Post by aghart on Feb 8, 2012 22:15:25 GMT
12 members present for the 1st meeting of the New Year. The London, Nottingham and Bristol & Bath branch newsletters were available to view. The minutes of the RTRA AGM held in November 2011 were also available to view. Details of the RTR sponsored Church service in March were given
The branch was informed that a visit to the CIS (Signal) School is being planned for later on in the year.
The guest speaker for March is likely to be Major Fred Reid 9/12 Royal Lancers who is the QM with the Royal Wessex Yeomanry at Bovington.
On a very important note, Worthington White Shield, normally a bottled beer was available on hand pump at the bar, only 5.6%, fantastic stuff, true nectar.
Once the other bits and pieces were sorted the Chairman introduced the guest speaker, Mr Peter McMurray of the "Not Forgotten Association"
The Not Forgotten Association is one of the oldest and without doubt probably just about the most "unheard of" military charities in the UK. It was founded in 1920 and helps about 10-14 thousand people every year (over 1 million since formation). The charity does not do "welfare" instead it provides entertainment, leisure and recreational activities for service and ex-service personnel who were wounded or have disabilities.
For example they provide TV's and/or TV licences (over 1,000 in 2010) for those who are largely housebound. they provide holidays which vary from hotel stays to activity breaks such as surfing and canoeing and even skydiving for groups of people (usually for the younger variant of veteran it must be said). Battlefield tours and events and concerts. In 2010 some people went shark tagging in the Irish Sea, trips to Sussex county cricket club, a VIP day at Ascot races, Battlefield tours and an Association only garden party at Buckingham Palace every year.
Peter gave an example of a soldier, an Iraq veteran who had not been out of his house for almost 10 years. He and his wife went on an association outing with other veterans, it was just what he needed, back with other troops his life changed, he's never in, and he’s running marathons now to raise money for the not forgotten Association. His life and that of his family have been changed forever.
For the last two years they have formed a marching group at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, in 2011 I was awarded the privilege of marching with them.
The Association has no members, the patron is HRH Princess Anne the Princess Royal, they keep a couple of million pounds in the bank to cover about 2 years’ worth of outgoings should income dry up. Otherwise they spend all they get, they have only 2 full time and 4 part time members of staff, and everyone else is an unpaid volunteer. Their offices are in Belgravia in London, rent? £1.00 per annum, thanks to their landlord, the Duke of Westminster. Overheads? Minimal, funds available to do "the stuff" 99% plus.
Expenditure for 2010/11 topped £1 million for the first time; due to the conflicts of recent years it seems their services are going to be required for a few years yet.
A fantastic presentation from the “unknown” service charity.
The branch was informed that a visit to the CIS (Signal) School is being planned for later on in the year.
The guest speaker for March is likely to be Major Fred Reid 9/12 Royal Lancers who is the QM with the Royal Wessex Yeomanry at Bovington.
On a very important note, Worthington White Shield, normally a bottled beer was available on hand pump at the bar, only 5.6%, fantastic stuff, true nectar.
Once the other bits and pieces were sorted the Chairman introduced the guest speaker, Mr Peter McMurray of the "Not Forgotten Association"
The Not Forgotten Association is one of the oldest and without doubt probably just about the most "unheard of" military charities in the UK. It was founded in 1920 and helps about 10-14 thousand people every year (over 1 million since formation). The charity does not do "welfare" instead it provides entertainment, leisure and recreational activities for service and ex-service personnel who were wounded or have disabilities.
For example they provide TV's and/or TV licences (over 1,000 in 2010) for those who are largely housebound. they provide holidays which vary from hotel stays to activity breaks such as surfing and canoeing and even skydiving for groups of people (usually for the younger variant of veteran it must be said). Battlefield tours and events and concerts. In 2010 some people went shark tagging in the Irish Sea, trips to Sussex county cricket club, a VIP day at Ascot races, Battlefield tours and an Association only garden party at Buckingham Palace every year.
Peter gave an example of a soldier, an Iraq veteran who had not been out of his house for almost 10 years. He and his wife went on an association outing with other veterans, it was just what he needed, back with other troops his life changed, he's never in, and he’s running marathons now to raise money for the not forgotten Association. His life and that of his family have been changed forever.
For the last two years they have formed a marching group at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, in 2011 I was awarded the privilege of marching with them.
The Association has no members, the patron is HRH Princess Anne the Princess Royal, they keep a couple of million pounds in the bank to cover about 2 years’ worth of outgoings should income dry up. Otherwise they spend all they get, they have only 2 full time and 4 part time members of staff, and everyone else is an unpaid volunteer. Their offices are in Belgravia in London, rent? £1.00 per annum, thanks to their landlord, the Duke of Westminster. Overheads? Minimal, funds available to do "the stuff" 99% plus.
Expenditure for 2010/11 topped £1 million for the first time; due to the conflicts of recent years it seems their services are going to be required for a few years yet.
A fantastic presentation from the “unknown” service charity.