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		. Battalion News - (Friends for Lunch, Bricks Getting Hung, Snow was Falling, Flutes getting played, carols getting sung, and NAKED COLDSTREAMERS!) Battalion update as at 17 Dec 08 A Busy week indeed At the time of writing this update the 'Hougoumont or Bust' team are pushing through their challenge to try and complete 650 miles in under 85 hours. The challenge is for the team to cover over 650 miles, the equivalent distance from Coldstream (Scotland) to Hougoumont (Belgium) in a run, row and cycle - 470 miles run, 27 miles row and 147 mile cycle ride. The started yesterday (15th) and is due to finish the run phase (part 1 of 3) tomorrow afternoon. By that time each member of the team will have completed over 40 miles on foot (running). The event has a dedicated section to this website, available by clicking here. KEEP REFRESHING THE PAGE FOR UPDATES! The festive season holds many events from 'Hanging the Brick' to the 'Junior Ranks Christmas Lunch', all of which are now online (details are below). Monday the 8th of December saw the annual clash of the Officers' Mess Vs the Sergeants' Mess Football Match. Unfortunately ShinyCapstar was not there due to other commitments but from what we've heard it was a cracking match which the Sergeants' Mess eventually won 6-2. Any members of the Battalion who have any images from the football match can get them on the site by e-mailing them to us at shinymessageboard@yahoo.co.uk
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		Working Lunch - Farewell to WOII Claydon, WOII Boisson & CSgt Coombe The Sergeants' Mess recently said farewell to three mess members holding a working lunch for all those that wished to attend. It is a reflection of the characters and likeability of these individuals that nearly 100 Mess Members attending the event despite the busy period. Images from this event are below (click images to enlarge)
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		Hanging the Brick 2008 11 Dec 08 On Thursday 11th December 2008, the Sergeants' Mess held the annual tradition of Hanging of the Brick. Another fantastic success with some 'outstanding' and very 'imaginative' fancy dress costumes. A separate section for this event has been uploaded with loads and loads of images including the group shot outside the Sergeants' Mess. Read and see more here ......
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		Sergeants' Mess 2008 Christmas Ball 13 Dec 08 Snow was promised to Mess Members for the Christmas Ball held on Saturday 13th December 2008................. and snow was delivered! This year, the Sergeants' Mess decided to do something different for the Christmas Ball and it was held in a Dickensian Theme. All Mess Members wore morning dress hired locally from Windsor Formal Hire and all ladies were dressed fantastically. WOII (RQMS) Vern Stokes and his team (in particular Robbo the Pioneer Sgt and his boys) worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the event the outstanding success it was. The Battalion marquee was errected and was the meeting point for pre-drinks (lovely gluvein) and hot roast chestnuts. Present in the Marquee were a choir singing Christmas Carols accompanied by a the Regimental Band. Also on display were the prizes that mess members could win on the Christmas Draw later that evening, including plasma TV's, PS3's and a motor bike! (see image below) The Town Crier (Ben the Mess Manager) announced dinner and all moved from the marquee to the gym that had been decked out to look like Dunbar Gardens (amazing). The whole atmosphere was 'just right' and with everyone dressed up to the hilt it worked. On entering the gym, guests passed through a grotto that had snow falling from the ceiling (told you there was snow) and through to the leaf covered area that most would have previously know as the place to get beasted! There were trees, plants shrubs and garden benches everywhere, and tables had previously been selected to a maximum of 12. Everyone took their places and any guests found a gift from the Sergeants' Mess on their place mat (terrific silver plated earring/pill boxes) and started tucking into their pre-laid salmon starters. The rest of the evening's found was a Traditional Christmas Dinner that was brought to tables by 'table urchins'. One member of each table would volunteer to carve the meet, huge turkey and gammon joints, and dish out the food. Drinks were brought to guests by individual table urchins who were dressed in the same theme and looked like they had just dropped out of a 'Oliver Twist' panto. This was finished off with a choice of desserts that all would find pleasing. The Entertainment for the evening was a close up table magician that surely did a pact with the devil before coming to Victoria Barracks. His tricks were amazing and left all tables gob-smacked in amazement. The Regimental Band who had just got warmed up from the Christmas Carols had a quick change and transformed themselves into 'The Red Hot Nulli Peppers'. The Bn were lucky enough to have the Nulli Peppers at last years all ranks function so the Sergeant's Mess knew exactly what to expect - and they did not disappoint. All that have seen these men perform