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The Jock Column March 2020.Cdr MARCH 2020 NUMBER 233 P.O. BOX 425, PINEGOWRIE, 2123 Patron: HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF ATHOLL President: COLONEL L. F. ALEXANDER, SM, MMM, JCD Vice President: P. B. V. CLARENCE EXECUTIVE: Chairman: T. Wright HC MMM JCD - [email protected] Vice Chairman: Maj S. K. Culhane JCD - [email protected] Hon. Secretary: Heidi Korf (Ms) - [email protected] Hon. Treasurer: J. B. L. Hopkins - [email protected] COMMITTEE: Maj T. Cock MMM JCD; S. Campbell MMM JCD; D. G. Gould; M. King; B. Mulwitsky; J. Livock; K. Robertson-Smith (Mrs); B. Smith; S. Wright (Mrs) THE JOCK COLUMN: Geoff Lathy - [email protected] HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS: P. B. V. Clarence :: Maj T. Cock MMM JCD :: D. J. Hattingh P. C. Marshall JCD :: R. Prince MMM JCD :: T. W. Wright MARCH 2020 QUARTERLY NUMBER 233 Note:- The views expressed in “The Jock Column” do not necessarily represent the opinion of The Transvaal Scottish Regimental Association Committee Contribution of articles to The Jock Column should be sent either by mail to the Association’s address as above or e-mail to: [email protected] MARCH 2020 THE JOCK COLUMN Page 1 Chairman's Report to Steven Shimmings Rev. Pierre van Blommestein Annual General Meeting RSM Deon Schoeman nd 2 March 2020 Gary O'Farrell Rodney Warwick It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this our 70th Annual General meeting. I Associate Members would specially like to welcome Lt Col Spike Jay Smith Becker our Chairman of the Regimental Padi Roosenschoon Council, other Council members, Mr Patrick Clarence our Vice President. I will now read 2019 has been a year of change to our the names of those members who passed on Association. With our Vice President Patrick since our last AGM. We will also be sounding Clarence announcing that he would be the Last Post and after a short silence spending half the year in Europe and would Reveille. Will those of you that are able please not be able to continue as Editor of the Jock stand and those of you who are MOTHS, Column, the decision to go digital with the salute during the Last Post! Jock Column was taken. This has proved to be financially, a good move. With a bit of friendly Sunset Call of members, their wives, persuasion Geoff Lathy has stepped in to fill widows and friends the gap and so far, has exceeded all 1st March 2019 to 28 February 2020 expectations. We also decided that we would not be holding a formal Ball again. The Ian Robert Sydney Whitehead response was not viable and the amount of Lt Gen Dennis Earp preparation, planning and execution that goes Jeffrey Arthur Chegwidden into holding a Ball for very little financial gain Major Lyall Ferguson made the decision quite easy to make. We George Sherwin have also changed our attitude to fund raising Pat McAteer by looking at functions that take less effort but Raymond Dallas McKenzie bring in a similar amount of funds. Cedric Tollemache Highlights of the past year As I said last year, we continue with our On the 14th April we held a fund raiser at the endeavours to increase the membership of Barnyard theatre in Rivonia. The music was our Association. In doing so we are still Queen and ABBA. Once again Susan did the pursuing members of other like minded lion's share in making this function a success, organisations who do not have their own both socially and financially. We supported the home anymore. Once again, I reassure all of band admirably last year and the attendance you that we do thoroughly vet each request for at the gatherings was a definite improvement membership. I welcome the following new on the past. In July in conjunction with The members who joined the Association during Legion and the MOTH we hosted the Delville 2019 Wood Parade at The View. It would have been nice to see more Red Hackles on Parade but Ordinary Members to those that did attend, thank you very much. The annual lunch last year took the form of a Lt Col Donald Smythe war time street party and was so well attended Kevi Levin that we even had to turn late comers away. A few substantial donations were made towards In memory of all the men of the Regiment Who have passed on to Higher Service. Page 2 THE JOCK COLUMN MARCH 2020 paying for some of our members that cannot best in extolling us with the immortal memory afford the lunch. To those donors, most of to the Bard. Our Vice Chairman Sean Culhane whom asked to remain anonymous, our toasted the fairer sex most eloquently and our heartfelt thanks. We also asked those Korporaaltjie