NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2013

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

NEWSLETTER- November 2013.   Branch Meeting Wednesday 20^th.

BRANCH COMMITTEE CHANGES.

At the Committee Meeting held on 13^th November the following appointments were agreed on:

Phil Webster to take the post of Acting President until a final decision can be made.  

Also, we are pleased to announce that  John Griffiths has agreed to take on the post of Minute Secretary.  You are most welcome John.   It is not very often we can announce new committee members, and this means that some members of the committee are still having to take on multiple rolls to keep the branch running smoothly.        

ENTERTAINMENT.  Tonight for our entertainment we will be welcoming Bernard Palmer with his presentation entitled Lord Nelson (The Sailing Ship) followed by the Cuckoo Fair at Downton.  

18^th DECEMBER MEETING. This is Christmas Party Night, with a special supper and entertainment provided by “The Wimborne Musical Theatre”.

INFORMAL  LUNCHES.

The next lunch will be held on Tuesday 3^rd December at FERNDOWN, ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, where it will be a Christmas Meal.  It will consist of two courses with crackers at a cost of £8.50 per person.  Our first lunch of the year in 2014 will be held on Thursday 2^nd January at POOLE EX- SERVICEMEN'S CLUB, NORTH ROAD.  Also in January, on the 21st, our meal at the GURKHA RESTAURANT SANDFORD has been arranged.      

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

REPATRIATION MEMORIAL.

On Sunday 27^th October at Southampton, Members attended a dedication service and unveiling of the Repatriation Memorial to 22,000 plus Service Personnel and Civilian Internees who returned to that Port in October- December 1945. Unfortunately the high winds marred the proper unveiling. However they had an opportunity to meet for refreshments in a nearby Church Hall.   Bob Hucklesby, having been one of the Service Personnel who landed there,  was involved in this event but unable to be among those in the church hall because of being given other duties. He has expressed his disappointment at not been able to catch up with them..

There will be a photograph on the table of the Memorial.   Bob actually  appeared on television in the Southern news and also took part in the Tim Daykin early morning programme on Radio Solent.

REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADES.

The branch was  well represented at Parades held around the district again this year.  Wreaths were laid in Bournemouth by Hazel Aldridge and at Poole by Vice-Chairman Peter Piggott.  Thank you both for representing us in paying tribute.  A word of thanks to all Members and Ladies who attended

Unfortunately our standard was not on parade this year, as Jim Tongs was not fully fit, and Bert Martin was parade Marshal for the Veterans at Poole.  We hope this will be corrected for Remembrance Sunday next year.  However Bert did parade the Standard on the Saturday at the Royal British Legion Festival  Ferndown.   On Monday, Remembrance Day 3 Members and 3 Ladies were present at the service held outside the Civic Buildings. Poole.

 If you would be willing to be trained as a Standard Bearer Bert Martin will be more than pleased to give you all the necessary training.

NEWSLETTER.

Stamped Self-addressed Envelopes or Stamps.

If you are unable to attend meetings, please can you send either of the above to the Branch Secretary.

 It will help reduce the cost of the Newsletter that you receive regularly. The most expensive item involved in distribution is the high cost of postage.    Also if you have an E/Mail address and willing to take the Newsletter in this way, it can then be sent at no cost.    (wishanger@herbert261.co.uk)

Thanking you, from Mike (Newsletter)   

SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT KNOW “CORPS MOMENTS”

(For members who do not subscribe to The SAPPER MAGAZINE)

The RE War Memorial was unveiled 18th July 1922 by the Duke of Connaught.  Originally designed to commemorate Field Marshall The Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and the 18,000 Royal Engineer soldiers who died in the Great War, it was subsequently rededicated to include the further 11,000 soldiers who died during the Second War        (Taken from June 2012 edition of SAPPER magazine)

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EVENTS   2014

BRANCH EVENT.

Saturday 3^rd  May      

The Branch Annual Lunch will be held at the Cumberland Hotel. East Cliff. Bournemouth.

                  Branch Welfare:  Please contact Welfare Member,

                  Peter Piggott