NEWSLETTER MARCH 2018

Newsletter for Branch meeting on 21^st March 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   remain at £15 and are due to be paid to the treasurer now if not already paid. Please send any cheques, made out to REA Bournemouth, to the above address for John Cusack.

18^th April meeting  This will be a concert by the Wessex Choralmen. Orders and monies for May’s Bingo with Fish and Chips are to be collected at the April meeting. Also if anyone has a prize to donate for the Annual Lunch raffle in May please see a committee member.

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.

Birthdays of Note 
We wish a very Happy Birthday to Mike Evans, one of our New Forest members, who will be 75 on 7^th April.

REA Gibraltar Weekend 2018    Fri 18 – Sun 20 May 18    

The Royal Engineers Association Gibraltar Weekend will be held in Gibraltar between Fri 18 and Sun 20 May 18.  Traditionally, this event was held in April, but it has now been rescheduled to May. The event will be organised by the members of the Gibraltar REA Branch; please note that it is not a Corps or REA HQ sponsored event. Contact John Griffiths for more information.

Visit and Tour of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea 5^th July 2018.
Ferndown RBL are planning to take a coach trip and tour of the Royal Hospital on Thursday 5th July.  The trip will leave Ferndown at 9.00am and arrive in time for lunch or a picnic in the grounds before the tour which will start at 1.30pm and last for approx. 2 hours. We would leave by 4.00pm to arrive back at Ferndown for 7.00pm.

The total cost would be £25.00 per person for a group of 50 and we are opening this very special day to both members and non-members of the RBL to try to make sure that we have a full coach.

Tickets are first come, first served so please contact John Griffiths to reserve your seats as soon as possible.

Welfare  Bob has been busy this month, visiting Bob Hucklesby who has been fairly ill recently with chest and breathing issues and has been told by his doctor to stay indoors for at least two weeks. He has also visited Bert Martin and John Friberg who are both in Poole Hospital. Bert had caught flu which played havoc with his COPD and John has been in for six weeks now. John was in good spirits, although is not well, but believes he is recovering. He is being awarded the Silver Wolf, the Top Honour in Scouting, at Windsor Castle on 22nd April so he is keen to recover enough to get along to that.  Bert Martin has had to resign as the branch Standard Bearer, after 20 years’ service to the branch, due to ill health.  New standard bearer is required as soon as possible.

Ted Young   

On Thursday 22nd February Bob Perry and John McDermott went along to the Solent and District REA meeting in Fareham as visitors. There was a lot of interest in Ted Young so Bob stood up for a few minutes and told the group of the situation regarding the funeral and the Funding page. As a result the proceeds of the Quiz that took place (£41) was kindly donated to Bob and John to put into the Fund.  Ted’s funeral takes place on Monday 26^th March at
1.15pm at St Clements Church, 55 Kinson Avenue, Poole BH15 7BQ followed by
2.30 pm at Poole Crematorium, Gravel Hill, Broadstone, Poole, BH17 9BQ and afterwards at
3.15pm at The Hamworthy Club (6 mins from Crematorium), Magna Road, Canford Magna, BH21 3AP   Medals and Berets may be worn.

Forthcoming  Evening  Events 2018

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