Supporting Epsom and Ewell’s local Regiment!

By Alex Clarke (Chairman EECF)

For those who have never been, let me say that Epsom and Ewell is a great borough, with the Downs often covered in snow in the winter and horse racing in the rest of the year; Headly Heath within easy reach – it is for me, a dog owner, brilliant. It is centred on a real market town high street, with an actual market almost every day – with farmers markets and French markets of special days. It is by any definition an idyllic place to live; and being just 40 minutes by train from either Waterloo or Victoria stations is just the cherry on top of a very well iced cake; in my, a resident since birth, very humble opinion.

Therefore, when Cllr Sullivan proposed to grant the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment the Freedom of the Borough; on the eve of Remembrance Day he had no idea that anyone would even consider voting against it. However, they did, in fact the rest of the committee did – and whilst I am sure all of them turned out on Remembrance Day with their poppies on prominent display, I wonder if they thought of the local families of our borough’s soldiers in our local regiment…and whether they thought about the pride and joy they would have given those families, those mums and dads, brothers and sisters to see their warriors, their local heroes, marching through their home town heads held high! I really wonder about how they denied an honour such as this to so worthy a regiment as the Princes of Wales Royal Regiment, the Tigers?

I am, I admit, a military historian, I believe in showing our gratitude for those who have give their lives for our nation, and its people; but what about showing it to those who still live? The PWRR is a prime example of this living bravery, this ongoing valour; it is the regiment of Johnson Beharry VC and countless winners of the MC are to be found amongst its number – all from the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As well as having had a significant presence, and demonstration of bravery, from battles as far back as Blenheim, Quebec, Minden, Albuhera, Sobraon, Sevastopol, Gallipoli, Ypres, Kohima, Salerno as well as serving in the campaigns in Korea, Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Aden, Borneo and Northern Ireland. Now yes it is a ‘newish’ regiment…and its past is traced through such regiments as it was formed from; the Royal Hampshire, the Middlesex and of course the regiment of importance for Epsom and Ewell…The East Surrey’s (for a full list of this please go to the British Army Site http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/6304.aspx).

I, personally, feel that the extraordinary situation which the residents of Epsom and Ewell now find themselves in has been exasperated by the lack of, for want of a better word, a cognizant reason being given by the councillors who refused to grant the Freedom of the Borough, to the PWRR our Local Regiment. For example they claimed it, the descendant of the East Surreys, was not local enough! Despite, the borough of Epsom and Ewell, being almost in the centre of the regiment’s recruitment area! Whilst also completely ignoring the history and ancestry of this regiment; which they would of known had they come to see Professor Richard Holmes (the former Colonel of the Regiment for the PWRR) recent talk at a fundraiser in honour of our Local Regiment and Help the Heroes. They have also listed the number of other towns which have already granted the PWRR the ‘Freedom of the Borough’…as if there is such a thing as being awarded too many honours for such service!

We the Epsom and Ewell Conservative Future are now looking to the 15th of December and hoping that the full council meeting will vote differently to this committee. To do so we need support…and for that we are gathering signatures in Epsom High Street on Saturday 12th and Sunday 15th, and please everyone who can come along and sign it – even better come along and help us gather signatures we need as many as we can to convince this council to Support Epsom and Ewell’s Local Regiment!

p.s. for those who wish to support us please sign this online petition: http://www.gopetition.com/online/32077.html

or our facebook page and where you can sign up to come and help is http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=175890528436