Heidi Korf replied with wit and attending to bring donations of dog/cat food to charm. Although there were fewer of our the lunch, this was donated to “Animal Allies” regular attendees this year, the shortfall was whose primary role is to educate the made up by several outside guests who underprivileged areas of the importance of became aware of our Burns Nicht through our nutrients for their pets while assisting with excellent advertising. sterilisation of pets. Enough cash for two sterilisations was donated on the day. The What does the year ahead hold for us? Barberton Raid took place the last weekend of I want to thank the present Committee for August. doing a great job and if as individuals they Silly Season hit us with a vengeance. On indicate their willingness to stand for election the 2nd November some of us gathered at there is no reason not to vote them in again. Brixton Cemetery to clean up the grave of Bev Kennon after many years of sterling work those Jocks buried there. The cleaning was as our welfare liaison has decided that it is done in very short time so that we could gather time to spend more time with Stan. Bev, at The View to watch the Rugby. On the 10th we thanks for all that you have done for us. Ryan were welcomed by St James for our annual Read has also asked to stand down from the Church Parade, followed by the re-laying of Committee but has promised his support the wreaths at The View. Once again, the when and where needed. After one year as representation of the Jocks at The Mayor's Secretary, Heidi Korf has like so many other Parade in Town left a lot to be desired. Due to South Africans decided to emigrate. We wish the lack of support by the SANDF the SA Irish her all the best in the new chapter of her life Association, The THA Association and the and will miss her sorely. TSRA joined forces to hold a Sidi Rezegh We have had quite a bit of interest in a Wall Memorial Parade at The View. This will of Remembrance. To build a new wall and become a fixture on our Calendar, and I urge have all the plaques made will be financially you all to support it. The St Andrew's day prohibitive. One of the options that we are festival was much more rewarding this year investigating is using the existing boundary and once again aggressive advertising by wall behind the guns on the west side of the Susan saw us practically fully booked by stall property. A central plaque with all the names in holders. Tanya Herwill of the SA Irish our Book of Remembrance will be mounted sponsored a wine tasting in The Digby Room with individual plaques bought by families of which proved to be great money spinner both deceased Jocks and friends mounted two per for her Company and the TSRA. brick alongside the central plaque. The central In January, we had our Seventh Burns plaque will probably cost on the region of Nicht Dinner. The Indaba Hotel made us more R6,000.00 and the cost to members for than welcome. The evening was a great individual plaques about R350.00 each. success and the presence of a mini band led Since I have been in the chair, we as your by Ian Siemers and Anthony Evans really committee have striven to keep up with the added to the quality of the night. Our Editor of changes in our socio-political environment The Jock Column Geoff Lathy proved his and have made decisions that are not always eruditeness and eloquence with his rendition popular with some of our more established of the Selkirk Grace. As always, the address to members. There are members who criticise the Haggis was spectacularly delivered by the running of the Association and others who Grant Laidlaw while Arthur Pollock was at his make some very worthwhile suggestions. In Bugs Moralee (Editor 1962 – 2002). MARCH 2020 THE JOCK COLUMN Page 3 all cases now is your chance to nominate branches are diminishing. Mark Wardell who yourself for election on to the committee or has taken the reins in KwaZulu Natal has even Chairman. suggested that they move the meeting venue Hopefully, this year we will continue with to a more central location, hopefully this will those functions that I have mentioned and improve the attendance and membership. have become part of our calendar and try for a I also ask that you continue to support us few more. One of the changes we intend trying on the first Monday get together and all the is to hold two of our regular get to-gethers on other functions that we hold through the year the Sunday preceding the first Monday in the and that if you feel that you are able to put your form of a bring and braai.
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