NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2021

Newsletter for ‘Keeping in Touch’ January 2021   Please note any news or information for the newsletter to be passed on to Jan Bridle anytime; also if anyone has changed their email address or set up a new one could they please let Jan know.

Branch meetings and monthly lunches.   We do not expect to resume branch activities until at least March 21. This is subject to confirmation, government guidelines, and restrictions at the time.

 Branch subs     There are still a few people who have not paid their subs for 2020. The committee have decided that all members who have paid their subs this year are exempt for 2021 to compensate for the lack of branch meetings and activities. Please support the branch by paying the outstanding amount of £17 either by internet banking or cheque made out to REA Bournemouth.  For bank account details please contact John Cusack on 01202 517804. 

 Messages

As your vice president may I wish you all a safe, healthy and peaceful New Year, looking forward to meeting up with you all in the not too distant future.  Bert Martin.

John Carter, one of our members has been in hospital,  He was in a lot of pain. Thankfully his problem has been identified and he is now being treated at home. I am sure we will all wish him a speedy recovery and hope he will be fit and well ready for his 90th birthday next year.

Bothe John and his wife Christine have been taking part in  a COVID 19 Infection Survey run by the Office for National Statistics and Oxford University. Over the last three months they have taken a COVID test fortnightly and shortly after have received a letter to say that they were negative. They took the same test last Wednesday, and on Friday received a telephone call to tell them that John’s wife Chris had tested POSITIVE!  Fortunately because they have the space it is not difficult for them to isolate for 10 days. Chris is as fit as a fiddle, shows no symptoms and they have no idea how she could have picked up the virus as they have been so careful. Thankfully John does not have the virus  

 Birthdays This month we wish a very Happy Birthday to Graeme Watson who is 50 on 5th January.  We also wish a very Happy Birthday to Bob Hucklesby, who is 100 on 3rd January. Bob is our oldest member and at the outbreak of WW2 served in the 18th Division, Royal Engineers, part of the Home Forces, and finished up in the 560th Field Company. Sent to Singapore, after several detours, he was in the fall of Singapore and taken prisoner by the Japanese.     

Later in life he was made Chairman of the National FEPOW (Far East Prisoner of War) Fellowship

Welfare Remembrance Association, and met Queen Elizabeth 2nd after he helped organise the 70th anniversary commemorations for VJ Day in 2015. Bob has been in hospital for some time but was discharged on New Year’s Day just in time to celebrate his birthday. Bob Perry went to see him on the3rd to present him with a certificate from the Chief Royal Engineer on this his 100th birthday. John McDermott came with him and they passed on the wishes of the Branch and handed over some birthday cards. He in turn passes on his best regards to us

A blast from the past – Nursery Rhymes Quiz. Answers

1         How many Blackbirds were put in a pie?                  24

2         To where was the cock-horse ridden?                        Banbury Cross

3         Jack was nimble; so what did he jump over?            Candlestick

4         How long was the pease pudding kept in the pot?  9 days

5         Who pulled pussy out of the well? …                        Little Tommy Stout

6         How many fiddlers were called for by Old King Cole?                   3

7         Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clements, When will you pay me say which bells?  Old Bailey

8         What scared Miss Muffett?                   The Spider

9         To where did Little Boy Blue’s cow stray?              Cornfield

10    Who beat the Knave that stole the tarts? …              King of Hearts

11    The damage to what made Tweedle-Dum want to fight Tweedle-Dee?  New Rattle        

12 What happened to Solomon Grundy on Thursday?	Got ill
13 If all the world was apple-pie what was the sea made up of?	Ink
14 The sparrow killed Cock Robin, who saw him die?	The Fly
15 Who kissed the girls and made them cry?	Georgie Porgie
16 Dance to your daddy ends with which well-known line?	When the boat comes in
17 What did the old woman in a shoe feed her kids on?	Broth
18 At what time did Wee Willie Winkie run through the town?	8 o’clock

19  Cock-a-doodle-doo, the dame has lost her shoe, what had the Master lost?  Fiddling stick

20  Monday’s bairn is fair of face, what is Wednesday’s?  Full of woe.