CHESHIRE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Volume 1 Issue 24 December 2000   
REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS & MUSEUM MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
Primarily Museum news this time – Great news?  The Heritage Lottery Fund have agreed to award us the £352,000 needed to match our funds raised in order to redevelop.  The Museum closes on 4 December and we hope to open again refurbished at Easter 2001.  Thanks go to all the CRA Branches and many individuals who helped us raise the money we needed.  We must also thank several firms and organisations in the County who saw our need to redisplay as a positive place for the money to do good for education in the community.  Many thanks to all involved.  Fundraising cannot stop yet as we still need funds to complete – though we have sufficient to start!

Great Evening Out!

In line with our wish to continue fundraising, RHQ is sponsoring a buffet dance for Museum funds at the RBL Ellesmere Port on Saturday 21 July 2001.  The dance band of the Clive Band have agreed to play for us all the old tunes we know and love so well.  Tickets will be £10 per head and includes a buffet – we are limited in numbers to 250 so book tickets through RHQ and come and have a great evening – cash bar.
Incidentally, if anyone has a Tercentenary medal spare and would like to donate it to the Regimental collection, it would be very handy as we do not appear to have one.
The MA (Military Studies) is doing well – anyone else wish to ‘up’ their qualifications?  Age is no barrier – we’re booking now for September 2001 start.  It’s great fun.
The staff have been heavily engaged in officer recruiting and the autumn checks of our various filing systems.  It is always surprising how systems get behind the power curve despite apparent constant care.  All great fun!                                       John Ellis

The Newsletter is now available on the internet and can be found on www.cheshireregiment.org.uk Major Bob Shaw volunteered for this task and we are very grateful.  Another new Millennium acheivement

 

It doesn’t seem long ago we were reporting our “Millennium year ahead”.  But what a year it has been, with each branch having its own activity and centrally having taken in Dunkirk, Ypres, the first of our ‘special awards’, the AGM and supper, the wonderful Blackpool Reunion, Race Day, our Mons Service and lunch and with Christmas parties to come.  A great year and with the icing on the cake being the news of our success with the Lottery Fund.
I would like to thank all of you for your support during the year and particularly those branch officials who every year put so much into our organisation.  I would also like to make mention of branches and individuals who have done an incredible job in raising so much for the museum updating programme.
On 4 November the Committee voted on the issue of giving some £40,000 from our funds to ensure we meet the Lottery financial hurdle.  We do have this money from a bequest made by Major Cross in his will and there will also be enough to complete the new club premises.  To that end we voted on the grant which will ensure that we have a museum that truly reflects the story of our great Regiment.  

Regimental Club

At the time of going to press I can report that we are finalising our work in getting estimates for the work to begin on the ‘Regimental Club’ in Chester.  I am hopeful that we can realise our objective of having a strong and prestigious club that truly reflects the quality image of our Regiment.

I look forward to seeing you all at our AGM in February.

The Colonel of the Regiment, the CRAMC and all at RHQ wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.  We thank you for supporting the Association and hope that many of you will enjoy our full programme of events in 2001.