[ajt Keymaster]

Answering the three questions posed –

1) As I am now well into the autumn of my years I think the committee should be primarily composed of those of a younger age group who have enthusiasm and commitment and a desire for the Association to carry on.
2) As the Company was formed with men from across the UK, dividing the GPA to regional functions will, in my view, be quite devisive and lead to a quicker demise than might have been envisaged. One of the joys of the re-union, is meeting and being with colleagues with whom we served or know. With a regional function I believe many would feel committed to that area alone and this element of enjoyment will be lost.
3) A very difficult question. Common-sense tells me that with such advancing years of many of the members, the Association will have considerable difficulty in retaining its position. As I have said, many of us are now well into our ‘senior’ side of life and a lot will depend upon the desire of the younger members to continue with the Association as we know it. Regrettably, I believe the Association will eventually reach a situation where it is impractical to carry on. Whether that is now or a little further into the future, I am not sure.

[ajt Keymaster]

Regarding the future of the GPA. I’m from the re-formation in 2001. I understand the current committee who run the association would like to take more of a back seat eventually. Deservedly too!

Most of the lads from my generation who I’m in comms with we’re junior ranks during our time and they are reluctant to commit to taking over these roles. We all have busy lives, young families, work etc.
And most of us can’t spell our own names!! Ha

The main issue is the gap from the “older” generation to ours. With the 26 year hole when we were disbanded.

Since 2001 there have been a number of Pl Commanders and Pl Sergeants. We should try to locate them and encourage them to join the GPA.

I’m willing to help out and take over a role if necessary. I served 4 years with Gds Para. So we need the other guys after my generation and after that generation etc etc to help out too, so there is more information on the activities and exploits of the platoon.

[Simon Falkner Participant]

It is so good to see this debate taking shape, as the question of the future of The Association is really important to all of us. Most of the comments come from Members who served in the old Guards Parachute Company. It is true that this cohort will be heading for “the departure lounge” in the next few years! In 2025 even the youngest members of the Guards Parachute Company will be 70 and the average age will probably be over 80. The future will therefore depend entirely on whether there is an appetite to continue to run The Association among those members who have served subsequently and who are younger. Currently, in rough terms, our membership numbers about 550. Of these about 320 are ex-Guards Parachute Company (and falling) and 230 are from 6 (Guards) Platoon, the Pathfinder Platoon, Household Cavalrymen who were in Airborne Forces in the 80s and 90s, members of the SAS as well as various others who have served in Airborne Forces. It is clear that most of the current Committee want to step down in 2025. Therefore, The Association will only continue in its present form if there are sufficient of the non-Guards Parachute Company cohort who are prepared to fill the Committee places. If so, The Association will automatically continue. If not, then we will need to decide on how to wind it up. The AGM and dinner are normally dominated by Ex-Guards Parachute Company members. It would be marvellous in the next couple of years to see more of the others attend. Whenever they have attended they have been very warmly welcomed. By coming to the Reunion and AGM personal views can be aired. Our Chairman is rightly canvassing opinions from all members about the future of The Association. The decision must be one that is based on the views of all our members. So thank you, Wes1, for your contribution on this forum and for volunteering your services as a potential committee member. I hope your contribution will encourage more opinions from the wider membership. Finally, for my part, I am happy to remain President beyond 2025.”

[jhardy Participant]

I agree with the comment that there are really two associations, the pre 75 and the post 75. The pre 75 dominates all the meetings and topics, committees, trustee etc, and like the Burma star or the Scots Guards Malaya group, its days are finite and numbered.
i suspect that the new numbers are not coming in, with only a platoon turning over every two years on average, the percentage of new members joining will diminish, even though the membership is now open to others with wings or airborne service..
I also belong to the PRA , again a national organisation that is dwindling by the year and having to close down branches. I attended a recent para memorial and stood next to several grenadiers , who promptly informed me that their local grenadier branch had now merged with the local PRA branch. Is this something we should consider, working under the umbrella of the National PRA , but retaining the individuality of ‘Guards’ as a seperate branch of the PRA?

[bell593 Participant]

Good evening J, now is that for James or John? Dinger Bell here, I fully agree that there is at present sadly two groups to our GPA. However, we have for a period of at least a year a Facebook group of the younger lads, mainly 6 Pln lads and a few from the Pathfinders with some that have also enrolled into the main GPA group.

In time, I believe more will take up the challenge to join the association and will encourage more to follow.

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