Welshpool RWF Comrades Branch

It is with great sadness that the Branch reflects on the passing of our most senior member, Mr Roy Beeston. Roy was born June 1934 at Llanymynech. Roy attended The County Grammar School in Welshpool. On leaving school he started an apprenticeship as a bricklayer with a local company; Water Watkins. His call-up for National Service was deferred for two years so he could finish the apprenticeship. When he was eventually called-up he went to Hightown Barracks in Wrexham and joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

After completing basic training, he was posted to the 2 RWF and the Battalion was sent to Malaya to fight in the ongoing Emergency 1954-56 ... Because he was a bricklayer by trade, he was posted into 2RWF's Regimental Pioneer Platoon, who responsible for all the building work, carpentry etc, within the Battalion, however he still undertook Jungle patrols, as the battalion tracked-down the insurgents. On completing his tour of Malaya, he came home and left the Army. Roy was almost immediately recruited by Montgomeryshire County Council as a bricklayer. He also joined the Montgomeryshire Fire Service and he was a volunteer fireman for many years.

Roy met a Welshpool lady , Joan Morgan , and they married in March 1959. They had two daughters Lesley and Tracy and later three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In the early sixties Roy left the Council and he and Joan started a new life as landlords of the Crown Hotel in Welshpool. Later they moved to the Lion Hotel in Llanymynech until they retired. Sadly Roy was pre-deceased by both Joan and his daughter, Tracey.

Roy joined our Branch in the 1970's and in 2012, he was made President of the Branch until 2014. Since then he has been Vice-President of the Branch.

Roy' s funeral will be at Wrexham Crematorium on Friday 28th July at 11-30 hrs. and then at the Parish Church in Llanymynech at 13-00 hrs. Afterwards the Wake will be at The Bradford Arms, Llanymynech. Roy will be sadly missed by us all, he used to keep us all entertained with his wealth of brilliant stories, and his wry, humorous outlook on life .....

Turn to your right, Old Soldier, duty done.

Col Rogers.

We are deeply saddened to report the death of our much-respected Branch President; Major Monty Robinson. He passed away peacefully after a short illness on the 20th February 2023 aged 93. We send our deepest condolences to his Family and Friends. His passing is a great loss.

Major Monty was commissioned into the Royal Welch Fusiliers on 16 December 1949. He served with 1RWF in the West Indies, Dortmund, Berlin and in the UK. He spent time as an instructor at the Mons Officer Cadet School, he also served with 24th Infantry Brigade, 1 SWB, 4RWF and the Welsh Volunteers in Cardiff. In later service he held a number of Army Staff appointments at BAOR, SHAPE and the MOD. He retired from the army in 1978, but continued to serve his Regiment as Chairman of the RWF Comrades Association from 1987 to 2006.

One of the first things he did on retirement from the Army was join the Welshpool Branch of the RWF Comrades Association and has been an active member ever since. He has been our Treasurer, President and ever-present mentor and guide.
We will miss him.

EVENT CANCELLED.
DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED

Edited message from Vincent Morris:

"Hi, I’ll be laying a wreath at Evan Jones Grave in Welshpool on January the 22nd 2023, the anniversary of the battle that took place in 1879. A small service will commence at 15:00hrs, anyone interested in attending please inbox me. Not planning to do this every year, but thought it fitting, being as his headstone has just been laid.

All are welcome."

Today we mourn the passing of our Colonel in Chief. Her Majesty The Queen.

God Save The King

Yesterday 27th July, a former Royal Welchman Vincent Morris, and others, installed a headstone at the grave of Pte Evan Jones at St Mary's Churchyard, Welshpool. Evan Jones fought at Rorke's Drift in 1879. He died in 1931. The official unveiling will take place on Sat 6th August. Details shown elsewhere on this page.
A fitting memorial to an old soldier.

Friday 6th May 2022. At Welshpool.