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The Parachute Regimental Association
 

Liverpool Branch
President: -
President Tom Barney Mobile 07708603938

Registered Charity Number 1125765

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Chairman: Bruce Cargill 0151 474 2479 cargills1947@hotmail.co.uk
 

Treasurer: Brian Blanchard Tel: 0151 520 1661 brianblanchard@btinternet.com

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Secretary: Brian Welsh Mobile 0787 1901 206 brianwelsh4@icloud.com

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​Annual General Meeting

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Date:
Tuesday 7th May Minutes.
 

Present:
33 members were present at the meeting.

 

The Branch Chair opened the meeting at 2000hrs

 

Apologies for absence:
Joe Harkon, Matt Scott, Ozzie, Neil Platt, Roy Bevan, Tony Woods, Wally Thorburn, Danny Hart, Barry Bruce, Stan Fortune, Billy Young, Chris Baines, Tom McCormick, Eddie Jones, Billy Melia, Paul Hennessey, Alan Smedley, Flo McAllister, Riche Carroll, Bobby Hamblett

 

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:
The minutes of the previous meeting were proposed by Waddy and seconded by Bobby Hamblett.

Matters Arising:
N/A Visitors/new members: N/A

 

Chairs Report:
Bruce opened the meeting with one minute’s silence and informed members that this meeting would be preceded by the 2024 Liverpool PRA AGM Bruce explained the President's role and informed members that the current Committee members were nominated to remain in post for the 2024/25 year.

 

Chair – Bruce Cargill

 

Secretary – Brian Welsh

 

Treasurer – Brian Blanchard

 

There were no additional nominations for the above posts and members voted unanimously to support the retention of the current Committee members.

 

Vacant posts available for nomination were:

 

Branch President

 

Vice Chair

 

Tom Barney nominated himself to undertake the post of Branch President. Members voted unanimously to support Toms's nomination.

 

Thanks went out to Tom for supporting the branch and taking up the post of Branch President.

 

This leaves a vacant post as Vice Chair.

 

Anybody wishing to take up this post should contact the Branch Secretary in the first instance.

 

Welfare report:
Ken Barney provided comprehensive feedback on his contact with several members unable to make the meeting, including.

 

Tony Woods has had a successful cataract operation; Joe Pettigrew is now more mobile on his 2024 registration walking frame.

 

Joe Harkon is due for his knee operation towards the end of May.

 

We must keep in contact with our less mobile members and thanks went out to Bruce and Ken from members for all of their welfare work behind the scenes. 

 

It is important to remember that if members require additional support, it is available through the branch where we can contact the Regimental Welfare Team who are trained to deal with various issues and cases that are more complex.

 

Secretary's Report:

Mick Farrington (Ex Grenadier Guards, 4 Para & RLC) has accepted to become the Regional Secretary for the North West. Mike Served with 4 Para as CSM B Coy, Training Recruit WO and CSM HQ Coy and finally as CSM 13 Coy Liverpool. Following SDSR and the disbandment of 13 Coy Mike was commissioned into the RLC where he served in various theatres of Operations. Mike was awarded the MBE for services in the Balkans in 2006.

 

Liverpool PRA would like to wish Mike all the best as NW Regional Secretary and offer our full and unreserved support to Mike in his new role.

 

D-DAY 80 Parade and timetable is at the bottom of the May Monthly Minutes.

All members and associated PARA Reg and Airborne Forces must endeavour to attend this event.

 

Armed Forces Day – 29/06/24 has been confirmed as a church service only at St Nicks, No parade will occur this year as resources across the public sector have been committed to delivering the D DAY 80 events.

 

This is a reminder to members family and friends to put a placeholder in your diaries for the commemoration of Exercise Bold Guard’s 50th Anniversary and the loss of several young men along with 4 Para's A Coy’s Eddie Beach. The event will be held on 14/09/24.

 

Location: Yew Tree Cemetery, Finch Lane, L14 4DG at 10.30

 

Move from the cemetery to the Conservative Club at 12.00 for a commemorative drink and light buffet.

 

Arrange 2 x wreaths and bugler via RBL •

 

This will be an open invitation to all PARA and Airborne Forces •

 

Branch to review and consider a presentation for Eddie Beach’s family. •

 

Branch Secretary to write to 4 PARA for support of the event.

 

There is a trip in its early stages of planning for veterans of Kosovo by RHQ. Those wishing to attend the trip should contact RHQ directly via admin@prahq.com

 

For those attending the National Memorial Arboretum (Regimental Commemoration Service & PRA AGM) on 6th July 2024, Ian Whiteside has very kindly offered the use of one of the Beacon minibuses to transport up to 14 members, free of charge to and from the event. It is 4 important that those wishing a seat on the minibus inform the Branch Secretary so details can be confirmed with Beacon and Ian.

 

Brian Jenkins is still planning the Altcar Walk but a confirmed date will be issued as soon as possible.

 

Jim O’Connell and a few friends and colleagues have started regular monthly meetings in town in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, enjoying a beer or two. Men from all Battalions, all eras, all operations and all experiences are welcome. No big rounds but keep to small groups to ensure the days are not too expensive. Usual meeting times are from 13.00 up to around 18.00

 

Ian Whiteside provided an excellent presentation for around 15 minutes on the work of the Beacon Counselling Trust, about the concerns of gambling-related harms that can affect members of the Armed Forces, males and females and from any social class. 

 

The presentation was well received by members who will work with Ian to support the project through our Branch as much as possible.

