The Veterans’ Recognition Scheme has a two-phase rollout. Phase 1 is complete; with Service leavers receiving a recognition card as part of the discharge process.
Phase 2 is to extend the scheme to existing veterans so that they can more quickly, easily and securely prove they served in the UK Armed Forces so they can access the services they need.
More information can be found on Page 2.
Many members of the Alumni will remember Colonel Guy Deacon who retired from the army recently and whose last appointment was as Colonel Royal Armoured Corps, here in Bovington. During his four year tenure, his focus and that of the entire headquarters was on bringing the RAC together to maximise the strengths of the individual regiments that make up the RAC under a project called “RAC First”. The RAC Alumni was one of the many measures that have been pursued as part of that project.
What some of you will know is that Colonel Guy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2010 and, given that he was consistently fighting this condition, the impact he had on the Corps is, therefore, all the more remarkable. He never drew attention to his circumstances nor expected any leeway, but he will be the first to admit that he could not have done what he did at any level without the tremendous support of HQ RAC staff and the regiments of the RAC.
On retirement, Col Guy was never going to let Parkinson’s stop him living as active and full a life as possible, including fulfilling his main ambition: to travel overland from England through Africa to South Africa, a trip he had been dreaming of and planning since travelling over land to Kenya with soldiers from the QDG in 1987.
Col Guy made it as far as Sierra Leone before Covid restrictions forced him to abandon his travels and come home. He is determined to continue the journey but now he is focusing on using the journey to explain what it is like to have Parkinson’s from a personal perspective and to shine a light on the realities of Parkinson’s disease in Africa where people don’t get the help that we have in Europe and are often stigmatised because there is no known reason why people get it and no known cure. Indeed, in some parts of Africa people with Parkinson’s are assumed to be cursed and are ostracised by their own communities. Colonel Guy will be meeting many of those people as he makes his way through the next fourteen countries, and at the same time compiling video footage from interviews and his own travelogue to make a film on his return.
He has developed many contacts to help him through some of the more difficult countries where he will face driving on seemingly impossible roads, very complicated border crossings, genuine security risks in some countries, as well as his own personal trials as he makes his way south. The journey would be rather daunting for anybody but so much more so for him, especially as he will be doing much of the travelling by himself. When he finishes, his aim will be to have a film worthy of being shown by the best broadcasters and he is preparing a submission to the BBC before he departs next month.
His aim is very clear now: to make as many people aware of the realities of Parkinson’s as possible because there is so much that people don’t understand. Everybody knows that Parkinson’s results in debilitating physical characteristics but there are few people who know about the other consequences of Parkinson’s and just what it is like to live with it. He will be brutal in describing how he feels on a daily basis when challenged by the everyday realities of travelling through Africa. And he will meet people on his way whose condition and circumstances are far worse than his and who need just as much help but don’t get it. Whilst he is ultimately raising awareness of the need to find a cure and the work of the ‘Cure Parkinson’s Trust’(Cure Parkinson’s – Charity – Formerly The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (cureparkinsons.org.uk), and ‘Parkinson’s Africa’ (Home | Parkinson’s Africa (parkinsonsafrica.com), he is not asking for money for them now.
If however there are readers who wish to donate, they can either donate to ‘Cure Parkinson’s Trust’ directly through his just giving page or they can help him cover the cost of filming by contributing to his crowdfunding page (links to both of these are shown below).
What he really wants is as many followers as possible on his journey via “Polar steps”, a site that records his daily activity and immediate thoughts as well photographs and film of what he has been doing on a daily basis. Knowing that people are following him spurs him on and gives him great support on what is otherwise a very daunting project. If you do nothing else to help him, please forward the links below to those who are not members of the RAC Alumni who may be interested.
A short film is here which is well worth watching:
https://vimeo.com/667886407/d8b2e53ff7
To help make the film please donate here:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/freetown-to-cape-town-with-parkinson-s-disease–2
To help find a cure, donations can be made here:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/guy-deacons-journey
And to follow him as he drives south, please log on here:
https://www.polarsteps.com/GuyDeacon/2732274-sierra-leone-and-beyond
The Regimental Association has received a small allocation of tickets for RHC Founder’s Day, which will take place on Thursday 9th June 2022 at RHC beginning at 1030hrs.
Any member wishing to be considered for a ticket/tickets to the event are to submit their details (as per Page 2) to the Regimental Secretary by Friday 18 March.
There were several events over the past 2 weeks involving members of the association and the serving regiment to commemorate the remembrance of those who had served and given their lives in the nation’s defence.
Additional information, including a short slide show of the events, can be found on Page 2.
On an incredibly hot and sunny day in September The Queen’s Royal Hussars competed against The King’s Royal Hussars in an all-cavalry Inter-Regimental Final. The QRH were confident having won the Captains & Subalterns Division 1 Tournament earlier this year and were trying to ‘win the double’, an accolade that, as yet, had not been achieved by the QRH.
The team consisted of Col. Nick Cowley, Capt Jamie Fry (captain), Capt Henry Amor and Lt Will Cecil. The KRH held a slight handicap advantage on paper, which meant they would start with ½ a goal in their favour. Over the season, due to the obvious limitations of living in a global pandemic, there wasn’t many opportunities for the team to practice, with some having not been on a horse more than a couple of times over two years.
Thus, the KRH came out all guns blazing and managed to score two early goals against the slightly rusty QRH team. But form quickly returned to the side with some calm and collected penalty taking from Henry Amor and brilliant plays, both defensive and attacking, from the side’s captain Jamie Fry. Leaving the half-time score at 4 – 2.5 in favour of the QRH.
During the critical third chukka of the match, having found their feet, the QRH team relaxed slightly too much allowing the KRH to pull ahead 4 – 5.5. This set up a very dramatic final chukka with both teams going hell for leather for the win.
With only a minute left of the match, Henry Amor calmly stepped up once again to slot the winning goal. Scoring the penalty produced from a fantastic play by Col. Nick who managed to take the ball straight from the line out down beyond the KRH’s 30-yard line. The final score was 6 – 5.5 to QRH.
After an intense and exciting final the QRH managed to just pip the KRH at the post. The Inter-Regimental capped off a very successful season for QRH polo, remaining undefeated all season. Capt Jamie Fry won the Moment of the Game.
The Regimental Pipes and Drums will be participating in a Massed Bands of the Irish Regiments event on Saturday 11 September at Carrickfergus Castle.
Introduction. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Gulf War, facilitated by the serving regiment’s return to the UK, The Queen’s Royal Hussars will play The King’s Royal Hussars for the Gulf War Trust Trophy.
This event will present an excellent opportunity for serving and late members of the Regiment to build relationships in the fantastic setting of Tidworth Polo Club. There will also be an opportunity to mingle with old contemporaries from the KRH.
Please see the detail on Page 2 and let the Regimental Secretary know if you are interested in attending.
The eCavalry Memorial Parade and Service is on Sunday 9th of May 2021 starting at 1100hrs.
Herewith the YouTube link for this year’s Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association’s Parade and Service on the 97th Anniversary of the Unveiling and Dedication of the Cavalry Memorial:
Please note the following:
We sincerely hope that next year we will all be able to meet in person in Hyde Park to hold the normal Parade and Service. As this is, once again, not possible this year we hope that you enjoy this virtual alternative.
Lt Col (Retd) Richard Watson | RAC Corps Secretary
As you will be aware, the ceremonial royal funeral of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, our Colonel-in-Chief, will be held at St George’s Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, at 3pm on Saturday 17 April. The event will be televised.
Further information can be found on Page 2.
