BOURNEMOUTH and DISTRICT BRANCH OF THE REA

NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2024

Newsletter for January 2024

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 2024 will be £20. This is the first rise in many years and they are due by the end of January. Please support the bra00nch 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 monthly Lunches and Brunches

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 brunches are now held at the Barrington Centre Café in Penny's Walk, Ferndown BH22 9TH -

Wives and children and guests are also very welcome. You can park in Tesco’s car park free and the centre is just past Tesco’s on the other side of Penny’s Walk, and this month it is on Saturday the 13th Jan.

The lunches are now also held at the Barrington Centre Café, and will be on Tuesday the 23rd Jan

As with the brunches, wives and children and guests also welcome. There are however not the choices we had at the RBL and this months’ lunch will be …and at a cost of only £7 a head. Please contact John Cusack or Maurice Pearson to book your place

Bert Martin

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of our President, Bert Martin on 11th December aged 90. He first joined the Royal Engineers in 1950 where he learnt the trade of Sheet Metal worker and stayed in the REs until 1955, followed by the reserves until 1962. During his term he was posted to Egypt for 3 years in the Suez Canal Zone, and was then posted to BOAR, Germany, and served in 27 Field Engineer Regiment. The trade he learnt stood him in great stead in Civvie Street where he became a precision engineer and tool maker. He made many precision engineering tools including the jig for the lining of the nosecone of Concord.

A staunch member of Bournemouth REA Bert was also our Standard Bearer for many years until ill health forced him to retire, although he continued to train standard bearers at the RBL Ferndown. He won the regional Standard Bearer’s competition at Tidworth several times and served as Parade Marshal for Poole Town for many years where he was awarded the Gold Dolphin, one of the council’s highest honours.

We send all our sincere condolences to his wife Dot and his large family and many friends.

The funeral is to be held Poole Crematorium on Monday 8th of January at 2pm followed by the wake at the British Legion Club in Redcoats Lane, West Borough, Wimborne BH21 1LT. The branch standard will be presented and a guard of honour formed. All are welcome.

Christmas lunch at the Barrington was very well enjoyed by 14 members. The food was excellent and a credit to the staff. The table decoration were brilliant, all the credit for this goes to Gill and Maurice Pearson, although we suspect it was mostly Gill, and thanks to them both and the Cusacks for organising it all. Dot brought Bert’s President Badge with her, and Dave Watts took on the role for the Branch with John Carter taking on the role of Vice-President.