Celebration for Royal Artillery Association (From Bucks Free Press)

Celebration for Wycombe and District Royal Artillery Association

4:04pm Monday 10th September 2012 in News By Laura Dew

MEMBERS of the Wycombe and District Royal Artillery Association came together today to celebrate the branch's fourth anniversary.

The event, held at the Wycombe Marsh Royal British Legion Club, was attended by branch members, Army servicemen, town mayor Chauhdry Shafique and Councillor Roger Emmet, vice-chairman of Wycombe District Council.

Attendees enjoyed a buffet lunch and a presentation from current Artillery servicemen based at RAF High Wycombe.

The branch currently has 30 members and President Nick Launders said it was vital younger members started joining up.

He said: "Veteran's organisations and regimental associations are going through a crisis, younger people in their late 30s and 40s are not joining up. Veteran's organisations are important as they raise the funds that pay for many of the funds for Afghanistan casualties."

Member John Tripp from Holmer Green said he had been involved with the branch since it started in 2008. He said: "I enjoy meeting fellow members and talking about old times. I'm very active in the community but for those who aren't, it gives them a contact point and an interest."

Warrant officer Class Two Jason Henderson spoke about his work in the Artillery division where he has worked for 18 years.

He said: "The Royal Artillery Association is very important as it provides somewhere for ex-servicemen to go to, comraderie and events when they leave the Armed Forces. There's lots of support for members of the Artillery."

He said the Artillery division had been heavily involved in the Olympics where they worked on rooftop missiles and air observers. A benefit of the section's Olympic work had been highlighting to officials the lack of funds available for the section and he said he hoped this would now change.

Mr Launders ended by saying; "We expect to support those who are on the front line and those who, because of their injuries, remain on the front line.

"It's vital for us to support individuals because every soldier is also a civilian."

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