NEWSLETTER JUNE 2018

Newsletter for Branch meeting on 20^th June 2018  

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.

Branch subs   

remain at £15 and are due to be 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.

Next meeting 

On  18^th July  is our ever popular skittles evening. Do come along and have a go.

Vacancies    

Following Bert’s reluctant resignation, due to ill health, we are now looking for a new Standard Bearer.  Also a new Social Secretary is required.

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.

Mike Herbert  

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Mike Herbert on 26^th May at the age of 85. After his initial training with the Royal Engineers he was posted to Fanara, Egypt where he was a ‘Canal Zoner’ and eventually became a dog handler with a dog called Buster.  He joined Bournemouth REA in 1997 and was a great stalwart of the branch, having been on the committee for many years and more recently produced the newsletter.  He will be much missed and our deepest sympathies go to his wife Joan, his family and his many friends.

His funeral, well attended, was held on Wednesday 13^th June, 12 noon at Poole Crematorium. The standard was carried by Bert Martin, there was a guard of honour and the coffin was draped.

We also report the passing of Roy Athay on the 13^th of May also at the age of 85. Roy, who continued to be a school coach driver until his early 80s, had recently moved to France where his funeral was held.  Sympathies go to his wife and family and also to Kevin Croll, a member from the New Forest, whose wife Sally recently passed away.

John McDermott  

We send to John and his family our very heartfelt condolences and sympathies on the very sad news of the sudden passing of his 7 year old son, Alfie, on Sunday 3^rd June.

His funeral is on Friday 22nd June but it is essentially a celebration of a young life and attended by family and school friends /staff etc.

Welfare

John Friberg has returned home after just over 4 months in hospital. He still needs 24 hour care but is very pleased to be home at last.

Ripon by Hazel Aldridge

In 1949 my late husband, Sapper Peter Aldridge, was stationed in Ripon where the Royal Engineers were given the Freedom of Ripon with a big parade and photos taken in the market square.

In 1999 I accompanied Peter to Ripon for the 50th anniversary; my first experience of staying in an army camp. On arrival we found our accommodation in Spider Barracks where Peter was in 1949. Nothing had changed, one bunk bed, one single bed, with bedding all neatly folded up ready for us to make our beds.

Night time came so off to bed. Some hours later I woke to the sound of soldiers marching down the corridor.  I put the light on which woke Peter.  I told him what I had heard and said it must be time to get up, to which he replied it’s too early I must be hearing things. Next morning at breakfast it appeared I was not the only one who had heard the marching – was it ghosts??

Sunday was the parade to the Cathedral, and parade back to the market square where, once again, Peter had his photo taken, this time with the Branch Standard. In 2003 we went again, this time to upgraded accommodation, but this was to be our last time as Ripon closed down.

Forthcoming  Evening  Events 2018

July                 -           Skittles Evening

August            -           Music Quiz

September     -           Trip to Bovington

October          -           Bingo with Fish and Chips

November      -           Skittles Evening

December      -           Easy Swing Duo

Forecast of National Events 2018.

22^nd-24^th June           Chillwell Weekend

27^th-29^th July             Minley Weekend

14^th-16^th September Corps Memorial Weekend

13^th October              REA AGM and Annual Dinner

14^th October              Sapper Sunday at Royal Hospital Chelsea

8^th November                        Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey

11^th November          Remembrance Sunday