Page 2 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 55

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Secretary’s Notes Executive Council and staff. I have recently been informed that the
ACC Association
Northern Ireland Veterans’ Association (NIVA)
I cannot believe that when I Chairman & Council Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial
members elected by Arboretum (NMA) on 12th September is cancelled
penned ‘Secretary’s Notes’ for
the membership: as are many other events leading up to the Autumn.
the last edition which was
Lt Col Nigel Shepherd At the time of writing, plans for Remembrance
published in early December
Chairman weekend in November are still being made by the
2019, so much would have
Major Erik Crichton
changed by the time I wrote Members’ Representative Royal British Legion. I suspect large gatherings
this just a few months later. Mr Bob Nicol will be on hold for some while but hopefully this
I recall that I mentioned the Members’ Representative will be relaxed in time for the Cenotaph Parade.
then imminent move from Mr Brian Henderson The sad, human tragedy of Covid-19 is well
Deepcut to Worthy Down, which of course has Jones documented, I have no wish to review this here.
Members’ Representative At the time of writing the country is still in
now taken place. My notes very much looked for-
Mr Paul Sieloff lockdown with hopes of a gradual relaxation when
ward to a busy and varied programme of events for
Members’ Representative
2020 including an ‘All-Ranks Reunion’ in Hinckley it is safe to do so. The remainder of this year, and
Ex-Officio subsidiary our events from the Autumn onwards, are still
in early May, the need to move our Corps Sunday
ACC organisation uncertain. However, we have again lost family,
Service from the Royal Garrison Church due members:
to its closure for refurbishment, in addition to Maj Mark Harris friends and colleagues during the past few months.
many other regular events throughout the year. ACC Officers’ Club Some of this is down to the inevitable passage of
Edition 54 also included details of the sad passing Representative time, health issues and otherwise. Members often
of the likes of Major Bruno Burford, Major John Major (Retd) Alan Penny ask me why ‘so and so’ has died and very often I have
ACC & RLC (P&P) no idea. The Royal Hospital Chelsea, for example,
Brumfitt, Captain Terry Hall and General Sir John
Sergeants’ Assn has an understandable policy of not releasing any
Wilsey to name but a few. Little did any of us know
Representative ‘medical in confidence’ information. I have therefore
what the next 6 months was to bring. Lt Col Tony Monk
The first great shock for me was the sad passing ACC Golf Society no real idea whether Coronavirus has had a greater
of my great friend and colleague Colonel Wally Representative impact upon the number of deaths we have seen in
Torrington, President of the ACC Officers’ Club, Administrative &
just after Christmas 2019. A full tribute to him may Co-Opted members:
be found elsewhere in this edition. I enjoyed The Major Wally Vincent 2020 Dates for the Diary
RLC ski club trip to Les Arc in late January, though Association Secretary
missing a day’s skiing as I was definitely below par Major Dougie Dau ACC Association
ACC Benevolence
for a while at the beginning of the year; nothing Thursday 5th November Opening Ceremony of the Field
Representative
serious though. By the beginning of February, the of Remembrance
Mr Colin MacDonald
outbreak and spread of Coronavirus was beginning Web Master, Media & Sunday 8th November Cenotaph Parade (limited to
to look like it might be problematic and then in Communications 45 tickets) and lunch at the VSC
March the whole world began to change. The rest, Mr Mike Coyle Sunday 8th November National Memorial Arboretum
as they say, is history. 167 Catering Support
Regiment Liaison Remembrance Ceremony,
Shortly after the lockdown began, most of us
Representative everyone welcome
were requested not to visit Worthy Down and to
work from home, which for me was not a problem ACC & RLC Chefs (P&P) Sergeant’s Association
as I do mostly anyway. However, we began a process Friday 28th August Combined Sergeants’ (P&P)
of checking-in daily using WhatsApp, attending Association and Officers’ Club
Zoom meetings and working remotely, just like reception and curry supper at the
everyone else really. There were some tasks that I Victory Services Club
do at Worthy Down that will have to wait but it
ACC Officers’ Club
could be much worse. I then started the inevitable
Friday 28th August Combined Officers’ Club and
and unwelcome task of cancelling our spring and
Sergeant’s (P&P) Association
summer events including the All-Ranks Reunion
reception and curry supper at the
and Corps Sunday. Founder’s Day at the Royal
Victory Services Club
Hospital Chelsea in early June was cancelled as
Friday 23rd October Ladies Dinner Night, Aldershot
the Hospital went into lockdown earlier than
the rest of the nation to protect its In Pensioners
Front cover: The Secretary of the ACC Association, Major (Retd) Wally Vincent, commemorating the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. Due to COVID-19, all parades and church services
were cancelled but Wally dressed for the occasion and may be seen standing in front of his next door neighbour’s limited edition ‘Pegasus’ Royal Enfield, courtesy of Sqn Ldr
(Retd) Bryan Symons. Following two minutes silence, where another local resident played the Last Post and Reveille, a socially distanced street party took place with many
neighbours enjoying a BBQ in their front gardens.

Editor: Major (Retd) Wally Vincent | Telephone: 01962 887767 | Email: secretary@accassociation.org | Website: www.accassociation.org
ACC Association, RHQ The RLC, Worthy Down, Winchester, Hants SO21 2RG

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