Membership of our Branch is primarily formed from former soldiers in the Grenadier Guards.

Grenadier members are Officers who have formerly served in the Regiment and Discharged Soldiers provided they have completed their recruit training in the Regiment and have been awarded a character assessment of not less than “SATISFACTORY”.

Historically, our membership has been augmented with a few former servicemen from the Life Guards, the Blues and Royals (Household Cavalry Regiment), Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards (The Household Division). Members of Associations of the Household Division may be elected as Associate Members of the Branch.

At the discretion of the Branch Committee, non-Household Division serving and non-serving personnel may be granted membership of the East Kent Branch.

Whether you are young, or not so young, we are always pleased to welcome new members.

Of all the Branches of the Grenadier Guards Association, the East Kent Branch is the ONLY Branch to have its own march dedicated to it.

The march, Invicta Grenadiers, was composed by Captain Benjamin Mason when he was a Lance Sergeant with the Band of the Grenadier Guards.

His links with the East Kent Branch are formed from the many Branch functions he attended over many years, along with other musicians in the Regimental Dance Band.

Captain Mason is currently the Director of Music of the Band of the Grenadier Guards.

He is a serving soldier and an Honorary Member of the East Kent Branch.

The Branch Committee is tasked with the administration of the Branch and organising many of the activities and functions that our members attend. Currently, the Branch Committee consists of just two of the Branch members.

• President/Chairman: Major (Retd) Dennis Bradley, BEM DL
• Vice President/Hon. Secretary/Treasurer/Webmaster: Robert C (Bob) Goodson Esq

The names of other members who hold appointments within the Branch are shown below:

• Deputy Chairman/Assistant Secretary/Branch Banner Carrier: Trevor Jones, MBE Esq
• Assistant Treasurer/Assistant Events Secretary/Membership Secretary: David Grassham Esq
• Branch Grenadier Visiting Friend/Welfare: Post currently vacant
• Events Secretary: Post currently filled by the Hon. Secretary
• Branch Meeting Raffle: Ian Bell Esq
• Transportation Organiser: John (Stitch) Taylor Esq

Other Vice Presidents:

• Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Richard M (Skid) Dorney MBE MStJ MSc
• Algy Cluff, OBE Esq

The Branch encourages members to volunteer and join the committee. If you can assist, then please contact the Branch President or Hon. Secretary.

Grenadier members are Officers who have formerly served in the Regiment and Discharged Soldiers provided they have completed their recruit training in the Regiment and have been awarded a character assessment of not less than “SATISFACTORY“.

Our Grenadier members are:

• BARRON, Robert (Bob) (24464754)
• BRADLEY, BEM, DL, Dennis (Major (Retd.) (24048749/539631) – President and Chairman
• BUCKLAND, Brian G (24400549)
• CLUFF, OBE, Algy (Regimental number not held on record) – Vice President
• COLE, Brian C (23252915)
• COLE, TJ (23252141)
• COUCHMAN, Eric (Bill) (24021106 (Also Medway Branch member)
• COX, George E (Ted) (22955395)
• DAVIS, Ronald B (23842939)
• DORNEY, MBE, MStJ, MSc (Lt Col (Retd.) (554998) – Vice President
• GOODSON, Robert C (Bob) (24440189) – Vice President, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer, Events Coordinator, Webmaster
• GOODWIN, Kevin R (24539846)
• GRASSHAM, David (23969836) – Assistant Treasurer, Membership Secretary
• JONES, Alan ET (22213898)
• JONES, MBE, Trevor (24141044) – Assistant Secretary, Branch Banner Carrier
• MADSEN, Mark CI  (Regimental number not held on record)
• MARSH, Peter G (24263621)
• McKEOWN, Colin F (22545084)
• MILLS, George A (22545771)
• PEERS, Horace A (Harry) (2624246)
• PRITCHARD, George H (2628726)
• ROGERS, Peter (22213767)
• RUSSELL, RA (23760229)
• SAVAGE, James C (Jim) (23756945)
• SILVESTER, Norman R (23688099)
• SMITH, Gary P (24278005)
• TAYLOR, John J (Stitch or Spud) (24048662) – Transport Coordinator
• WILLIAMS, Kenneth W (Ken) (23287075)
• WINNISTER, Charles DT (Chas)  (23934921)

All Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Guardsmen who have completed Recruit training, who are still serving and who have links to locations within our catchment area are classed as Serving Members of the East Kent Branch.

