Inaugural RIR Regimental dinner

The gala event was attended by 40 members of the Association and their wives and the top table included the chairman of the RIR Association Branch chairman, Jason Dougherty, the Branch Secretary Paul Rochester and their wives Lorraine and Gail, respectively, as well as the guest of honour, Major Alan McPeake, MBE, from Regimental HQ Belfast and his wife, Jill.

Speeches were given by Mr Dougherty, who told members about the motivation he felt to take part in the Waterside Half Marathon which raised £700 in aid of the Association.

Relating how he had served the Regiment for 16 years, he said he had been sitting at home one evening watching a documentary about Afghanistan, when he realised his children were interacting on their laptops and smart phones : “I just realised in that moment that the Army had basically set me up and I thought I wanted to give something back, so I came up with the idea of running the Waterside half Marathon.”

Mr Dougherty said that all the money raised was collected in a short window between the end of August and the half marathon in September, and the contributors consisted of members of the Association, their families and friends.

During the evening Mr Dougherty presented Major McPeake with a cheque for £700, and the Major responded saying if it were not for the Association arranging events it would be difficult to sustain the level of help provided to the bereaved and ex-Service personnel at the current levels. Money raised by the Association is also used to help family members of service personnel injured in conflict or who have come upon hard times since leaving the Regiment.

During the dinner the guests were entertained during the meal by Hamilton Hand and a piper from the Second Battalion the Royal Irish and a vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Dougherty for Tommy Hill, who arranged the event.

A bouquet of flowers was presented to Mrs McPeak by Mr Rochester.