NEWSLETTER JULY 2017

Newsletter for Branch meeting on 19^th July 2017 - 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, as emailing the newsletters saves the branch money for the postage.

Branch subs   

No change from last year at £15 and 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.

August 16th meeting  This is another one of our popular quizzes.

Branch President  

Peter Piggott has now taken over as President after being proposed by Peter Bridle and seconded by Bert Martin. We are sure that with Peter’s experience over the years in various positions on the committee that he will be a good President for the Branch.  

Many thanks go to Phil Webster from everyone at the Branch for all his work in various positions on the committee.

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.

Memories from Pete Bridle

After leaving Aden in November 1967, 10 FD SQN RE moved up to Sharjah, where we constructed airfields, helipads and water supply around the desert areas.

To assist building a grenade range for the Trucial Oman Scouts (TOS) twelve large 8ft by 4ft sheets of shuttering ply were delivered to us by helicopter. By next morning all twelve sheets had vanished. We later discovered that Bedouins had fastened them to either side of their camels to steal them. We were camping nearby but never heard a thing, including our ‘pet’ dogs. We had to ask ‘Would teeny weeny airways please deliver us some more?’

On completion of the range the TOS invited us to throw a few grenades. After watching them throwing grenades willy-nilly in all directions we promptly left them to it!

REA BBQ and Standard Bearers Competition 8th July

The event was won this year by Paul Stockwell from Weymouth branch.  Lt Col DJ Bickers MBE RE presented all the Standard Bearers with an RE tie pin and praised the high standard obtained by them all.  He announced that Bert is to retire from Standard Bearer competitions, and commended Bert for his 17 years of parading the Standard at various competitions, military occasions and funerals.  Bert will still parade the Standard at funerals and also he trains Standard Bearers for the RBL. The BBQ was very good as usual and the whole day out was enjoyed by everyone.

Forthcoming  Evening  Events 2017

August  16th        -        Quiz

September 20th    -        Talk on Smugglers by Mike Andrews

October 18th        -        Bingo with Fish and Chips

November 15th    -        Talk on Flying Boats in Poole Harbour by Jeremy Walters

December 20th     -        To be arranged (any ideas for meetings welcomed)

Forecast of Events 2017.

28^th to 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 Remembrance, Westminster Abbey

12^th November=Remembrance Sunday