My second year in post has certainly been different to the first, with no opportunity at all for physical activities or simple face to face contact at events, but I have been blown away by the articles received for this year’s London Bridge. Few would have foreseen the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the extent to which it would affect our lives in the way it has, so the support that so many of you have given in the nation’s efforts to counter Covid-19 is inspiring. I am always amazed at the incredible selflessness across our London volunteer community.
The articles in this edition, and online, show that the volunteer Armed Forces community, be it Reserves, Cadets, Adult Volunteers or anyone involved with them, are resilient, adaptable and imaginative in their efforts to generate positive outputs. We should also acknowledge all those non-military folk that support the Armed Forces Community, in particular, those London based employers who have supported their Reservist employees this year – not just in response to Covid but also the groundbreaking overseas operational deployment of an ‘all reserve’ force of 7th Battalion the Rifles and the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (5RRF) to patrol the United Nations peace line on Operation Tosca, Cyprus.
As we look forward into 2021 I hope for a year of reunion and joint activity face to face, whilst as an RFCA we will continue to seek to support London’s Reservists and Cadets in the best and safest way that we can.
Colonel (Retired) Peter Germain
