NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017

MEETINGS -3^RD WEDNESDAY EACH MONTH AT RBL CLUB, CHURCH ROAD, FERNDOWN - STARTING AT 19.30 HRS        - INFORMAL LUNCHES 1^ST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT NOON, SAME VENUE

Newsletter for Branch meeting on 19^th April 2017  

Please note any information for the newsletter to be passed on to Jan Bridle by the last Saturday before the next meeting 

Branch subs  

Are due now, no change from last year at £15, and paid to the treasurer now. Please send any cheques, made out to REA Bournemouth Branch, to the above address for John Cusack.

May meeting  

At this meeting we will be holding a Bingo and Fish & chip evening so will be collecting the monies, £4.50per person, at the April meeting.

Vacancies  

Phil gave notice that he wished to stand down from his post as President, but as no-one came forward for this post at the AGM Phil will carry on for the time being but a new President is still required. Also Richard has stood down as Social secretary and this post will be covered by the rest of the committee for the time being but both posts still need to be filled ASAP.  These positions apart from the President could be filled by a Lady of the branch.

Albert Hicks Award 

John Griffiths went to Tidworth on Wednesday15th March to present the Albert Hicks award to Sapper Edward Keating who has shown outstanding performance and dedication to his Regiment.

Branch Annual Lunch  

This lunch is to be held on 29^th April 2017 at the Cumberland Hotel at a cost of £17.50p per person, payment and menu choice should already be with Richard Silsby.

Birthdays of note  

Happy Birthday to Peter Bridle who will be 70 on 8^th May.

REA Standard Bearers Competion and Barbeque

These are to be held at Perham Down, Tidworth on the 8^th July this year. Details to follow later.

Ted Young

We hear Ted has been invited to a Veterans Tea Party at Buckingham Palace and wish him a brilliant day.

Denis Brown

The funeral for Denis was held at St Michaels Church, Hamworthy, on Wednesday 22^nd March.  It was so well attended by his family, friends and the members of the many organisations to which Denis belonged that there was standing room only at the service. A guard of honour was formed by the REA branch members and the Standard was paraded by Bert Martin. It was good to see Keith Butt at the church and hope to see him again soon.

Colonel John Herbert Joiner (Jim)

It is with great sadness that the newsletter contains a report on the death of Colonel Jim Joiner on 20th March 2017, aged 89 years. He had been ill for many months and had returned to hospital just a few days before he died. He was the last of 21 founder members who had created the present Bournemouth branch in March 1982. He served as President for the next 25 years, working hard to ensure that the branch flourished and grew in strength, his experience providing sound advice to a succession of Chairmen and Committees. His work for the REA was recognised by the awards of a Group Director’s Commendation in 1999 and the REA Badge of Merit in 2004. Until failing health intervened he continued his active support of branch events after standing down as President in 2008. The deepest sympathy of all in the branch go to his wife, Olive and their family. His funeral took place at Bournemouth Crematorium on Friday 7^th April, with the branch providing a guard of honour and Bert Martin parading the Standard.

Colonel Jim was commissioned into the corps soon after the war. By 1948 he was in Hameln serving in 27 Fd Sqn, 21 Engr Regt (together with branch member Lt Col Brian Lipscombe as young officers) and later at Neinburg when the regiment moved, as the Engineer support of 7^th Armoured Division. He graduated from ther RMCS at Shrivenham in 1953, with a degree in Civil Engineering, and subsequently became a Chartered Civil and Structural Engineer. He served at RSME, Chatham, as an instructor. He also had a tour of duty in Nepal. After commanding an Engr Regt in Willich, Germany, he became a Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield engaged on bridge demolition research for the Corps. He finished his Army career as Senior Military Officer at MVEE, the R&D establishment of the Corps at Christchurch, the home of the Bailey Bridge. This establishment may be better remembered by our members by its original title MEXE (Military Engineering Experimental Establishment). Jim served in the Corps for 37 years. Leaving the Army in 1982 he became engaged in engineering consultancy, in writing  and lecturing on military bridging and in charitable works. In 2001 he published his book, One More River to Cross, a comprehensive work on the history and development of British military bridges.

       

Forecast of Events 2017.

03^rd June =Trooping the colour- Major Generals review

08^th June= Royal Hospital Chelsea Founders Day

10^th June=Trooping the Colour—Colonels Review

14^th and 15^th June =Beating the Retreat, London

17^th June=Queens Birthday Parade

23^rd to 25^th June=Chilwell Weekend

28^thto 30^th July=Minley Weekend

15^th to 17^th September =Corps memorial weekend

14^th October= REA AGM and annual dinner

15^th October=Sapper Sunday at Royal Hospital Chelsea

09^th November = Field of Rememberance, Westminster Abbey

12^th November=Rememberance Sunday