Mascot goes on last watch
The former mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment will retire after his final public duty in the county.
Colour Sergeant Watchman IV, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, will be at Uttoxeter Races on Sunday.
The 11-year-old dog has appeared in parades, shows, sporting events and at charity functions since 1999 for the regiment, now part of the Mercian Regiment.
He has been present in the company of the Queen and Prince Andrew and on May 15 was at Lichfield Cathedral when the Staffords Colours were laid up.
His handler, Malcolm Bower, who is also a Colour Sergeant, is also retiring. Malcolm enlisted with the 2/5th Battalion, the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1957 and remained with them until 1960. He did National Service with the Royal Signals in Germany. In 1974 he rejoined the Territorial Army in Burton upon Trent and served for many years. In 1989 he became the handler for the mascot.
