Saturday evening saw the much delayed formal dining out for three members of the Officers Mess who had retired over the last two years. Lieutenant Colonel Jon Hurst with over 10 years of cadet service and Major Robert (Bob) Maxwell with over 24 years of cadet service finally hung up their boots in 2020 having decided it was time for a well-earned retirement. They were joined in retirement by Lieutenant Paul Davies-Cooke.
Standing in for the Commandant Col Martin L Craven Deputy Commandant Gavin Jones was delighted to record the contribution and years services to the ACF and gifts were presented by Honorary Colonel Nick Lock OBE in the presence of over 20 Mess Members.
One additional complication of the Covid-19 Pandemic period was that it had not been possible to formally mark the handover of the position of Honorary Colonel from Col Nick Beard to Col Nick Lock. This was remedied when Colonel Cadets Wales, and former Clwyd and Gwynedd Commandant, Col LT Williams was finally able to present a retirement gift from the Officers Mess to Col Nick and thank him for his many years as Honorary Colonel.
In responding Col Nick presented the Mess with two engraved Welsh Crystal decanters.
We all thank Col Nick not just for his years of valued service but for the lasting mementos and wish all the retirees well in their retirement.
