WORKING on the development of the Fusiliers' Museum and its move to the Arts and Crafts Centre is a demanding and fascinating job.

There are new things to think about every week and at the moment there seems to be an animal related theme.

Last week I told you the story of Minnie and her place in the Fusiliers' history this week I want to tell you about Bobby the antelope who was the Fusiliers' live mascot until he recently died.

He had visited Bury on parade and some Bury Times readers may have met him. The Fusiliers have had an antelope mascot since the formation of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1968. The animal was adopted as a mascot from the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers who, with the Lancashire Fusiliers and two other Fusilier Regiments were amalgamated to form the new regiment.

Bobby was one of only nine live mascots authorised for Regiments in the British Army and discussions are taking place about recruiting a new antelope possibly this time with a mate to keep him company, so that a 150 year tradition can be continued.

The antelope is in fact a Black Buck and could be allocated, together with his handlers, by the Colonel of the Regiment to any Battalion, but usually lived in the UK.

The antelope first appeared on the badge of the Royal Warwicks (also known as the Sixth Foot) but why it was chosen as a symbol isn't very clear.

The antelope was the Royal Badge of Henry IV and was later granted to a company of the Grenadier Guards by Charles II in 1661.

In 1674 Sir Walter Vane who had served in the Grenadier Guards raised a body of troops to fight against the French in Holland and these troops later became the Sixth Foot. It is possible that it was Sir Walter Vain who chose the antelope as their badge and that this was the origin of the tradition that continues today.

Some friends of Bobby, a set of toy antelopes made to look like him that have been on sale at the existing Fusiliers' Museum in Wellington Barracks, are now helping with the Fundraising Campaign. Volunteers from the Campaign Office are asking people to pay 50p to guess the name of these cuddly toys and the correct guess wins the toy.

Carl Lees is the first winner who correctly named Derek! Carl will be presented with his prize by a new member of the Campaign Office team. Craydon Burrows, a sergeant who is on secondment to assist with the increasing organisational needs of the office and is a very welcome addition to the hardworking team.

So now in addition to buying bricks, please have a go at naming the antelope.

You can make donations and join in with these activities at the Campaign Office or the Museum in Bolton Road or watch out for the Fusiliers' stand in the Mill Gate Shopping Centre.