Jul/Aug 2013 - Royal Signals Association

EASTBOURNE BRANCH ROYALSIGNALS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTERJuly / August 2013With the best summer for some year and for me the successful conclusion to the search for anew job. The time has come to create our summer newsletter, to let you know what has beenhappening and what is planned for your branch, the Corps and the association in general. Wehave a varied programme for our monthly meetings, but if you have any suggestions for thesecond Thursday of the month please let Dickie or me know.I have tried to include things that will, hopefully, interest you but if you would like anything elsein future newsletters or if you have an article I can use then please send them to me.Along with this newsletter you will also find news of our annual dinner on Saturday 19 th Octoberat the Royal Eastbourne Golf Club – may be this year we could have the largest number sittingdown - with your support.RECENT MEETINGS What you missed!May saw a very well attended AGM, all members of the committee continue in post, with the addition ofEric Gardyne, as Squadron liaison and Member recruitment.Our June meeting we enjoyed a wide ranging quiz from Eric assisted by Dickie. Also in June 22 membersand friends had a very enjoyable day in Portsmouth with some enjoying the hospitality of local hostelries,others viewing the magnificent Mary Rose whilst others were told how wonderful the Gun Wharf Quayshopping area was and that the driver wouldn’t mind all the additional bags on the return trip.In July we had a social evening, with Pam supplying the solids and Paul the liquid sustenance.August was a much quieter affair with a few people away on holiday, it was a suitable evening for a‘Show and tell’ where yours truly could dust off his high heels and talk about some of the Pantomimesand other drama productions I have enjoyed taking part in.

MOMENTOUS EVENTS TO BE REMEMBEREDThere have been some momentous events this summer with births and julilees but none can comparewith some birthday celebrations. Pam reached her 90th birthday on the 29th May and has had several'parties' to celebrate this great occasion, both with her family and with her many friends.One of these parties was held at The British Queen in Willingdon which is where the birthday card, signedby the Branch Members at our last meeting, and a beautiful bouquet, were presented by Dick Thwaites.The photographs show Pam enjoying herself with friends and some of the many flowers and plants thatshe was presented with. The ones from the Branch are the large bouquet at the rear of the display. Thesecurity guard supplied by The British Queen, was taking one of his rest periods!We hope that Pam continues to enjoy good health for many years to come and congratulate her onachieving the age of Ninety Years.BRANCH SUBSCRIPTIONSAnnual subscriptions of £10 were due in May , however, there are a surprisingly large number ofmembers who have yet to pay their £10 for this year. If you have forgotten please pay as soon aspossible either:At our next meeting in September where there will be a surprise eventSend a cheque made payable to Royal Signals Association Eastbourne Branch & send it directly toour Treasurer; Peter Pettigrew, 2A Southfields, EASTBOURNE. BN21 1BUMake a payment using Internet/Telephone Banking to:HSBC, Sort Code 40-20-06 Account Number 62014750 please insert your surname as a Reference.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS Not to be missed!12 th September - Was planned as the review of our Battlefield tour, unfortunately due to the poorresponse this had to be cancelled, so surprise us all and bring something along come prepared foranything!!!10 th October – Social Evening including final preparations for our annual dinnerSaturday 19 th October - The Branch Annual Dinner at royal Eastbourne Golf Club. Our guest of honour thisyear is Maj. Mark Tivey, the Assistant Regimental Secretary.70 th ANIVERSARY OF THE NORMANDY LANDINGSMajor Al McKenna, currently the Officer Commanding of the Support Squadron of 3 rd DivisionHeadquarters and Signal Regiment, has been appointed as the lead officer for the Regiment for the D Daylandings 70 th commemorations in Normandy over the period 4 -7 June 2014.There is a regular cohort of 3 rd Division Royal Signals veterans who normally attend the commemorations,however, due to the significance of next years anniversary he is casting the net as wide as possible to tryand identify as many veterans as possible who may wish to travel with the Regiment next year.Conscious of the needs of the veterans the Regiment will have a qualified Doctor travelling with them andhopefully this will allow those who would normally be unable to travel the opportunity to attend thecommemorations. They will be able to offer accommodation and will also be applying for funding sohopefully there will be minimal costs to those who attend.Maj McKenna can be contacted as follows; Officer Commanding, Support (The Somme) Squadron, 3rd(United Kingdom) Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment, Picton Barracks, Bulford Camp,SALISBURY, Wiltshire. SP4 9NY or telephone 01980 672605GETTING YOUR NEWSLETTER AND KEEPING YOU UP TO DATEI am in the process of updating our mailing lists, please let me know if you have changed your address,telephone number or email address. Also if you know anyone who isn’t receiving newsletters do please letme know so I can make sure they do.New committeeFollowing this year’s AGM the following officers took up (or continued in) office:President: Col Dick ThwaitesChairman: Dickie BonnerSecretary: Glyn MarshTreasurer: Pete Petigrew

Committee:Ron BrodiePam ElliotEric GardyneGordon NicksonRAFFLE EVENINGS – Raffles for 2013 will take place as follows:Our annual Dinner on 19 th October and our meeting in December.The committee humbly requests members to bring a prize for the raffleDress code for monthly meetings is casual and ranges from jeans and polo shirts/ sweatshirts toblazer and Corps tie and sometimes a mix of both – Jeans with blazer and Corps tieNEW MEMBERSI am very pleased to inform members that we have two new members of the branch who joined recently,they are: Brian Keefe, who served from 1974 to 2000 Andy Holter, who served from 2001 to 2007POINTS OF CONTACTChairman Dickie Bonner 01323 731963 or 07917 022 163 email richard.bonner@bt.comSecretary Glyn Marsh 01424 851701 or 07825 604240 email glyn_marsh@btinternet.com