March 2025 E-Update

Dear Association Member, 

Please find a summary of information, events, and articles that you may find of interest.

Upcoming LD Association Events of Interest:

26th April Hull reunion

The annual Hull reunion will take place on Saturday 26th April at The King Edward Pub on Analby Rd Hull. There is accommodation local to the Pub if it is required, everyone will be made welcome, and it would be wonderful to see some more serving Light Dragoons at the gathering.

11th  May 101ST COCCA Cavalry Memorial Parade

The 101st CCOCA Cavalry Memorial Parade will take place on Sunday the 11th May, we look forward to seeing as many Association members on Parade as possible. The normal supper on the Saturday evening at the Royal Hospital Cheslea will not happen, although we are working to resolve the issues that has prevented this event from occurring.

11th May Officers Lunch

Lunch will be arranged at the Cavalry and Guards Club for after the Parade, more to follow, the Club have had problems with their IT system and as we send this email out, they are unable to provide a menu or cost per person, more to follow.

13th June Newcastle Quayside get together.

The annual June gathering at the Weatherspoon’s Quayside will take place on Friday 13th June from Noon onwards. Unlike last year the weather has been booked to be hot and sunny and we look forward to welcoming all Association and serving members of the Regiment to the event.

21st June Military v Cancer Rugby Event

The Armed Forces Day Rugby Event, taking place at Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle, on 21 June 2025. This event will showcase the UK Armed Forces Rugby teams against the North Select XV men’s and women’s teams, celebrating our military community while raising vital funds for those members of the Armed Forces Community impacted by cancer.

Tickets for the game are already available via:

Defence Discount Service (for serving and veteran personnel including family): https://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk/offerdetails.php?cid=22774

Newcastle Falcons (all other personnel): https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/Events

27th June North East Golf

We are in the process of looking for a new venue to freshen the event up a little, once we have confirmed the location, we will distribute a separate letter to golf playing Association members.

1st – 3rd August Barnsley Smoker

The annual Barnsley Smoker Event will take place over the first weekend of August, Steve Fretwell has booked the weather, the event appears to grow in popularity year on year. Please try to attend all  or any part of the weekend, even if you just pop in for a brew and a chat you will be warmly welcomed.

9th August Durham Smoker

New Venue, this event will be held in the Dunelm Club, 55 Old Elvet Durham DH1 3HN, please note this event will take place on a Saturday starting at 6 pm, a buffet will be provided, and a small charge will be taken at the door. Numbers last year were a little down on previous years so please try to pop in and support. .

Miscellaneous 

July 2026 Presentation of the new Guidon 

The presentation to the Regiment of the new Guidon will take place over the weekend of 24-26 July 2026.

Association members are encouraged to support this memorable once in a generation event if they can do so. The presentation will take place in or close to Catterick Garrison and will comprise of a full weekend of activities and events with the highlight on the 25 July being the Guidon Parade itself.

More details to follow in due course, however we will be sending out a form for Association members to complete to gauge numbers likely to attend.

New Association Website

We have been working to refresh the Association website, we are making great progress and will continue to improve it over the coming weeks.

Please contact HHQ if you have any suggestions on how we can continue to improve it.

On Afghanistan’s Plains

Brigadier Allan Mallinson has recorded in a book the Regiments tours of Afghanistan. The book puts into historical context the reasons why the British Army found it there again, in a geopolitical sense why we had to be there and what things were like on the ground for those deployed there. The book is available to Association members for a cost of £10 which should be made payable to the following:

The Light Dragoons Regimental Association Charitable Trust
Sort 30-11-75
Account number 00747329

Please quote BOOK and Surname when ordering.

Notifying HHQ

When an Association member sadly passes away, we kindly ask that those  from the Association who may have known the deceased or who are in contact with the family of the deceased contact HHQ and inform us of the sad event, this can be done via the Association website now under the Association tab at “Report a death” 

Light Dragoon Peer Support Group (LDPSG) 

LDPSG offers a confidential listening service to all our Veterans and Association members, they can be contacted on 0330 1077 467 Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm The aim of the LDPSG is to help those who are struggling in any areas of their personal lives. 

They are not psychologists or clinicians – we are ex Light Dragoon soldiers who have served and lived alongside you, with an understanding of the obstacles in life after service, this service is open to all who served with the Light Dragoons and our antecedent Regiments. 

Op Courage 

The first call for help takes courage.  If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or wellbeing, expert help is available from Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. 

If you are due to leave the Armed Forces, just left the Armed Forces or left many years ago, Op COURAGE is there to help, to access information please follow the link below:

Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists – NHS

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