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Liverpool Branch
President:-
Colonel (Ret,d) J. Harkon MBE TD. DL
 joe.harkon@gmail.com

 

Registered Charity Number 1125765

 

Chairman: Bruce Cargill 0151 474 2479 cargills1947@hotmail.co.uk

Secretary: Brian Welsh Mobile 0787 1901 206 brianwelsh4@icloud.com

 Treasurer: Michael Hurst 0151 547 4776 michaelwhurst@yahoo.co.uk

 

Minutes of the Meeting on hold: 
The Aintree Conservative Club , Lancing Drive,,
Liverpool L10 8LN.
January 2021

​

Courtesy of our Secretary Brian Welsh:
 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Happy New year and as we enter National Lockdown number three, it has never been more important to tighten our belts, dig in and try refrain from falling out with our better half’s. There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel with the introduction of the vaccine and regional hubs to speed up inoculating the population. It will, I’m sure be a slow return to some sort of normality, but even with the current lockdown restrictions and the vaccines being rolled out this seems to be springtime at the earliest. We will continue to share information as quickly and effectively as possible without the ability to meet monthly, but be sure, as soon as it is safe to do so we will start our face to face monthly branch meetings as soon as possible.

 

Welfare Report

Bruce has been in contact with 20 members over the last couple of days with some having two jabs and many having one, but generally everyone seems to be looking after themselves are all safe. Both Col Joe Harkon and Mike Hurst have recently been diagnosed as COVID -19 positive and after a tough time are slowly on the mend. Get better soon gents and we look forward to you getting back to full health.

I would ask that if any of us have the virus, self-isolating or simply locked down at home, please keep in touch with us even for simple things like shopping and I’m sure we can support each other’s simple needs.

 

 

Treasurers update

Mike has been asked by a few members if we are still collecting subs for 2021. We believe it is important to continue to collect subs as I think we would all agree there will be a number of events and celebrations in the latter period of 2021 we will be able to subsidise, not least of which would be the Freedom Roll of Association from Liverpool City Council.

Accounts 2020:

Attached is a copy of the Branch accounts s of 14th December 2020. £7850 of the balance is the lottery fund money which will be spent on members and should not at this point in time be considered as ours, but is to be spent in accordance with the programme compiled by Beacon.

At some stage over the coming weeks we will begin to forecast what events are on the horizon for the branch and start to pencil in some provisional dates for 2021.

We still have a number of 2021 diaries available so please contact Mike or myself if you wish one and between us we will get it to you as soon as possible. The good news is that I’m sure you won’t be rushing to fill in appointments before the end of February

 

Charity event

A number of the members have signed up for a charity event to raise money for soldiers, veterans and their families

We will be taking part in the Cateran Yomp!! Before my phone starts ringing like mad, I assure you the term “Yomp” is just something we will have to reluctantly put up with L

The event is a 54 mile walk in 24hrs around the Cairngorms and is due to take place on 5th-6th June. Already we have 3 of our members signed up for the event.

May I take this opportunity to thank a number of you for sponsoring me to date and appreciate your support. If you would like to sponsor the team, please use the following link:

https://events.soldierscharity.org/fundraisers/brianwelsh

Date: Tuesday, 3rd February 2026.

Present:
28 members were present at the meeting.

The Branch Chair opened the meeting at 2000hrs.

Apologies for absence:
Ian Whiteside, Roy Bevan, Ken Barney, Jim O’Connell, Danny Hart, Wally Thorburn, Joe Pettigrew, Stan Fortune, Tony Woods. Neil Platt, Steve Miley, Tommy Dempsey, Steve Doran.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:
The minutes of the previous meeting were proposed by Dave Woodray and seconded by Frank Boyle.

Matters Arising: N/A

Visitors/new members: 1

Chair's Report:
Bruce opened the meeting with apologies for the cancellation of the January 2026 meeting, which was due to works being undertaken at the venue.

Bryce, on behalf of the branch, paid respects to those we lost in 2025 and, more recently, Chris Bates in 2026.

Bruce reiterated the ongoing drive to encourage new members to join the branch and for us all to push the benefits to those who are not yet members. We have produced business cards for members to hand out to any interested people with details on joining.

It was also encouraging to know that the Wirral Branch are slowly growing in numbers and had 12 members at their last meeting.

