NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2011

Branch Informal Lunches.

Branch Informal Lunches.

Please Note that the November and December Lunches, Will now be held at

The R.B.L. Ferndown On the first Tuesday of the Month Starting at 12 Noon. This is caused by the North Road Caterer not being available

Quarterly - Gurkha Restaurant, Sandford Road. Wareham. BH20 7 AD.

Newsletter October 2011

Mike and Joan Herbert are away at present on holiday, therefore the newsletter this month appears different and there will be some delay in send out copies by post and e.mail.. Mike's fans are assured that he will continue his good work as our editor / publisher with the November issue

 ( to the great relief of the Secretary ). 

Leslie Arthur Sparshott  

All must be sad to read that Les died, in hospital, on 27th September 2011. His funeral service is at 1200hrs on Wednesday 19th October at Poole Crematorium ( the branch meeting day). Aged 96 he was our second oldest member.

 He joined the TA in 1933 as a member of the Bournemouth based 3 Company of Hampshire Fortress RE. Mobilised at the outbreak of war, the unit soon became 578 Field Squadron RE. Les served with this unit throughout the war, first on the Isle of Wight, then later within 13 Corps Engineers of the 8th Army in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. The actions the unit took part in included El Alamein and Monte Cassino.

 Discharged as a Sergeant in 1945, Les returned to work at his trade of electrician in Bournemouth. In the 1950s, with his wife, he went to Rhodesia and set up a successful electrical business. The death of his wife, together with the political situation in the now Zimbabwe, forced him to return to UK. after forty years. Living first with his sister in Bournemouth, he soon after moved to Wickham Court in Femdown, but in recent months had been at Streets Meadow in Wimborne.

 Les joined the REA as a Life Member at Bournemouth in 2002 and was reunited with a number of his comrades in 578 Fd Sqn. He attended branch meetings at Boscombe and Femdown until his health made this difficult. Sadly he was the last of the members of his old unit in the Branch.

Ruby Wedding

Congratulations go to our Branch President, Geoff Smith, and his wife Susan, who recently celebrated their Ruby Wedding. May they enjoy many more happy years together.

Friend of the RE

Bill Marcouse has been invited by the Committee to become a 'Friend of the REA' , a formal category included in the Rules of the Association. Bill served in the RAOC, and is a member of the Canal Zoners. With his wife he has been present at our meetings on a regular basis for a considerable time.

New Members

It is a pleasure to welcome three new Life Members to the Branch, where the documentation has been completed by Headquarters.

Derek Bartlett,  Peter Bridle,  Richard Doggett, 

May they have a long association with the Branch. Two other new members are applying.

Remembrance Services

The RBL Ferndown are arranging a short Service of Remembrance on Friday 11th November at their new Memorial Garden. The service will start at 10-45hrs and end shortly after the two minutes silence at

 11-OOhrs. The Branch has been invited to send representatives.

 On Sunday 13th November the Bournemouth Remembrance Service is at the War Memorial in Central Gardens at 1057hrs. Those parading should assemble at the NW end of Exeter Crescent by 1020hrs, ready to march off at 1040hrs. A wreath is to be laid on behalf of the Branch. Parking for those parading: disabled - Eden Glen; non-disabled - Winter Gardens or Bath Road N & S. These car parks will be free of charge from 0930 to 1300hrs.

The Annual Service of Remembrance and Dedication in Poole on Sunday 13th is at the War Memorial in Poole Park starting at 1050hrs. Those attending should assemble at the War Memorial by 1030hrs; having parked in spaces available opposite the Fountain in Poole Park or at the Civic Centre by 1020hrs. Bert Martin is the Mayor's Parade Marshal at this service. Jim Tongs has kindly volunteered to parade the Branch Standard at Poole, where Peter Piggott has agreed to lay the Branch wreath.

South West Group Events 2012

Provisional dates have been received for REA activities to be held next year at 22 Engr Regt, Swinton Barracks, Perham Down; please make a note:

Group AGM, Sat 31 March, WOs' & Sgts' Mess.

Standard Bearers Competition & Rally, Sun 27 May, Gymnasium and WOs' & Sgts' Mess.

REA Centenary Celebration, Sun 22 July, Officers' Mess. Planned format is Beating Retreat, with lunch and refreshments afterwards ( this event is in lieu of the usual annual barbecue ).

Monthly Raffle.

The Minutes of the Branch Meeting held in June 1982 reveal that Peter Aldridge volunteered to run a monthly raffle and this was approved by the members. Peter and Hazel have done this for well over 29 years but now think it time to step down. The Branch owes them great gratitude for their sustained efforts, up to 2005 the raffle income was vital to our finances, it is estimated that they raised around £9000 over the years, Well Done. Anyone interested in taking on the raffle should speak to Peter Piggott for more information .

lnformal Lunches

Tues 25th October Gurkha Restaurant, Sandford.

Tuesdays 1st Nov & 6th Dec The RBL Club, Church Rd, Ferndown

Meetings Entertainments

Wed 19 Oct Mrs Warner & Mr Biney "Magistrates Court".

Wed 16 Nov Mrs Jackie Smith. "Washington DC & Alderney, Channel Islands".

Welfare.

Peter Piggott