Farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Graham Goodey MBE

The First Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Vikings) said farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Graham Goodey MBE on 13 January 2023, after over two and a half years in command of the battalion. During his time as CO, the Vikings completed the unit move from Woolwich to Cyprus (including the epic Olympus Viking), delivered a ground-breaking battalion-level exercise in Cyprus, conducted defence engagement across the region (and further afield), and has excelled on the sports pitches. Lieutenant Colonel Goodey was dined out in the Officers’ Mess, with both messes in attendance, before being ceremonially dragged out of Alexander Barracks, Dhekelia the following day.

Lieutenant Colonel Goodey moves on to Army HQ as SO1 Strategic Force Development, and the Vikings wish him all the best for his future career.

Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Thompson MBE has assumed command as the Vikings’ new Commanding Officer and will oversee the completion of the battalion’s time in Cyprus, the move to Cottesmore, and its transition to a new structure as a Security Force Assistance (SFA) Battalion in 11 (SFA) Brigade.

On assuming command, Lieutenant Colonel Thompson said, “It is an enormous privilege and a distinct honour to command His Majesty’s Vikings. I am extremely grateful for the excellent leadership of the Battalion shown by my predecessor, who can be rightly proud of what the Vikings have achieved under his tenure. I look forward to building on his achievements. Our move back to Kendrew to join the 2nd Battalion and our future role as a Security Force Assistance Battalion offer really exciting opportunities for the Vikings to continue to humbly excel around the world. Stabilis.”

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    © The Royal Anglian Regiment