Keith Shaw & Myself just back from Brians funeral.Very good turnout & a moving service.A well respected man
R.I.P.Nobby
Many happy returns of the day to Keith Fairey tomorrow 29th July, hoping you have many more.
With best wishes,
John Atkins
Many happy returns of the day to Mike DeCarteret tomorrow 28th July, this young man will be 69,hoping that you have a good one.
With best wishes,
John Atkins
Belated birthday greetings to two gentlemen today the 25th July, goes to Tim Connell and Stan Whitworth, hoping that you both have had a good day, many happy returns to you both,
With best wishes
John Atkins
Many happy returns of the day to Ken Buffery tomorrow the 20th July, hope that you have a good one.
With best wishes
John Atkins
Very sorry to report that NOBBY passed away on Friday 15th JULY this info came from his daughter Christine hope to get more details later
regards derek leese
Derek, 1/1 for your persistence! I confess to finding Forces Reunited irritating and more concerned with marketing itself, so seldom visit the website. There must be many similar and cheaper ways of establishing contact. However, that said and without in any way wishing to seem unsociable, I am not an avid old comrade or indeed old anything! Certainly I would welcome any old Royal Dragoon who wished to get in touch, so please pass on my email address paulnewgass@btinternet.com or if you are aware of any ex-Royals events I would like to know. I am unlikely to look at Friends Reunited much. Sadly fewer of us around now and for me it was a very long time ago and then only a short inconspicuous 4 years or so with the Regiment before being seconded to the Army Air Corps, then leaving the army to become a doctor. However, I am quite proud to have served under seven different cap badges over the years, with all three services. I have more recently engaged with others (eg UKNDA) in intense political lobbying in support of the armed services against the relentless defence cuts, now little short of a betrayal by Government. So if you are aware of any like minded or who want to add their voice, let me know, apologies again for seeming to have ignored your messages.Best wishes.Yours,Paul
Many happy returns of the day on Saturday the 2nd July to Dougie Best, hoping you have a good one, and many more.
With best wishes
John Atkins
Colonel George Evans was born on 6th January I926 at the small mining town of
George was conscripted in December 1944, joining the Somerset Light Infantry at
Private Evans was due to be posted to
He left the army for a while and happened to see a concert advertised in Oxford by the Band of the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales’s Dragoon Guards) by now conducted by his old Bandmaster Pat Taylor. Mr Taylor persuaded him to re-enlist into his band and he joined them at Tidworth. He played rugby for the regiment and eventually became Trumpet Major. He also at this time occupying the solo cornet chair with Morris Motors Band under Harry Mortimer, as well as taking on various big band work.
The band’s Kneller Hall Inspection led him being asked to become a Student Bandmaster much earlier than he had planned as the Director of Music was keen to swell the course with the best trumpet players in preparation for the forthcoming Coronation. Student Bandmaster Evans took his place with the Kneller Hall Trumpeters on the organ loft in Westminster Abbey on
On
Capt Evans was appointed Director of Music of The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) in 1973, thus returning to his earlier regiment following amalgamation. He said it was like coming home as he knew half the regiment already. He spent a month with The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery for some individual equestrian tuition prior to joining the Household Cavalry riding course and, on completion, took part in Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade later that year. He was promoted to Major on
This was at the time when there were regular concerts in the London parks and the band became particularly popular with audiences, in no small way due to George's informative and amusing patter (and awful jokes!) particularly at the Embankment Gardens where he would often get into entertaining dialogue with the down-and-outs who would wander in to heckle. One of the highlights with The Blues and Royals was a band concert in the Royal Festival Hall comprising all Austrian music. He had a long association with the Luton Musical Pageant, being Musical Director for each pageant from 1973 up to his retirement and then returning as the commentator in 1985 and producer in 1989.
Early in 1978 Major Evans was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Chief Instructor and Director of Music at The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. Amongst the high-profile engagements in this appointment was conducting the Kneller Hall Trumpeters in
He was Musical Director for the great Military Musical Pageants at Wembley Stadium in 1979 and 1981, conducting massed bands numbering well over a thousand musicians in such works Capriccio Italien and 1812, as well as a musical representation of the Battle of Rorke’s drift to mark the centenary.
Colonel Evans was appointed OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1982 and received his insignia at an Investiture at
He was appointed as a Vice President of the International Military Music Society on
George and Joy had two daughters, both of whose husbands have been knighted, one in medicine and one in the Church - or as George put it: “One to look after my body and one to look after my soul': George died on 2lst March 2011 but will be long remembered by all who knew him.
Colin Dean (International Military Music Society)
Citation for George Evans' OBE:
Lieutenant Colonel Evans holds the Senior Director of Music appointment in the British Army, and as such he exercises great influence on musical training policy in the Army. He has no sewing peer in military music, and his responsibilities for wise direction and sound organisation are heavy. Lieutenant Colonel Evans works unremittingly from early morning to late at night to maintain the very high standards, both at Kneller Hall and among bands in the Army. His flair as a musician and a Director makes him well-known in musical circles both in this country and overseas. This was particularly demonstrated by the brilliance with which he organised and directed some 1.500 musicians at the Wembley Musical Pageant in June 1979 and again in 1981, when he was particularly complimented by The Prince of Wales. In July 1981he directed the Kneller Hall Fanfare Trumpeters at the wedding of HRH Prince Charles at
Lieutenant Colonel Evans’s 26 years as a Bandmaster and Director of Music, culminating in outstanding service to Army Music in his present unique and very responsible post, deserve special recognition.
