4 Royal Norfolk OCA Dinner Apr 01 from Issue 96 Jun 01

4 Royal Norfolk Regimental Association
Dinner Apr 01

Norfolk Section
The Britannia and Castle

The 4th Bn Royal Norfolk Regt Old Comrades Association Annual Dinner was held in Gorleston at the Cliff Hotel on Sat 28 Apr. Among the 45 present was a strong contingent from past members of Thetford (Destroyer) Pl, A (Royal Norfolk) Coy, 6 RANGLIAN (Bob Dick, David Eyles, Vic Turner, John Williams - see item about Sgt CA Orford TEM) and the Norfolk Editor) and from serving members of the successor A (Norfolk and Suffolk) Coy, The East of England Regt (John Fears, Simon Hatch, Paul Hipperson, Steve Mills and Derek Rolph - recently awarded a Lord Lt’s Certificate for Services to TA Shooting). Notably, every former CSM from 1972 was present: Alec Barr, John Housego, Colin Sadd, Pat Budds and Alan Debenham. Two of the 3 survivors from 4 Royal Norfolk who went overseas in 1941 were present: President Maj Tom Eaton and Vice-President Mike Ashton MC. The 3rd survivor is Capt John Barratt. At the AGM Chairman Alf Pleasance retired, on rotation. Proposed by Miles Green and seconded by Alec Barr that those nominated be elected en-bloc, the ensuing unanimous show of hands saw the election of John Bilyard - Chairman, Ray Pillar - Vice Chairman, John Housego - Secretary and Fred Ayers - Treasurer. The healthy Annual Accounts, complete with customary adjustments, were presented by the Treasurer, "The Master", Maj Fred Ayers TD, unusually absent at a family gathering, but they passed muster - as ever. Sadly absent was the former Destroyer Pl Sgt, Tony `Arthur’ Ground, confined to a N&N hospital bed but see below for an account of his Ni Obs Ex! In June he was in Papworth undergoing a heart by-pass operation and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

All the A Coy TA CSMs from 1972:
Front: Alec Barr and John Housego
Rear: Pat Budds, Colin Sadd and Alan Debenham

Royal Norfolk survivors who went overseas in 1941:
Capt John Barratt, Maj Tom Eaton and Capt Mike Ashton MC

(Capt Barratt wasn't present but imagery trickery places him there!)

John Fears and Simon Hatch

Vic Turner and Bob Dick

Cpl Rolph and Miles Green

John Williams and David Eyles

SGT CA ORFORD TEM
Cpl John Williams, ex-Thetford (Destroyer) Pl (which the Norfolk Editor had the honour to command), A (Royal Norfolk) Coy, 6 RANGLIAN, wrote about finding a TEM (Territorial Efficiency Medal) at a car boot sale. The silver George V1 medal was black but cleaning revealed inscribed on the rim `Sgt CA Orford 4 Royal Norfolk'. We have no such soldier listed on our records so would be grateful for any information so the medal can be returned to the family or passed to the Regimental Museum.

NIGHT OBSERVATION
Tony `Arthur’ Ground was detained for a period in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in a cardiac ward and decided to ‘test himself" by walking down then up 7 flights of stairs. Caught by a nurse he then pursued a more sedate activity with a ward-mate by doing night observation on Chapelfield Gardens from their high vantage point with binos. Excitement rose as a red light was located. Then an orange light was added before they both changed to green!
After-note - Tony has since undergone a heart by-pass operation but is now back in full health.

Editorial Rule
To qualify for inclusion there is only one rule - something described must have been said to have happened.
The authority is the Editor, British Army Review No 114 Dec 96, `If the facts don`t fit the legend, print the legend’.

Rule Britannia!

Site edited and maintained by Major JL Raybould TD
Editor, Norfolk Section, The Britannia and Castle

B&C Norfolk Editor