 

Treasurers Report:

Brian provided a breakdown of the branch accounts and has added them as a standalone document accompanying these minutes. •

 

The branch has received the new standard which has been handed over to Steve Cook.

 

Brian Blanchard will continue to review payments made to support payments donated for the standard, which will be provided upon request. 

 

The Just Giving page for the new standard and Memorial Stone is now live for members to use and share across their networks and we need to advertise our Just Giving page as wide as possible to gain as much coverage as possible. 

 

Please share our Just Giving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LiverpoolPRA

 

Payments can also be made directly to our bank account below:

 

Sort Code: 23-05-80

 

Account Number: 44716631

 

Reference: Name standard

 

Payments can also be made by cheque, made payable to ‘Liverpool Branch PRA’ .

 

Events sub-committee:

Those wishing to attend the Regimental Commemoration Service & PRA AGM must inform Branch Secretary, Brian Welsh, who will collate names for the minibus.

 

It is expected the minibus will leave the Conservative Club, Lancing Drive at approx. 08.00 on 6th July. Branch Standard should be available. (See secretary’s update)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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AOB: 
A proposal was put forward to consider the use of the Conservative Club, Lancing Drive to hold the Liverpool PRA Christmas party.

Branch members were asked to confirm which venue we would like during the meeting, but did not have enough information to make a final decision.

The Branch Chair stated that during the meeting in June, a definitive venue must be agreed upon and finalised before we lose the facility to pick and choose due to availability.

 

Elaine Overend will provide some finer details for venues in the June meeting.

 

Tickets for the reception lunch for the PRA AGM held at the NMA on 6th July are £10 per person up to a maximum of 300 for the entire event.

 

Lunch will be in the form of a hot buffet.

 

Members should request their tickets through cheques, payable to Support Our Paras and sent to

Alice Holland, RHQ PARA, Merville Barracks, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7UT.

 

Alternatively, BACS payments made to:

Support Our Paras

Sort Code: 16-1926

Account Number: 17851063

 

Please include your Surname and NMA (as the payment reference)

 

The following have paid for tickets and have been ordered:

Steve Cook
Brian Blanchard
Iain Whiteside
Frank Boyle
Jimmy O’Connell.

 

Elaine Overend provided the members with details of the 100th birthday of our member and RN WWII veteran John Dennett.

 

The date for the get-together is 23/07/24 at 17.00. Further details to follow. 

 

An additional date was proposed for yet another very successful gathering of PRA members at Churrascos on 31/07/14 at 19.00.

 

Those wishing to attend should contact Elaine Overend. 

 

Close Meeting:
The branch Chair closed the meeting at 2100hrs

 

Date of next meeting is Tuesday 4th June 2024 at 20.00hrs

 

Aintree Conservative Club,

Lancing Drive.

 

Brian Welsh Branch Secretary Liverpool PRA Approved: 

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Please check out the events list on the website for details of Regimental and Local events near you: www.theparachuteregimentalassociation.com Attached:

1. https://theparachuteregimentalassociation.com/news/june-2024-newsletter/

2. PARAS’10 Roman Rampage Flyer

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Liverpool Veterans to mark 80th anniversary of D-Day

 

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On Sunday, 9 June, at 1 pm, up to 1,000 veterans accompanied by two bands will march through the city from Copperas Hill, along Hanover Street, arriving at the Royal Albert Dock at 1.30pm.

Prayers will once again be read by Reverend Canon Dr Crispin Pailing and Liverpool’s Armed Forces Champion Cllr Christine Banks will read the national D-Day tribute.

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Route 1.2 miles Approx 20-25 mins •

 

Muster Point – Copperas Hill • Ranelagh St • Hanover St • Paradise St • Strand St • Salthouse Quay.

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The Parade will be in 2 Contingents.

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Marching Participants
Contingent One:

The Band of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, accompanied by the Band of the Royal Artillery.

• RBL and Contingent Standards.

• Royal Naval Association (HMS Eaglet Old &Bold)

• Merchant Navy Assc

• Royal Marine Regimental Assc (Commando)

• Duke of Lancaster’s Regimental Assoc including The Kings Regt Assc

• Royal Artillery Regimental Ass (Gunners)

• Royal Signals Regimental Assc

• Royal Tank Regiment Assc (Armoured Division)

• Royal Corps of Transport (now The Royal Logistics Corps) Assc

•  208 Field Hospital, RAMC, QARANC Associations

•  Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Assc

• Blue Light Services (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
   

There will be NO contingent leads. Everyone will form as One column, shoulder to shoulder, irrespective of Regiment, Cap badge or Rank.

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Marching Participants

Contingent Two:

Massed Pipes and Drums (60 Plus)

• Contingent Standards.

• Irish Guards Regimental Assc and Footguards Assc, (Household Div)

• Liverpool Scottish Regt Assc (Scots Div)

• The Parachute Regimental Assc. (Airborne Div)

• Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association and Rifles Association (Light Div)

• Royal Irish Rangers (Royal Irish) Regimental Assc

• Royal Air Force Assc.

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There will be NO contingent leads. Everyone will form as One column, shoulder to shoulder, irrespective of Regiment, Cap badge or Rank.

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To conclude the parade:

A Drumhead Service will be outside the old Granada Studios building on Salthouse Dock.

 

All Parachute Regiment & Airborne Forces family and friends are welcome for drinks afterwards at Lady of Mann, Dale Street.

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