NEWSLETTER JULY 2025

 BRANCH MEETINGS

BRUNCHES 2nd SATURDAY 11.00 AT THE OWLS NEST PUB, PARLEY

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

Newsletter for July 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 number 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 now held at the Owls Nest Pub 196 Christchurch Rd Parley BH22 8SS 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 and the and this month it is on Saturday the 12th of July at 11am. The lunches are also 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 Wednesday Eve to Sunday Eve. The June lunch was our first meal there and we can report that the food was excellent and we were warmly welcomed by the landlady and staff. This month it is on Thursday the 24th July, please be there by 12.30. The lunch menu is Roast chicken or Fish Pie followed by Lemon drizzle. Please contact Maurice Pearson to book your place and your menu choices.

Birthdays of Note

This month wish a very happy birthday to our Chairman, Maurice Pearson, and our newsletter editor Janet Bridle who are both 75 in July. Many happy returns to you both.

Social

This year’s Annual lunch, combined with the 80th Anniversary of V.E. Day was held in the lovely conservatory of the Suncliffe Hotel. This is a smaller venue more suited to the reduced numbers of the branch and the tables were decorated with VE Day flags as you can se on the photograph. The food at the lunch was exceptional, quite the best meal we have eaten at the Oceana Group Hotels. Also at the lunch we were entertained by a lovely pianist, Stuart Darling, who played all the lovely tunes of the 40’s and 50’s. All thanks go to Maurice, Jill, John and Val who did all the organising, decorations, and hard work to make this event such a lovely occasion.

Armoured Sappers Day 26th July 

This is the Families Day at Tidworth. We hope you will join us for this lovely day out at Swinton Barracks, Perham down, Tidworth, from 12noon to 5pm. Maurice has to RSVP via email with names of those attending so if you would like to attend please let Maurice know as soon as possible. We are hoping to fit as many as possible into the cars of those willing to drive, so he will also need a list of those who will drive and those who need a lift.

Saturday Brunch

JUL 12th, AUG 9th, SEP 13th OCT 11th, NOV 8th, DEC. TBA

Thursday Lunch

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

National Events 2025 

19th - 21st September 2025 Corps Memorial Weekend, Brompton Barracks 2nd October 2025 Royal Hospital Chelsea Tour