Recommended by Colonel D T L Beath. Commandant,
Very Strongly Recommended by Major General Langley (Major General Commanding London District)
From National Archives ref W013731178
A memorial service will be held on
(Re: International Military Music Society Newsletter No. 88 June 2011)
The winning ticket was drawn by a very pretty redhead behind the bar in the Fradley Arms (Premier Inn).
The winner was Nick Doyle (301)
Amount raised £125 for Haig Housing Trust.( Fabulous)
Awaiting additional donation from John A.
Will keep you all informed.
Best regards, Doug and Joan
p.s. Adrian - on receipt of total amount will decide on my new model! (lol)
Many happy returns of the day tomorrow June 21st to Stuart Mackay, hoping you have a good one, (sorry you missed the reunion)
Best wishes
John Atkins
I have been asked regularly by some of who have seen photo's of members on the B/B wearing Polo and sweatshirts logo'ed' with our Royals Eagle and Royal Dragoons underneath. I used to supply the regimental shop at Windsor, but was told not a great demand for Royals was called for !!!not hard to work out lol . So i stopped doing them. Plus my good friend retired to Tenerife who manufactured them, She is now back in the U.K and tells me she kept the Art work for the for the Royals Items ,so if i can get a reasonably price and of cause orders, wont promise but any member interested let me know, your size's and colour in the past colours were not always availible so i stuck to white or dark blue some black or grey. & Maroon.
fred.
I have Blue & Royal 1971 to 1992 plus Household Cavalry from 1993 to present, with few omissions.
Any ex-Royal and/or Blue & Royal can have any of the above Journals for a small contribution to my dedicated charity. (www. haighhousingtrust.org.uk). This is the charity I am supporting with a raffle at the NMA 18th June.
See you all on Sat.18th.
Regards Doug Best and 'her indoors' Joan.
Just been reading a field guide to Bumblebees, I always thought that a bumblebee was a bumblebee but I have discovered that there are about 25 species in the UK alone some of them are endangered ,indeed one species has ,last year been declared extinct , this is a book dedicated to conservation ! one way to identify them,the reader is told , (for scientific reasons ) is to extract its genitalia with a pair of tweezers, the bee must be dead to do this, to kill a bumblebee we are told the following is;_ " the safest & most humane way , put the bee in a glass tube and place it in a domestic freezer for 2 hours ".
dose the poor thing suffocate or freeze to death ? imagine someone advocating this method for a cat or dog or even the countries that still have capital punishment using this method . what an outcry this would produce. that is a strange way of conservation,anyway what pervert needs to look at a bumble bees genitals.
Many happy returns to James (paddy) Paul tomorrow 13th June, hoping that you have a good one and many more.
With best wishes,
John Atkins
Many happy returns to Harry Lawrence today, sorry it is belated hoping you have had a good day.
Best Wishes
John Atkins
wishing all those attending the reunion a great weekend , just sorry i cannot make it this year
paddy mullins
Many happy returns of the day tomorrow 2nd June to Colin Rixon, I hear that he will be 65 have a good one, will get you one in at the reunion.
With best wishes,
John Atkins
Once again it is birthday time, this time it is to Keith Shaw for tomorrow the 27th May, hoping you have a good day.
With best wishes for the future,
John Atkins
Many happy returns of the day on the 26th May to Ray Borley, Hoping you have a good day.
With best wishes,
John Atkins
Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves in Canada, USA & UK, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.
Australia says NO - Second Time she has done this !
If you agree please SEND THIS ON and ON, to as many people asyou know
Many happy returns to Paul Graver over there in Aus, take a day off and enjoy Paul.
With best wishes,
John Atkins
Many happy returns to Tom Carolan in Aus on Tuesday 17th from everyone here in Blighty, have a good one Tom.
With best wishes,
John Atkins
Many happy returns of the day to another of the older gentlemen, this one will be 18 tomorrow Stan,may we all wish our old friend Don Remfrey a good time on his special day.
All best wishes,
John Atkins
Many happy returns of the day to Clal Card tomorrow the 10th, hoping you have a good day.
With best wishes,
John Atkins
Many happy returns of the day to John Charman on Thursday 5th May, hoping that you have a good one.
Best Wishes
John Atkins
Sorry about the belated Birthday greeting to John Cooper, Hope you have had a good day.
Best wishes
John Atkins
Heh you guys! today is earth day get out and do your bit for the environment if you really care
for your grandchildrens future. and tell us about it Johnie hows your allotment doing.Frank
Many happy returns of the day to Victor Tolhurst for tomorrow 21st April,
With best wishes,
John Atkins
Happy Birthday tomorrow 20th April to David Bramble, hope that you have a good one and get everything that you want, but go steady on the Alcohol.
Best wishes,
John Atkins
Many Happy returns of the day for tomorrow the 10th to Ian Munro, hope you have a good day and you get all you ask for.
Best Wishes
John Atkins
Well it has been quite a while since I made my appearance on here and so many things have happened. In no particular order, there has been a wedding, a granddaughter, floods, cyclones and to top it all, the water restrictions have been removed in Brisbane..we have plenty of water now.
Anyway, hope you have all been behaving yourselves...lol..but then that's a silly thought, knowing you lot...lol.