2017 Remembrance Match: Oxhey Jets vs 1PWRR

Today’s match is to celebrate the life of Tom Lake, an Oxhey Jet and a Private in the 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.

Pte. Tom Lake was killed in action in Afghanistan on 20th November 2011. His regiment, known as the Tigers, and the Jets remember him with affection, and we both want to do our part in preserving his memory.

A Tiger and a Jet. What a combination!

We owe a big thank you to Capt.

Lee Gidalla whose efforts have made today possible. We would like to welcome him and all the members of the 1st Battalion attending today. We are delighted to have you here.

We are also pleased that our guest of honour today is Tom’s Mum, Carol Lake.

Thank you to everyone attending and to all the staff, volunteers and sponsors that have helped make this happen. Big thanks to Aston Roofing for sponsoring the game.

We hope you enjoy the day. Remember that all proceeds go to the poppy tin! Please give a big cheer too to our young Jets mascots who will come out with the teams and lay their wreath.

The Tigers are a fighting Regiment – we thrive and deliver excellence in complex, tough operations. We are forward-looking, yet fiercely proud of our famous forebear Regiments whose fighting spirit, values and traditions thrive in today’s Regiment.

We train hard to fight hard and pride ourselves on our courage under fire. We are a tight-knit Regiment that invests in our people and rewards merit. Self-confident yet modest, we are inclusive and genuinely welcoming to others – developing real bonds of friendship that stand the test of time and conflict.

Tigers have two aims: To succeed in any mission given and stand by our mates whatever happens.

Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. – Fierce Pride.

Our soldiers come from the SouthEast of England including London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Middlesex, The Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

As an infantry regiment, we are both fully armoured in Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (1 PWRR), trained in dismounted close combat or fighting on foot (2 PWRR) and we are at the forefront

of the Army Reserves equipped with the very latest equipment (3 PWRR).

The Tigers embody the virtues of courage, self- discipline and loyalty. We’ve been in every major conflict since the second world war, and we are one of the most decorated Regiments for gallantry in the British Army.

We have 57 Victoria Crosses (the nation’s highest award for conspicuous gallantry), Sgt Johnson Beharry, who is still serving in the Regiment, winning one in Iraq.

The 1st Battalion who are here today are currently based in Paderborn, Germany and have travelled over for the game as Pte ‘Tom’ Lake was one of their soldiers.

They are currently the British Army high readiness unit and on standby to deploy anywhere in the world.

1 PWRR football team are the current British Forces Germany cup holders, and a number of the players also represent the Infantry at football.

A big thank you to our match officials for volunteering their services for today’s game. John Feenstra (left) is the match referee. John is a respected friend of the club, now retired from full-time refereeing, having officiated at many levels.

John’s assistants today are Harry Feenstra, (middle) and Garry Starr

Fred Weaving will be taking the salute for the fallen.

Fred is a former Royal Marine Commando of 42 Commando Royal Marines, Rank Corporal.

He joined the Marines in March 1959 and served in Malta GC and Borneo.

(right, pictured with Dermot Gallagher). Harry Feenstra is John’s son, following in the family footsteps and already qualified as an FA referee and working his way up the FA ladder.

Garry Starr is a successful referee currently officiating in the Women’s FA league and at other levels.

Fred has served football for many years and continues to do so, at National, County & Local leagues.

He is currently the referee’s secretary for the West Herts League.

A long time friend to Oxhey Jets, Fred also took the salute for us last year.

We are delighted that we have Regina Pendleton with us today to play the bagpipes.

Regina is a member of the RAF pipes and drums, piping at military tattoos around the world including the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2015 (and she will be at Edinburgh again in 2018).

All proceeds from today’s game will go to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. It is a tradition at Jets that the takings from the home match closest to Remembrance Day should go to the appeal.

Thank you for your support. Jets poppy badges and pens are avail-

Regina also piped at Her Majesty’s 90th birthday celebrations in Windsor. She also competes at a high level within the Royal Scottish Pipe Bands with RAF Halton/ Waddington.

More details about Regina are available at www.reginabagpiper. co.uk

able in the clubhouse, for a donation to the appeal.

Donations can also be made online at www.britishlegion.org.uk.

Your poppy supports the Armed Forces community, past and present.