NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2025

 Newsletter for month 2025 

Please note any news or information for the newsletter to be passed on to Jan Bridle anytime; also if anyone has changed their address, email address or telephone could they please let Jan know.

Branch subs Subscriptions

For 2025 will remain at £20, 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 9 TH wives, children and guests are also very welcome. This is also now open to all service and ex-service personnel and their families. 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 8th February The lunches are also held at the Barrington Centre Café This is for REA members and their wives, serving Sappers and widows of ex members, and will be on Tuesday the 25th February. The lunch menu this month is a choice of Chicken with Chips or Chicken Korma, desert is Lemon drizzle with custard or ice-cream. At a cost of only £7 a head it is great value for money. Please contact John Cusack or Maurice Pearson to book your place.

Branch News and Messages 

This year’s AGM will be held after the lunch on 22nd April. Please do try to attend this, we will be discussing the new rules, especially the one inviting wives, widows/ers and some other family members to become full members of the REA. This would allow us to increase the membership and hopefully keep the branch viable for longer.

Welfare For Veterans who are or have a carer

PramaLife ( a local charity working with older adults and carers) and with the support of Care UK

would like to invite you to an afternoon tea to discuss the experiences of family carers from the Armed Forces community. This will take place on Tuesday 25th February 2 – 3.30pm at the Potteries care home cinema. 187 York Road, Broadstone BH18 8ES

For the past 2 years PramaLife has been working in partnership with the Veterans Hub in Wyke Regis, Weymouth, in running 2 support groups for carers from the Armed Forces community, one group based in Weymouth/Portland, the other in the BCP area. The project is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust.

We will be providing a presentation about our work with carers and what we have learnt, and we would like to discuss with you, your experiences of caring, including whether you have received any support which you think has been particularly helpful and if you have any suggestions to improve the support available to carers.

We will use your feedback to inform the delivery of and planning of support services for carers. We would very much appreciate your help with this. If you can attend the afternoon tea, can you please confirm your attendance to Ronnie at wayne.barker@prama.uk or telephone 07595069778

Branch Dates for 2025 

26th July Families Day at Tidworth

Saturday Brunch

FEB 8th, MAR 8th, APR 12th, MAY 10th, JUN 14th, JUL 12th, AUG 9th, SEP 13th OCT 11th, NOV 8th, DEC. TBA

Tuesday Lunch

FEB 25th, MAR 25th, APR 22nd, MAY 27th, JUN 24th, JUL 22nd, AUG 26th, SEP 23rd,

OCT 28th, NOV 25th, DEC XMAS LUNCH TBA

National Events 2025

8-9th February Birmingham Military Tattoo 11th May Sapper Sunday Royal Hospital Chelsea 6-9th June Gibraltar Weekend 28th June Armed Forces Weekend 19-21st Sept Dove Cup, AGM, Annual Dinner, Freedom Parade