NEWSLETTER MARCH 2024

Newsletter for March 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 now. Please support the branch by paying the £20 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 held at the Barrington Centre Café in Penny's Walk, Ferndown BH22 9TH -

Wives and children and guests are also very welcome. This is also now open to

all service and ex-service personnel. 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 9th March. The lunches are also held at the Barrington

Centre Café, and will be on Tuesday the 26th March at a cost of only £7 a head.

As with the brunches, wives and children and guests also welcome. The menu

will be notified after the brunch. Please contact John Cusack or Maurice Pearson

to book your place.

Annual Lunch 2024

The REA annual lunch this year will be on Saturday 1st June at the Ocean Beach

Hotel, on Bournemouth’s seafront, 32 East Overcliffe Drive, Bournemouth, BH1

3AQ.

The cost per person is now confirmed at £28 for the 3 course meal, including

wine. As usual friends and other family members are all very welcome to join us.

The menu is attached, please let John Cusack know as soon as possible if you

plan to attend, 0how many will join you

Branch News and Messages

Congratulations go to Julie Boshell, daughter of the late Richard Silsby, one of

our much loved members, on her Civil Partnership ceremony with John Sharples,

at Poole Guildhall on the 14th of February. Attending the ceremony as witnesses

were Dot Martin, who also celebrated her birthday on that day, and Val and John

Cusack. We wish them both many years of happiness together.

Veteran Card

An HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a way to prove that you served in the UK

armed forces. The card can make it quicker and easier to apply for support as a

veteran. It’s free to apply. For those of you who can use the internet use the

following link ctrl+click

Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Otherwise Contact the Veterans UK Helpline if you cannot apply online. They’ll

send you a form that you can return by post - Telephone: 0808 1914 218 Monday

to Friday, 8am to 4pm

When you apply, you’ll be asked for:

●

your Service number for your last period of service

● your National Insurance number

● the approximate year you started and ended your service - it does not

have to be exact

● a recent digital passport style photo, showing your head and

shoulders

AGM April 2024

This year it will be after the lunch on the 23rd April 2024: please do try to

attend this as it is an important occasion for the Branch. If you just wish to

attend the AGM, it should commence at about 1.30pm.

Branch Dates for 2024

Saturday Brunch

Mar 9, Apr 13, May 11, Jun 8, July 13, Aug 10, Sept 14,Oct 12, Nov 9, Dec Tbc.

Tuesday Lunch

Mar 26, Apr 23, May 28, Jun 25, Jul 23, Aug 27,Sept 24, Oct 22, Nov26, Dec

Tbc.

National Events 2024

11-13 May Monte Cassino, 80th Anniversary

19 May Sapper Sunday

24-26 May Gibraltar Weekend

6 June Founders Day, Royal Hospital Chelsea

Corps Memorial Weekend

80th Anniversary of D-Day

13-15 Sep AGM, Annual Dinner Freedom Parade Brompton Barracks

5 Oct The Sapper Charity Dinner, London TBC

18-21 Oct Ijzendijke, Holland, 80th Anniversary

10 Nov Central London Cenotaph Parade