NEWSLETTER- April 2013.

Branch Informal Lunches,   Held on  First Thursday on odd months at  Poole Ex-Servicemen’s Club, North Road, Poole, at 12.30..  First Tuesday on Even Months at Ferndown R.B.L. Club, at Noon.     Quarterly – Gurkha Restaurant, Sandford Road, Wareham, BH20  7AD.

NEWSLETTER- April 2013.

Branch Meeting Wednesday 17^th. 

WELFARE

George Warren is in Hospital and Bert Martin has also been in hospital.   Our good wishes go to them both and any Member or Lady who may be unwell at this time.

BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

At this meeting held in March the following alterations to the committee were announced.

1)   Allan Grover has now been elected as Chairman and will also remain Branch Secretary.

2)   Phil Webster is now Assistant Secretary. 

3)   Peter Piggott , Vice Chairman and Social Secretary.

4) The post of Welfare Member has yet to be filled.  Peter has agreed to handle welfare enquires for the time being.  All other Committee posts remain unchanged.

Presentation.    Also at the A.G.M a framed print entitled El Alamein by Terence Cuneo, together with a R.E.A. Shield were presented to the R.B.L. Club, Ferndown. on behalf of the Branch by President Geoff Smith.    These are now mounted on the wall in the bar area of the club.  The painting was commissioned by the officers of the Corps as a memorial to those who fell during the Second World War. The picture depicts the scene in the Western Desert on the night 23/24th October 1942 during the battle of El Alamein, with the Sappers clearing a route through the German minefields. Working under enemy fire, using flail tanks and hand detection methods, the Sappers cleared multiple gaps in the series of 200 yard deep minefields which faced them over the entire front, leaving well-marked routes for the follow-up tanks, infantry, guns and support vehicles.  

BRANCH ANNUAL LUNCH. 

This will take place on Saturday 4^th May,   NOON  for 1 P.M. at the Cumberland Hotel, East Cliff, Bournemouth.   Car Parking:- Remember that this is limited at the Cumberland but parking is also allowed at Suncliffe and Cliffside Hotels, which are adjoining hotels.

If you would like to donate a bottle of wine for the Raffle, please let Peter know as soon as possible so that the draw can be finalised.

ENTERTAINMENT.

Tonight we will welcome our guest speaker Douglas White, with his presentation entitled “KEEPING BEES - MAKING HONEY". At the May Meeting  the speaker will be the Rev Stewart Timbrel who will entertain us with a humorous talk entitled 'Wonders and Blunders'.

BRANCH INFORMAL LUNCHES.

The next of these lunches will be held  on 23^rd APRIL at the GURKHA RESTAURANT

The May lunch is to take place at POOLE EX- SERVICEMEN'S CLUB on Thursday 2^nd.

Lists on the table tonight. Don’t forget that if you are unable to attend meetings and would like to go to our lunches do contact Peter Piggott. Please let Peter know if you need to cancel as this assists the caterers with food preparation.

SOUTH WEST GROUP ANNUAL STANDARD BEARERS RALLY

Will be held on Sunday 26^th May at Swinton Barracks, Pernham Down, (Tidworth)  22 Engineer Regiment. A lunch with wine will be provided at cost of £8 per person.

Timings for the event is as follows: 10 30 Hrs Arrival (Tea/Coffee).     11 45 Hrs. Standard bearer’s Competition..     13 15Hrs Lunch.    15 30 Hrs. Depart.  Booking time is very short.  Wendy Grover will be collecting  monies tonight or bookings to Secretary before  the end of APRIL.

Memorial on Southampton Water Frontage marking the repatriation of Far Eastern POWs 1945

The second Repatriation Memorial is to be sited in Southampton.  The first Memorial was established at Liverpool in 2011.  The majority of those returning home arrived at these two ports. The proposed plaque will commemorate the arrival at Southampton dockside of thousands of military POWs and civilian internees (believed to be 17,000),all of whom spent three and a half years or more in captivity in the Far East. The plaque will contain the names of ships, (13 in all ) which landed at Southampton, from the 7^th October to mid December 1945.  The first ship was the SS Corfu. with 1,500 on board.  Bob Hucklesby arrived in Southampton on the 19^th November 1945 on board the Italian Hospital ship ' Principessa Giovanna' from Bombay.  Bob who is actively involved in this, wishes to thank all who generously made donations towards the memorial, through a collection arranged by Peter Piggott, with a very impressive final total of £115.00.  If any one would like to donate please send Cheques to:

Mike Parkes, 'Kranji' 34, Queens Road, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47  2AJ.   made payable to: - Researching FEPOW History (and marked ' Southampton Repatriation' on reverse side).

THE ROYAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION GIDEON NEW TESTAMENTS.

The copies of this Bible and New Testament that some members have ordered, are now available.  Please collect from the Branch Secretary as soon as possible.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

The Treasurer has reported that 13 Members still have to pay their 2013 Subscriptions. These where due in January. Will these Members please forward the £8 payment, to him as soon as possible.

SOUTH WEST GROUP A.G.M.

At this meeting the Branch was represented by 4 Members and 2 Ladies.  Peter Piggott presented the Branch Report.

EVENTS   2013

FORECAST OF SOUTH WEST GROUP EVENTS 2013

Sunday       26^th May        Standard Bearers Competition and Rally   

Sunday       28^th July        Group B.B.Q

FORECAST OF NATIONAL EVENTS 2013

26-28  April              Freedom of Gibraltar Weekend   

12-13  June             Beating the Retreat, London.

28-30  June             Minley Weekend.*    (Closing Date 30^th April)

13-15  September   Corps Memorial Weekend*

12       October        REA AGM and Annual Dinner* (Closing date 27 September)

13       October        Sapper Sunday at Royal Hospital Chelsea. ( Bookings not required)

  7       November    Field of Remembrance, Westminster.

10       November    Remembrance Sunday

* National Events            Booking details available from Branch Secretary..

                    

Branch Welfare:  Welfare Member, To be announced.  In the mean time Contact.

Peter Piggott,