NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2018

Newsletter for Branch meeting on 21^st February 2018 - Please note any information for the newsletter to be passed on to Jan Bridle by the last Saturday before the next meeting; also if anyone has changed their email address or set up a new one could they please let Jan know.

Branch subs 2018  Remain at £15 and are due now to be paid to the treasurer if not already paid. Please send any cheques, made out to REA Bournemouth, to the above address for John Cusack.

March 21^st Meeting This is the AGM so if anyone wishes to be nominated for a position on the committee or has anything they wish to bring up which is appropriate to the branch please let John Griffiths know before the 1^st March.

Vacancies The position of Social Secretary is still vacant.    This position could be filled by a Lady of the branch.  In the absence of a social secretary this task falls to the committee to arrange so any ideas for entertainment of any sort would be most welcome.

Monthly Informal Lunches

As usual held on the first Tuesday, menu lists on the table at evening meetings. Contact John Cusack for any information or to book/choose from menu if not at meeting.

Annual Lunch 5th May 2018
This is at the Cumberland Hotel, Bournemouth, as usual, at a cost of £20 per person for 3 courses including wine, and coffee and mints.  The menu is available from Bob Perry.  Bookings and payments should be made to Bob or the treasurer by the end of February.  We hope to see many of you and our New Forest colleagues joining us for this very enjoyable occasion.    

Birthdays of Note  This month we wish a very Happy Birthday to Alister Sword, our very own Chelsea Pensioner,  who reaches 85 on the 21^st March.   Also, many congratulations to Joan and Mike Herbert who celebrated their Diamond (60) Wedding Anniversary on 1^st February.
John Miller  Bert and Dot Martin along with David and Jean Watts attended the funeral of John Miller on Monday 12^th Feb on behalf of REA Bournemouth. Although John was not in the REs he used to attend on Wednesdays, as an associate member, for many years, until stopped by ill health.

Ted Young
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Ted Young on the 11^th of February at the age of 94.  Bob Perry had recently visited Ted in the respite care home. Unfortunately, Ted took a turn for the worse and was transferred by ambulance to RBH. We wish to pass our sincere condolences to his daughter Irene and son-in-law Paul with whom Ted had lived for many years, and also to his many friends. He was an extraordinarily active old soldier, especially considering his age; and his many trips to visit war sites and attend celebrations were both impressive and inspiring. An armoured engineer, he was on the D-Day landings driving an armoured bulldozer, and as a Normandy Veteran, was awarded the Legion d’Honneur , France’s highest honour.  Details of his funeral are not available at time of printing but can be had by ringing any of the committee named at the top of this newsletter.

                                                                                

Forthcoming  Evening  Events 2018

March             -           AGM

April               -           To be announced

May                -           Bingo with Fish and Chips

June                -           Talk on ‘The Treasures of Dorset’ by Christopher Legrand

July                 -           Skittles Evening

August            -           Music Quiz

September     -           To be decided

October          -           Bingo with Fish and Chips

November      -           Skittles Evening

December      -           Easy Swing Duo

Forecast of National Events 2018.

26^th May                    Trooping the Colour – Major General’s Review

2^nd June                      Trooping the Colour – Colonel’s Review

6^th-7th June               Beating Retreat, London

7^th June                      Royal Hospital Chelsea Founder’s Day Parade

9^th June                      Queen’s Birthday Parade

22^nd-24^th June           Chillwell Weekend

27^th-29^th July             Minley Weekend

14^th-16^th September Corps Memorial Weekend

13^th October              REA AGM and Annual Dinner

14^th October              Sapper Sunday at Royal Hospital Chelsea

8^th November                        Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey

11^th November          Remembrance Sunday