| The Very Start Of The Idea |
 |
| You may know that following my proposal 2 years ago, Terry Scriven had tried to get a commemorative plaque sited on top of Cader Idris that gave recognition to the 'boys' at Tonfanau who helped reconstruct the stone shelter on the summit. He worked very hard on this but, regrettably, this was rejected at the last minute by the Snowdonia National Park Authority. However, an alternative suggestion was made to site this at their proposed new/refurbished information/visitor centre at the base of Cadair Idris. It was too late to take this forward last year, but it has been agreed by Terry, Richard and Mike that I take this forward as the AAJLR Association Cadair Idris Project Leader to see if it can be achieved for our 10th Anniversary next year. |
| However, I have also spearheaded another initiative that has borne fruit, in as much as you can see that the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme directors in Windsor have agreed to my proposal put to them earlier this year (see attached letter) that they support our 10th Anniversary Cadair climb by taking part in and publicising this (and the AAJLR Association by default) on the basis that all AAJLR 'boys' took part in the DofE Award Scheme while at Tonfanau (it was mandatory) and for many, the Award Scheme has been seen as an important part of their development then, and now. |
| The current Director of the DofE Wales, Stephanie Price, has confirmed she will join us on the climb and the DofE Head Office in Windsor have confirmed that they will publicise this event nationally. I have suggested that they may wish to feature some of the 'boys' recollections of their DofE experiences and also give their views as to the benefits of the Scheme to them and why it continues to be important now. I would certainly want to do so because I believe very strongly in both. |
| I would like this to act as a call to arms to all members who feel that they may be able to climb the mountain on this special occasion. I plan to have two groups climbing, one from the Pony Path (the easy side) and the other using the Mynfford Path (the difficult side) and for us all to meet at the top. If the commemorative plaque proposal is taken up, I would lead a group from the Mynfford Path side because I believe that is where the Visitor/Information Centre development is taking place and, hopefully, there would be an unveiling ceremony before departing. |
| René B. Dee |
|
| Letter to Fleur Nicholson, DofE Awards HQ 13.08.2012 |
| Boy Soldiers of 50+Years Ago Re-Unite to Climb Cadair Idris, Gwynedd, Wales. |
| At 09.30hrs on Saturday, 23rd March 2013, at the foot of Cadair Idris in the Snowdonia National Park, Wales, a small group of ex-boy soldiers, all now in their 60’s and 70’s, will meet again for an emotional return to climb this mountain that was so integral to their lives 50+ years ago. |
| The main reason for this re-union and climb is to recall the time they spent on this mountain when they were 16 and 17 year old boy soldiers serving in a bleak Army camp as part of the All Arms Junior Leaders Regiment (AAJLR) not far away at Tonfanau, near Tywyn, Gwynedd. During the 18 months to 2 year period of training before entering ‘Man’s Service’ they were regularly marched and run up the mountains around the area in all weathers and, in particular, Cadair Idris. |
| One of the passionately held views among the majority of ex-Junior Leaders who have re-united since 2003 as a Comrade Association – visit www.aajlr.org, and are part of only 2,105 who graduated during the time they served at Tonfanau between 1959 and, 1966 when it finally closed, is that they fully recognise the value and importance of the time they spent there, tough as it was, that provided them with vital ingredients to deal with life. |
| One of these vital ingredients was the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme which many boys, including myself, entered into (or completed) with gusto. At that time it was mandatory that every boy entered, although some had started their Bronze Awards at school like me. I proudly recall collecting my Gold Award from H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in my Intelligence Corps uniform on 26th. November 1963. It was in this same year that Sir John Hunt also led a team of Gold Award Junior Leaders from AAJLR, Tonfanau on an expedition to the Pindos Mountains in Greece. |
| These challenges and experiences proved to be a solid foundation upon which to deal with their lives that followed, both in the Army and in civilian life. It would be wonderful if the benefits we gained from the DofE Award Scheme then could be harnessed through your organisation today to help inspire the younger generation in a similar way. We are very aware of the difficult choices young people have to make in an increasingly more difficult and complex world that they live in now. |
| Having also just witnessed the most important Team GB performance at the London Olympic Games, you may also consider approaching one or two of our athletes to join us who you know were also DofE Award recipients before, or during, their participation as Olympians. This would provide a wonderful illustration and story of the human links between the historical, the present, and the future benefits of the Award Scheme. |
| Our Association has also been in correspondence during the past 12 months with the Welsh Assembly and the National Park Authority to see if a commemorative plaque can be sited at the proposed new Visitor Centre at the base of Cadair Idris. This is due to the part that the AAJLR ‘boys’ played in rebuilding the stone shelter at its summit in the early 1960’s. It may, therefore, be of benefit to consider one of the Welsh athletes at the 2012 Games – see http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/15209265 |
| I do hope that you and your colleagues will be able to give this your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you, in due course. |
| Yours sincerely, |
| René B. Dee |
| 13 August 2012 |
| AAJLR Comrades Association |
| www.aajlr.org |
| Home Tel: 01273 681523 |
| Email: rene.dee@talk21.com |
| Linkedin Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=hb_tab_pro_top |
| Notes: |
| The AAJLR was inaugurated shortly after National Service was discontinued. Its primary purpose was to provide opportunities for young men of that age to continue to join the Army and train to become the future NCO’s of the British Army. The boys joined from every corner of the UK, from all walks of life and backgrounds and, in all Arms from the classic infantry regiments of the line such as the Durham Light Infantry, the Black Watch, the Royal Irish and Royal Welsh Fusiliers, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment, the Queen’s Own Buffs, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Green Jackets, the Devon & Dorsets, as well as the Houselhold Cavalry, Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Artillery, Corps of Royal Military Police, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Corps of Signals and the Intelligence Corps to name but a few. |
| Many went on to see active service in conflicts around the world from Borneo to Northern Ireland, Aden to the Falklands and Afghanistan to Iraq. Many rose to ranks well beyond NCO status and became leading senior officers in charge of Regiments, Divisions, Theatres of War and administrative units at home or at such organisations as the FCO, the Police or security firms. Their influence and service to the Armed Forces and Society at large has been immense but, little known. |
Return To The 2013 CLIMB Page
If you have any reunion photos I would love to show them.
Email the Webmaster