Saluting St Barbara

The Royal Artillery Officers’ Association and 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment RA held their annual dinner in honour of their patron saint, St Barbara, at Brigadier Philip Toosey Army Reserve Centre, Aigburth.

Lieut Gen Professor Sir Edmund Burton presided and principal guests included Maj Gen Rob Weighill, who gave his perspective on the present state of the regiment and proposed the traditional toast, Mr Robert Owen, Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside; Mr Paul Griffiths Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and Brig William Kingdon, Honorary Colonel. Lieut Col Tim Reade, Commanding Officer, read the loyal message to The Queen. The programme of music was provided by The Band of the Lancashire Artillery Volunteers, directed by Capt Guy Booth and by The Pipes and Drums of the Regiment, led by Drum Major, Bombardier Chris Baxter.

He was awarded a Commanding Officer’s coin on his retirement from the Reserve forces.