NEWSLETTER JUNE 2025

BRANCH MEETINGS

BRUNCHES 2nd SATURDAY 13.00 AT THE OWLS NEST PUB, PARLEY

LUNCHES 4TH THURSDAY 12.30 AT THE OWLS NEST PUB, PARLEY

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. Following the unexpected closure of the Barrington Café in Ferndown, the brunches are now held at the Owls Nest Pub 196 Christchurch Rd, West Parley BH22 8SS. at 11am. 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 their car park free. However, there will be no brunch in June as the Annual Lunch is on the 1st Saturday, the 7th June. The lunches are also to be held at the Owls Nest Pub. This is for REA members and their wives, serving Sappers and widows of ex members, and will now be on Thursdays as the pub is only open from Wednesday evening to Sunday evening. This month it is on Thursday the 26th June. The lunch menu is a choice of Ham Salad with new potatoes or Shepherds pie and future menus are to be decided after discussions with the landlady/chef. Contact John Cusack or Maurice Pearson to book your place, so we can advise on likely numbers. 

REA Annual Lunch and 80th Anniversary VE Day Celebration 

A reminder that this year the lunch is 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. 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, and order your free drink from the bar.

Branch News and Messages 

We were all saddened by the news of Ferndown Councils’ decision to close the Barrington Theatre Café. Many users of the café joined the council meeting to object, but to no avail. We have had our brunches and lunches there for well over two years and have been well served by the staff and especially the chef, Tanya Lamb. The Barrington café is now closed. On our last lunch we presented Tanya with a card signed by us all, flowers and chocolates; and with a hope that she and her staff find new jobs soon.

Welfare

Dave Watts is still very poorly suffering with his legs and making it difficult for him to walk, although the swelling has gone down considerably now. We send him all our very best wishes and our thoughts are with him. We hope to see David and Jean again in the not too distant future.

Branch Dates for 2025 

26th July Families Day at Tidworth

Saturday Brunch

JUN NO BRUNCH, JUL 12th, AUG 9th, SEP 13th OCT 11th, NOV 8th, DEC. TBA

Thursday Lunch

JUN 26th, JUL 24th, AUG 28th, SEP 25th, OCT 30th, NOV 27th, DEC XMAS LUNCH TBA

National Events 2025 

6-9th June Gibraltar Weekend 

28th June Armed Forces 

Weekend 19-21st Sept Dove Cup, AGM, Annual Dinner, Freedom Parade