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Silverpiece Project

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Association Silver Centrepiece Project


Project Update - May 2023


Report by the Association Chairman

I am delighted to report that the Fundraising Phase for the Association Silver Centrepiece Project came to a successful end on Monday 3rd of April 2023. Together we are now in a position to honour the service of all the thousands of Artillery Clerks in a visible and permanent way as we move closer to unveiling a commemorative silver centrepiece at the next Reunion Dinner weekend (23rd – 25th June 2023) in Larkhill.

Financial Analysis

The Fundraising Campaign attracted the stunning total of £12,411,25 (including £1,756.25 refunded through Gift Aid) from the following:

  • 5 x Grants from Grant Giving Friends of the Association
  • 60 x Donations from Association Members
  • 4 x Donations from Honorary Presidents
  • 4 x Donations from Honorary Members
  • 13 x Donations from Association Members “In Memoriam of Absent Friends"

In November 2022, the Association Committee resolved that 41.5% of the surplus is to be donated to the RACF and that the Association is to retain the remaining surplus funds as a contingency and to service the costs of incidental expenses arising out of the 2023 Reunion weekend. The Association Committee also delegated authority to the Chairman, Reunion Secretary and Treasurer to execute proper distribution of these surplus funds.

Design and Specifications

The original vision of the proposed Centrepiece were circulated and can be found via the Association Silver Piece Flier

A Computer-Aided Design (CAD) can be found via, Silverpiece CAD.

I am pleased to share some images of the “work in progress”, and the final list of donors as of 3rd April 2023.

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Silverbase & Quill

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Base & Perspex Cover

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Base_with_extending_drawer

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Base with front drawer

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Silver Quills awaiting chasing

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Silver Quills with Chasing

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Silverbox 1

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Silverbox 2

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Silverbox 3

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - 1 x Silver Quill Chased

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - the Crossed Quills Chased

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Progress Picture with Quills on Plinth

  

Image of the progress of the Association Silverpiece - Progress Picture with AC design on Plinth

  

The final “Acknowledgement” Silver plate, showing all donors as of 3rd April 2023, looks like this. Click for a bigger image:

Silver Piece Plaque Idea

As Association Chairman I am hugely proud that some members made anonymous additional personal contributions to ensure that their former colleagues and friends will be included, with other past and much-loved members, in memoriam. I would like to share with you three heart-warming comments I received from some of the next-of-kin::

  • From Heather Morland (daughter of Bill Morland) - “He was so proud of his many years in the army and the life that it offered to him and our family! Being a soldier was such an integral part of who he was, and he would love that he has been remembered by others in this way.”. 
  • From Carol McGilvery (widow of George McGilvery) - “I still miss George so much. It's nice to know that others in the Association do too. I would love to hear more about the memorial you are planning.” 
  • From Janet Brown (widow of Graham Brown) - “It is, indeed, a beautiful piece of which you all will be rightfully proud. I look forward to receiving the lapel badge in due course and will wear it with pride.”

Finally, in union with the Association Committee, I would like to thank all members and honorary members who have embraced this project – we could not have reached our target (and more!!) without your encouragement and support.

I look forward to catching up with many of you for the unveiling at the Reunion Dinner at Larkhill on Saturday 24th June 2023.

Joe Falzon
Chairman