NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2022

Newsletter for  October 2022   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 any new addresses could they please let Jan know. 

 

Branch subs    Subscriptions for 2022 remain at £17 and are due now. Please support the branch by paying the £17 either by internet banking or cheque made out to REA Bournemouth.  For bank account details please contact John Cusack by phone or by email, numbers above. 

 

Branch meetings and monthly lunches  

These are informal, social meetings where any news etc can be passed on to those attending, and added to the newsletter for others to read.  The Saturday morning breakfast/brunch meeting usually held on the 2nd Saturday of each month starting at 10.30am, is now cancelled for October, but the monthly lunch will go ahead on Tuesday, 25^th October. However this month’s menu is not yet available as Zoe and Lee are still on their honeymoon until the 11th.  We will let you know what it is as soon as possible. Please contact John Cusack later in the month to ask for the menu and book your place.

 

Allan Badger  

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Allan Badger at the age of 85 on 6^th September, and send our sincere condolences to his wife Pat and his family. Allen had only been a member of our branch for a few years but he and Pat attended most meetings and lunches and soon made many friends.  The funeral, held at Bournemouth Crematorium on 23^rd September, was attended by his family and many friends, including members of the REA and former members of the SAS who formed the Guard of Honour. The Branch Standard was presented by Bob Perry who did a very good job. The wake was held at the RBL club, Ferndown. 

Allan first joined the Royal Engineers as a young man, and was involved in the Suez crisis.  After leaving the Royal Engineers he missed army life and re-joined, but this time into the Special Air Service where he enjoyed training the new recruits. He had a very interesting career, and at one time his group provided back up for a Ranulph Fiennes expedition. After being transferred to Bournemouth he continued as an SAS parachute jump instructor, a task he really enjoyed, having done over three thousand parachute jumps himself.

Chatham Trip 14/15th September,  report by Peter Bridle

 

 

 

On 14^th September we embarked at the RBL club for our two day jolly.  Our first comfort stop at Winchester services was well timed, but, expecting to depart on time, the electric coach refused to start. Of course with a bus load of engineers there was plenty of advice, but after a phone call to coach HQ the driver got it started ok and with another short stop at Clackett Lane services we arrived at the RE Museum, Brompton.

The museum was much appreciated by all, with the many displays showing the RE story from the 1700s to today’s modern army, and examples galore of the tanks, bridging equipment, plant etc on show. Much reminiscing was done. 

 Our hotel, The King George, was opposite the museum so it was a very quick trip to book in, have a short break and get ready for dinner. We enjoyed a lovely meal with excellent service, and many of us managed to find the bar both before and after dinner.

The next morning after breakfast we were off to the Chatham Historic Dockyard.  There is so much to see here including HMS Ocelot, a Cold War Submarine,  HMS Cavalier, a Second World War Destroyer, and HMS Gannets, a Victorian Sloop.  Also there is the Ropewalk where John Cusack and Maurice Pearson made a piece of rope. The RNLI Lifeboat collection was fascinating to view with modern and older lifeboats, one of which you could climb on for a closer look. With so much to see it was impossible to look at everything. We had lunch in the Mess Deck, then another hour in the Dockyard and back on the coach for the trip home. After taking the ‘scenic route’ through Chatham and having to do a ‘u’ turn due to a traffic accident we made our escape via Bluebell hill and the M20.

Our many thanks go to Maurice and Gill who spent a great deal of time and effort organising everything, and not forgetting the driver Rob and escort John who cared for us with soft drinks and chocolates.

National Events 2022

08  October REA AGM and Annual Dinner 

09  October Sapper Sunday at Royal Hospital Chelsea 

02 November Recruiting Meeting 

10 November Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey 

13 November Remembrance Sunday 

06 December REA Benevolence Meeting