Brian, our Branch Secretary, will send a message to our PRA WhatsApp group with information on how potential members can join.

Welfare report:
Bruce contacted several members of the branch over the last few weeks and provided an update. Members sent their best wishes to all of those who are unable to get to the branch meetings. It is important to make sure members are regularly contacted, and if a phone call or a quick visit can be arranged by members, this would make a massive difference for those who are unable to attend the branch meetings personally to meet with friends.

Remember that if members require additional support, it is available through the branch, where we can contact the Regimental Welfare Team, who are trained to deal with a variety of issues and cases that are more complex. Tony Woods is currently unwell, and if anybody wishes to visit him, please contact Bruce.

Secretary's Report:
The new date for unveiling of the Airborne Forces Statue is 31st July 2026.
The statue will be in Abbey Field, adjacent to the 16 Air Assault Brigade’s front gate at Merville Barracks.
All Associations are encouraged to attend this event.
The branch Secretary will contact Mike Farrington (NW PRA Chair) with a view to arranging transport to support those who wish to attend across the Region to potentially save some money if enough wish to attend.
It was agreed at the branch that, due to Joe Harkon’s daughter, Freya, representing the Regiment on behalf of her late Father, we would consider appointing her as an Honorary Branch member. Although the branch voted in favour of this request, Brian Welsh will review the constitution and bring this back to January’s meeting.

Brian Welsh would arrange the booking of Altcar Camp facilities in March 2026 for a commemorative event for Joe Harkon.
The Camp commandant has had to suspend this booking due to ongoing works on-site. He will contact Brian Welsh with an alternative date as soon as possible.

The new PARA App, funded by Support Our Paras, is a platform for Serving Personnel, Veterans and Partners & Families. It will transform the way we can communicate, connect and engage across the entire Regimental Family and airborne community. The app is now available to download in the App Store & Google Play Store in December, as well as accessible by website access from your home computer, laptop or tablet. The PRA are the driving force behind this App, so please get involved. To upload the App on your device, click this link using the password 1942 to register: https://link.militaryapp.org/para/fcEzu

An additional brief reminding members of the procedure to submit claims for TA/Reserve pensions: Pensions update for those applying for their TA pensions. Once your training days have been received from Glasgow via the government website https://submit-a-data-protection-request.service.mod.uk/start, they will be training days ONLY over the period you served.

MOD pay Offices only keep pay slips for a period of 7 years after discharge, therefore pay scales are no longer available to them.

When you apply for your training days following the link above, in the drop-down box which asks for proof of service, write in the free text box that you require your pfile. This will then be directed to the Army Personnel Centre (APC), who will send you your file, which may have details around pay scales you were on during the period of service.

The appeal from the MOD has been refused; therefore, continue to gather information on your records of service.

Regimental Commemoration Day 24-26 July 2026 The National AGM will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Airewas, Staffordshire, on Saturday 25th July. We have booked a minibus for the event, so all those wishing to attend MUST provide Brian Welsh with names, especially for those who wish to book a lunch.

Treasurer's Report:
Reminder from Treasure to those who have yet to pay subs. £30.00 per year or pay in instalments.

The Hard Days Night Hotel has offered the branch a provisional booking for 2026 for 12th December.

Events sub-committee N/A Future events














AOB:
Lunch served at 1400, Mick Coleman provided an update ref laying of the colours at St Nics.
Mick will be meeting the new Vicar on Thursday, 5th February and will report back.

Kevin Hughes informed the members of a trip to Ypres, 3 nights and 4 days, on October 1st to 4th. Travel from Altcar, with the event being arranged by the Royal Engineers Association.
Five Liverpool PRA members have already booked on the trip.
Contact Kevin Hughes if interested.

Chris Baine's funeral details:
12th February at 11.45,
St Teresa's Church,
Sedgemoor Road,
Norris Green,
Then to Everton Cemetery,
And finally, to raise a glass to Chris's memory at
Queen of Martyrs,
Croxteth Hall Lane.

Close Meeting:The 
Branch Chair closed the meeting at 21.00hrs
Date of next meeting Tuesday, 3rd March 2026 at 20.00hrs
AVCC Sports And Social Club,
Lancing Drive.
Aintree

Brian Welsh, Branch Secretary, Liverpool PRA Approved:

Please check out the events list on the website for details of Regimental and Local events near you: www.theparachuteregimentalassociation.com 
 

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