THE 203rd meeting took place at the Holly Bush on April 28. Thirty-one members attended, with 11 apologies.

President Steve Jones welcomed everyone, especially new member Eric Portman. Congratulations were given to Allan Harrison and Raymond Hobart, who had birthdays during the month, and to Horace Jobson celebrating his wedding anniversary.

Best wishes were extended to sick members Brian Wood, Dennis Bond, Arthur McClellan and John Lees.

After lunch, the president introduced speaker Bob Woodfield, who talked of his other rank service in the army.

At an early age, he decided to enlist in the Grenadier Guards before being called up for National Service. On February 7, 1949 he took a train from Alcester to Evesham and then onto London, arriving at Caterham to join up with a further 24 recruits for basic training.

Passing out at the end of May, he took part in the first Trooping the Colour Parade in Tunic Order since before the second world war.

He went to Pirbright for infantry training and in September, when the rest of the squad went off to Germany, he took a month's corporal's course, selected not for any outstanding ability but being required for the soccer, cricket and athletic teams.

He went to Germany in 1951, then to Caterham as a squad instructor and in 1953 rejoined the 2nd battalion in Chelsea Barracks for public duties and the coronation.

He went to Egypt for a two-year tour followed by tours to RMA Sandhurst, ceremonial tours to Ghana and Libya and in 1961 with the 1st battalion to the Cameroons.

He went on to tour as CSM Guards Parachute Company in Cyprus and Borneo and in 1969 was appointed RSM at Army Apprentice College, Arborfield.

Fully expecting to retire in 1971 after 22 years' service, he was commissioned into the regiment, finally retiring in 1983.