longer search for a Hat. A new bowler hat has been obtained by the man himself without spending the funds so diligently accrued by the Norwich and District Branch, with a generous donation from the London Branch, since the appeal was launched in Jun 97 on the suggestion of the late CSM Ted Shepherd MM. However, in recognition of his unstinting reconnaissance, perusal and canny bargaining of some likely items in the Branch quest for a bowler hat among the Norwich City Junk Shops, while driving a left-hand drive Land Rover, the man who conned the band at his Passing-Out Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst into playing 'On Ilkley Moor Baht At', has been amply rewarded. Miles M Green was promoted Lt Col in Jun 98. Congratulations Colonel.
REGIMENTAL BOWLER HAT FUND TRUSTEES WIND-UP THE TRUST - B&C Jun 02 Astute readers will be aware that B&C 92 Jun 99 reported that the Norwich and District Branch were no longer searching for a new bowler hat for a Regimental personage, the subject having acquired one far more respectable. (See B&C 88 Jun 97, 89 Dec 97, 90 Jun 98 and 92 Jun 99). Readers will also be aware that with the introduction of the Euro on 1 Jan 02, European foreign currency is no longer legal tender. Aware of their accountability to the Charity Commissioners, a meeting of the Regimental Bowler Hat Fund Trustees was held on 1 Mar 02 , the 84th Birthday of The 'Ace' Chairman, Bill Ace Eagle Eye Seymour, London Branch - majority shareholders in the Bowler Fund, having contributed a Ł1 note. It was agreed the Trust Fund be wound up and the total funds be donated to the Regimental Garden Appeal. The original funds comprised a white fiver, a pound note, a ten-bob note, a ship ha'penny, 12 dinar, 2 rupees and fourpence three farthings in Irish coins. The first three were despatched to Col David James in Jun 1998 for auction and, as anticipated, we received 3 brass farthings in exchange. Those coins, valued at just over 3p, were taken by the Norwich Branch Trustee for his Rotary Club weekly fines instead of paying with washers. The Trustees thank the contributors and the Norwich Branch Norman Centre armchair searchers for their generosity and we await the appearance in the Regimental Fund Accounts (Treasurer is 'The Master', Maj Fred Ayers TD TD TD TD) of the total donation of 4p.