NEWSLETTER APRIL 2025

Newsletter for April 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 mad0e out to REA Bournemouth. For bank account details please contact John Cusack by phone or by email, 

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 12th April 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 22nd April. The lunch menu is decided at the brunch with two choices of mains and one of pudding, and will be emailed to you later. 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.

REA Annual Lunch and 80th Anniversary VE Day Celebration 

This year the lunch will be on Saturday 7th June at the Suncliffe Hotel, 29 East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth BH1 3AG. This is another hotel in the Oceana group and is in between the Cumberland and the Ocean Beach hotels where we had last year’s Annual lunch. The Suncliffe has a smaller room more suited to the reduced numbers likely to attend. As usual there is parking at the hotel, or in the other two hotels if that one is full, but don’t forget to register your number plate with the hotel or your car may be clamped. Please arrive at around 12.30 for a 1pm start. The cost per person, the same as last year, is confirmed at £28 for the 3 course meal, including wine, and initial drink at the bar. As usual friends and other family members are all very welcome to join us. Please let John Cusack or Maurice Person know by the 12th April brunch if you plan to attend, and send a list of the full name and menu choices for each person.

Branch AGM 

Just a reminder that the 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. President David Watts regrets that due to ill health he will be standing down as president from the AGM. We thank David for his service, send him all our best wishes and hope his health improves soon. This will leave another vacancy to be filled at the AGM. Please let Maurice Pearson or John Cusack know if you wish to apply for any of the positions.

Agenda for the AGM 

Opening by the President Reading of last year’s minutes Voting on last year’s minutes Apologies Voting in of President and Officers of the Committee Chairman’s Report Treasurer’s Report Any other business to include Wives widows/ers and family members becoming New Members Visit to Tidworth In the summer If anyone has any other business to be included would they please let Maurice know before the AGM

Branch Dates for 2025 

26th July Families Day at Tidworth

Saturday Brunch

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

Tuesday Lunch

APR 22nd, MAY 27th, JUN 24th, JUL 22nd, AUG 26th, SEP 23rd, OCT 28th, NOV 25th, DEC XMAS LUNCH TBA

National Events 2025 

11th May Sapper Sunday Royal Hospital Chelsea 6-9th June Gibraltar Weekend 28th June Armed Forces Weekend 19-21st Sept Dove Cup, AGM, Annual