WEST MIDLANDS - Major Mike Burrows

Committee Member Pen Pictures

Major Mike Burrows
Mike Burrows joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in January 1969 as a junior Leader. Postings followed to Berlin, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Germany, Australia, two tours at the MoD, Belgium, Sutton Coldfield, Leicester, Hereford, the Gulf and Donnington. Areas of work included Administration, Intelligence, Logistics and Recruiting. Mike left the Army in 1994 in the rank of Major after almost 26 years service. On leaving the Army he first worked for JCB, and ASDA as a Store Manager before joining the Ex-Service Mental Welfare Society (Combat Stress) in January 1996. Initially he helped set up the new Treatment Centre at Audley Court and is currently Regional Welfare Officer for the West Midlands and Wales.

Mr H Canning MBE
Mr Canning has had considerable and varied involvement with Committees both in the voluntary sector and employment field. Since retirement Mr Canning has been involved with the Royal British Legion, being responsible for the training of personnel in branches within the Birmingham County. He also has responsibility for the co-ordinating of the Caseworkers as well as being a Caseworker himself.

Mr E Drake
Mr Drake has a vast background of Committee work in the voluntary sector. Carries out voluntary work with St Johns and the Red Cross as well as with his local volunteer bureau. Mr Drake served as school Governor and Governor of a charity. He already he has some experience with serving on a War Pensions Committee, and in addition is a Welfare support visitor for the War Pensioners Welfare Service.

Mr Fred Davies
Thirty-eight years RAF as an Aircraft Technician reaching the level of Chief Technician after 19 years and managed to maintain the position for the following nineteen years. Mr Davies has been involved with the Royal British Legion as a caseworker and since 1990, Service Secretary Fellowship of Services Mess almoner, Chairman MSF 0546 (City of Coventry Trade Unions), a member of the consultative Committee Coventry Airport, also a member of Coventry Law Centre and a delegate to Coventry Trades Council.

Mr K E Fisher
Mr Fisher served six years in the Armed forces, Royal Military Police. Following a short time with the TA he served 23 years with the ACF. Mr Fisher, prior to retiring, was a Draughtsman/ Estimator within the fire Protection Industry He has worked with the Youth Service for many years and since his retirement has worked for the past eight years as a volunteer caseworker for SSAFA Forces Help. Mr Fisher is currently branch Secretary with the Dudley Branch.

Mr R A Griffiths
Ray Griffiths joined the RAF from school and served for 14 years as an electronics technician.  He moved to Birmingham, qualified as a social worker, took a Law degree, and was employed by the Probation Service for 35 years until retiring in January 2007.  He has worked in a variety of roles, including casework, prison welfare, and high-risk case management.  His last post was probation manager for five Magistrates courts in the Black Country.

Mr G Kibblewhite
Mr Kibblewhite holds several posts, Worcester City Councillor first elected 1996 to 2004, Director of Worcester Community Housing, Chairman of Stanhope Court Housing Association, Chairman of Governors for Pitmaston Primary school and Director of Maggs Day Centre. The Maggs Centre is a charitable organisation that provides breakfast and lunch for the homeless and people with substance misuse.

Mr J Atherton
After serving in the Territorial Army for two years Mr Atherton joined the Regular Army as a Private soldier in 1967. During his service he wore several cap badges and served throughout the world at different levels and in a medley of appointments, including sixteen years with Airborne Forces. He rose through the ranks and was commissioned into the RCT in 1988. Major Atherton was appointed a MBE in 2000 and retired as a Major Quartermaster in 2001.

Mr R Belding
After serving with the Royal Air Force Mr Belding qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1949 and as a Queen's District nurse completing 21 years in community nursing.
As a District Health Education Officer in the West Midlands Mr Belding was involved with Marketing, Public Speaking and Media Relations.
In 1987 Mr Belding retired from the National Health Service after 40 years and now works in the Voluntary Sector as Chairman and Trustee Advocate to several Charities, schools and Carer Organisations.
Mr Belding currently holds an appointment as Hospital Manager under the Mental Health Act (1983).

Mr D Johnson
Mr Johnson served in the Royal Navy for 23 years qualifying as Naval Health Inspector, and retiring in 1979 as Fleet Chief. He went on to serve as Senior Environmental Health Officer for the City of Stoke for 17years until his retirement. Mr Johnson is currently the secretary of the local branch of the Royal Naval Association. Was awarded the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1971) and the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class (ARRC) in the New Years Honours list 1979.

Mr S Taylor
Mr Taylor took part in the Battle of the Atlantic as a Coder in the Royal Navy 1943-1946. He spent 40 years working for the Railway Service and since 1984 has been a part-owner of a Public House. Mr Taylor is an active member of many various Naval Associations and the Royal British Legion also a Fellow of the Association of International Accountants and Governor of two Schools.

Bryan Lenthall
Mr Lenthall served in the RAF as an air radar fitter during 1956-58 being a national serviceman.  Until retirement he was employed as an electrical engineer in the telecommunications industry with additional interests in occupational pension schemes and health and safety matters.  He has been a member of The Royal British Legion since 1980 holding all branch officer positions and is a long serving welfare caseworker for Warwickshire.

Mike Morris
Mike Morris was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1968 where he spent his whole military career, less for one secondment as a helicopter pilot. Regimental and staff experience, in addition to second in command of a regiment and command of two gun batteries, related to artillery intelligence, joint targeting and mission support. Personnel appointments included, latterly, a focus on Equality and Diversity and Race Equality within the Armed Forces. Retired in the rank of Major in 2005, he is now serving as County Field Officer for the Royal British Legion in Birmingham and as a volunteer Legion caseworker in Shropshire. Awarded MBE in 1988.

Gerry Fairbrace
Joined the RAF as a boy entrant in 1954.  Served in several UK stations and Gibraltar, Singapore etc before coming out in 1967.  Worked as senior dietician to the Copperbelt.  Joined the Rhodesian Air Force during UDI.  Then worked in South Africa in construction management.  Retired and does voluntary work for SSAFA Forces Help, REMAP and various other charities.

Mrs M R Britton
Margaret Britton ‘Peggy’ to her friends joined the newly formed Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps in 1950.  While serving she met her husband and travelled with him as a service wife until his retirement.  Mother to three children, she worked in the health industry until 1981.  She became a volunteer for “The Forces Help Society” and is still with SSAFA Forces Help after 23 years.  She is the current chair of Midland Branch QUARANC Association.  After having been a War Pensioners’ Welfare Support Visitor for many long years and married for 55 years to War Pensioner, she is proud to have been given the opportunity to serve with such esteemed colleagues.

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