will agree that they are top class if not the best calibre of music and entertainment around and the next act up would have surely had a smile on their face knowing that everyone was warmed up. Flares, a tribute act, followed the Regimental Band and had everyone up dancing with their hits and excellent music. All this entertainment plus with the added bonus of a champagne/quiet room that was available in what once was a squash court but was now transformed into a gentleman's quiet room. Further down the corridor guests had the chance to pop in and have their palms or cards read. I for one refused as the forecast of events has recently been updated so I know exactly what and where I'm on! A good night, that was still 'bouncing' at 2am. Thanks must go to Ben and all the Sergeants' Mess Staff, the bar staff, the table urchins that volunteered from Company's, Cpl Sarah Brewer and her gang of fantastic chefs and last but not least to everyone who attended the event and made the atmosphere the one where you can really enjoy yourself! Images from the function are below (click to enlarge)
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		Corps of Drums Annual Inspection 15 Dec 08 The Corps of Drums recently had their annual inspection by the Company Commander Drumming School. Images are below of the Corps of Drums on display, also present was Captain Johnson (Irish Gds) Coy Comd Drumming School, the Senior Drum Major WO1 Shaun Huggins, The Adjutant and Regimental Sergeant Major.
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		Battalion Guardsman's & Lance Corporals Xmas Lunch Below are images from the Xmas Lunch that recently took place in the main cookhouse in Victoria Barracks. Officers and Seniors from the Battalion traditionally served all those that sat for the meal. Those that sat for lunch had a few tinnes, pulled a few crackers, popped a few party poppers and YES had a food fight! The Commanding Officer served the lunch and then with a quick change met the 'Sarnt Major to accompany him on a lap for the Hougoumont or Bust challenge. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Guardmans & Lance Corporals Christmas Dinner at the Manor Hotel Below are images from the Manor Hotel in Dachet. The Lions Club of Windsor were kind enough to supply the Battalion with 40 spaces for a Christmas Dinner at the Manor Hotel. The Commanding Officer decided that these tickets should be given to any Guardsmen and Lance Corporals that wished to attend. click images to enlarge
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		Battalion Carol Service 17 Dec 08 Just before the Battalion departed on some well deserved Xmas Leave there were a couple of traditional briefs to get out of the way. Firstly, all were invited to turn up at the gym at 9am for a brief on the next posting for the Battalion, Aldershot. The Battalion will move early next year and the morning's briefs were to inform everyone on the claims that all are entitled to and what to expect from the new barracks and Aldershot. After the briefs, the Battalion paraded for the traditional Christmas Carol Service where all enjoyed the delights of 'Good King Wencelas', 'Once in Royal Davids City', 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing', 'O Come all ye Faithful' and 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'. The Service was held by The Revd DP Conning and readings were read by the Commanding Officer, Lt Col TW Gray - The Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 A Johnson, 2Lt B Rutt and Gdsm Boyer. After the service the Commanding Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major presented some athletics awards to members of the Battalion Images from the service are below:
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		And Finally .................. 17 Dec 08 After the Carol Service and Presentations the Commanding Officer spoke to all that were present and told them of the next year ahead in Planet Coldstream. He finished by commenting on the recent TESSEX that the Battalion successfully completed. He explained to all that the Officers and Sergeants Mess had a shared dining room on exercise and he was present during a conversation between the Sniper Sgt (Paul Baines) and the Mortar Colour Sergeant (Benny Burnett). Sgt Baines had asked the Commanding Officer if there was any news on the 'Quad Bikes' that he had requested for the sniper platoon to use on the exercise. The conversation went on and was ended by the CSgt Burnett saying 'If the Sniper Platoon get quad bikes i'll ride around Victoria Barracks NAKED!'. The snipers got their quad bikes! The Commanding Officer asked for the front gates of barracks to be closed and invited the Battalion to form up outside and CSgt Burnett to step outside and do the deed on a quad bike that was waiting outside for him! What follows are the images from this event, and although normally we wouldn't post this on the website we decided to as there were many mobile phones around and before rumours circulate on 'The naked rider of the Coldstream Guards', YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT AND WHY IT HAPPENED! HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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