Branch Meeting.
26 people sat down with another 16 on Zoom, 42 in total.
Details regarding the funeral of Reg Fox were given, we are expecting 6 x RTRA standards to be present with an estimated 90 RTR retired and serving soldiers attending. It was confirmed that the RTR Pipe Major will be present.
Recap of activity was limited to the Ukraine War presentation at the Union Jack Club in London which several branch members attended.
Members were reminded about the RTRA sponsored Church Service & Curry Lunch at Bovington on Sunday 16th March 2025. The Secretary reminded everyone that the Regimental Journal is due to be published this month.
The Secretary also confirmed that he is in discussions with the Poole Branch of the Royal British Legion about organising a wreath laying service at the War Memorial in Poole Park to commemorate VE Day 80, this because the local council are not planning to do anything!
It was agreed that we would invite Maj Ben Mitchell (Canadian Army) and his wife as our official guests to the 2026 Ladies Lunch.
It was also announced that we are in discussions with the MP for Poole, Neil Duncan-Jordan about him sponsoring a visit for up to 20 branch members to visit the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) during either June or July. Details to follow.
Neil is also keen to be a guest speaker at a branch meeting but is unable to attend on a Tuesday due to commitments at Westminster. The branch members agreed to move the date of one branch meeting (probably October) to a Friday to allow Neil to address the branch. Maybe we will finally learn just much an MP pays for a bottle of bubbly at the bar?
The meeting then closed, and the guest speaker introduced.
Lt Col Mike Fielder RTR gave a most interesting presentation about his 2-year tour as the Commandant of the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) Colchester and Commanding Officer of the Military Provost Staff (MPS) Regiment.
He began with a short history lesson about detention explaining that it was not until 1884 that Military detention was separated from civilian detention/Imprisonment. In 1898 Lt Col Garsia became Inspector General of Military Prisons and reorganised the whole system to lean towards rehabilitation rather than just punishment. He also arranged the creation of military detention staff rather than civilian jailors.
He then showed the MCTC as it is today, describing the training regimes for both those returning to service after detention and those being discharged once their sentence was complete. He explained the difference between detention and imprisonment. He showed the requirements needed for those who want to transfer to the MPS (you cannot enlist into the MPS straight from Civilian life) The term “Glasshouse” was explained, the Army detention Centre in Aldershot was a Victorian building with a huge glass roof. Mike also explained that soldiers are no longer held in cells in unit guardrooms, they go to regional detention facilities where they are looked after by detention specialists.
There was of course so much more, it was a very well received presentation which was enjoyed by all those lucky enough to be present.
Fear Naught