The Regiment generally notify Branches of who such persons are; although there are occasions where we are already aware of a members service status.

Our sole Serving member is:

• MASON, Benjamin (Ben) (Captain (DoM) (Regimental numbers not held on record) – Director of Music, Band of the Grenadier Guards

Members of Associations of other Regiments of the Household Division may be elected as Associate Members of a Branch.

The Household Division consists of the Life Guards, the Blues and Royals (Household Cavalry Regiment), Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards (Foot Guards).

At the discretion of the Branch Committee, non-Household Division serving and non-serving personnel may be granted Associate membership of the East Kent Branch.

Associate members are treated no differently than Grenadier members are and share the same status within the East Kent Branch.

Our Associate members are:

• BELL, Ian (24099600, 537578, 30045076) – Parachute Regiment/Royal Engineers
• BROWN, Thomas (Tom) (Regimental number not held on record) – Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment
• DURUP, Mike SR (23862398) – Royal Army Medical Corps
• MILES, Keith (Councillor (Major (Retd.)) (24083587, 522804, 30037946) – Royal Mechanical & Electrical Engineers
• MORAN, Joseph K (Joe) (Regimental number not held on record) – Coldstream Guards
• SILK, William TG (Bill) (Regimental number not held on record) – Coldstream Guards
• WATERHOUSE, Brian (22551536) – Scots Guards

Honorary membership is granted to ladies and gentlemen who have not served in the Grenadier Guards, but who have given outstanding service to the Regiment.

Branches may appoint Honorary Members at the discretion of their committee.

Our Honorary members are:

• BARLEY, OStJ, Victor – Awarded for services to the Branch (General)
• BRADLEY, Stuart D – Awarded for services to the Branch (General)
• GOODSON, Gary N  – Awarded for services to the Branch (IT)
• MASON, Benjamin (Ben) (Captain (DoM) (Regimental numbers not held on record) – Director of Music, Band of the Grenadier Guards – Awarded for services to the Branch (Music)

Social membership may be granted to ladies and gentlemen who have not served in the Grenadier Guards, but who enjoy the company of members of our Branch and who support our functions.

The Branch Committee appoint Social Membership.

Social Members pay the annual Branch membership.

Our sole Social member is:

• NOTT, MSc, Robert H (Bob) (Royal Air Force)

Branch widows are ladies who were once married, or a partner, of a member of the Association, or the East Kent Branch, and who generally reside within our catchment area.

The Branch maintains contact with these ladies, who are welcome to attend any of the functions that the Branch or Association organise.

Our recorded Branch Widows are:

• BALDERSTONE, Shiela HD – Widow of Harry Balderstone who died 25 July 2010 (aged 74)
• CROUCH, Beverley (Bev) – Partner of 22705790 William Charles Frederick Marshall who died 16 June 2020 (aged 86)
• GOLDSTEIN, Isabella E (Bella) – Widow of Ronald Goldstein who died 14 March 2017 (aged 86)
• GODDEN, Joan – Widow of 22451372 Reginald Godden who died 19 April 2010
• HAVERSON, Lesley  – Widow of Christopher Paul Haverson who died 25 November 2011
• IZARD, Patricia (Pat) – Widow of Captain (Retd.) Gerald Izard who died 06 August 2009
• PAIN, Muriel C – Widow of 2624807 Harry GR Pain who died 29 April 2014 (aged 87)
• PAY, Doreen – Widow of Cyril Pay (Coldstream Guards) who died 29 March 2002
• TRACEY, Gwen – Widow of Edward (Ted) L Tracey who died on 4 Oct 2012 (aged 74)
• WEBSTER, Winifred E (Wynne) – Widow of 2627713 William FA (Bill) Webster who died 19 August 2016 (aged 87)
• WILKIN, Patricia (Pat) – Widow of  Albert Wilkin

With regrets, but fond memories, we record the known deaths of the following past Branch members, or Grenadiers from our area, that the branch knows of:

Regimental Collect

O God grant that thy servants, the Grenadier Guards, may ever be mindful of their proud and costly heritage, that continuing to guard what is right, and fighting for what is just, they may so serve thee here in this life that they may be counted worthy to join those who now continue their service in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them