Post by aghart on Jul 20, 2013 17:05:49 GMT
18 members were present for the AGM, plus 1 new member, Dan Orman ex 1 RTR. The branch committee was elected for a further year and the Chairman gave the following recap on the past year.
""
I am pleased to say it is a pleasure to report on what has been such a successful year for the branch. We continue to maintain a reasonable core of members at each meeting, although we have now reached the stage where some more venerable members will not be able to attend meetings and so in the future we must redouble our efforts in attracting new members.
However , let us review this year. On the social side, one of the highspots was the branch trip to the National Memorial Arboretum which included an overnight stay in Burton-on-Trent. This was largely thanks to a kind donation towards our expenses from the "Not Forgotten" Association. As a result, all those who went had a great time and a weekend spent together brought us all closer together. A number of members attended a christmas lunch in Bournemouth, as guests of the "Not Forgotten" Association who also provided invitations for a cruise along the Solent from Southampton, and some hardy members with sea legs enjoyed the cruise - and the lunch that went with it. Even as we meet here, Dave Roberts is unable to attend as he was at a garden party at Buckingham Palace this afternoon. In January, thanks largely to Pete Dorey's untiring efforts, we once again enjoyed a very successful ladies lunch and were joined by our guests, the Regimental Colonel Stephen May and the garrison RSM (now Corps RSM) WO1 Halkerston, and their ladies. In November a number of members went to Cambrai to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the battle. By all accounts this was a very enjoyable trip although from what I have heard I'm suprised that given the amount of alcohol consumed over there anyone can remember anything. There was also a good turnout from the branch at the regimental church service at Bovington.
We have had speakers on a regular basis and topics covered have been as diverse as an
Investigation into the backgrounds of all those commemorated on the war memorials in Bere Regis and surrounding villages given by the Bere Regis scouts, and the joys and tribulations of working with the United Nations in the newly created Democratic republic of South Sudan, which was given by Lt Col Dick Taylor. Our speakers have covered a full and interesting range of subjects and I cannot believe that any other branch has enjoyed a more eclectic mix. We have also enjoyed a most interesting visit to the signals wing at Bovington. Why would anyone not want to be a member of this branch?
As I have already mentioned it is very pleasant to sit here and be able to have so many good things to say in my report. But I am sure you are all aware that I am only able to do this as a result of the wonderful help and co-operation that I receive from all those selfless people who do the hard work and therefore earn my thanks. My thanks therefore to Cecilia for her welfare work. I would also like to thank all those who have gone out of their way to help other members with lifts, hospital visits etc. Your efforts are appreciated. My thanks to Graham for all his time as standard bearer and to those who have carried the standard when he has not been available. To David who took over as treasurer and has done an excellent job acting as our financial concience and maintaining our financies in a healthy state. To Tiny for all his hard work. The secretary's job is probably the most time consuming of all the officers and I am sure we all appreciate the time and effort he puts in. I wouldn't like to think about a meeting when we didn't have a speaker- it makes all the difference.
This year I would also like to thank the wives who have attended some of our functions and whose presence certainly adds something to those occasions. Once again my sincere thanks to David our President, for his wise council and guidance. As I said at the beginning of my report, it is a pleasure to be able to review such a positive year and that is down to all of you- the branch members. It is very nice to be part of a branch where we are all friends. Thank you all for your support during this past year and here's looking forward to the next 12 months.
""
Following the Chairman's address, our guest for the evening, Lt Col (retd) Stephen May, the Regimental Colonel, gave a quick update on both regiments and the forthcoming amalgamation. He then presented framed certificates to the older branch members thanking them for their support over many years.
Following the presentation we enjoyed an excellent buffet and of course helped boost the profits of the bar!
We do not have a meeting in August and so the next branch meeting is the first tuesday in September.
Fear Naught
""
I am pleased to say it is a pleasure to report on what has been such a successful year for the branch. We continue to maintain a reasonable core of members at each meeting, although we have now reached the stage where some more venerable members will not be able to attend meetings and so in the future we must redouble our efforts in attracting new members.
However , let us review this year. On the social side, one of the highspots was the branch trip to the National Memorial Arboretum which included an overnight stay in Burton-on-Trent. This was largely thanks to a kind donation towards our expenses from the "Not Forgotten" Association. As a result, all those who went had a great time and a weekend spent together brought us all closer together. A number of members attended a christmas lunch in Bournemouth, as guests of the "Not Forgotten" Association who also provided invitations for a cruise along the Solent from Southampton, and some hardy members with sea legs enjoyed the cruise - and the lunch that went with it. Even as we meet here, Dave Roberts is unable to attend as he was at a garden party at Buckingham Palace this afternoon. In January, thanks largely to Pete Dorey's untiring efforts, we once again enjoyed a very successful ladies lunch and were joined by our guests, the Regimental Colonel Stephen May and the garrison RSM (now Corps RSM) WO1 Halkerston, and their ladies. In November a number of members went to Cambrai to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the battle. By all accounts this was a very enjoyable trip although from what I have heard I'm suprised that given the amount of alcohol consumed over there anyone can remember anything. There was also a good turnout from the branch at the regimental church service at Bovington.
We have had speakers on a regular basis and topics covered have been as diverse as an
Investigation into the backgrounds of all those commemorated on the war memorials in Bere Regis and surrounding villages given by the Bere Regis scouts, and the joys and tribulations of working with the United Nations in the newly created Democratic republic of South Sudan, which was given by Lt Col Dick Taylor. Our speakers have covered a full and interesting range of subjects and I cannot believe that any other branch has enjoyed a more eclectic mix. We have also enjoyed a most interesting visit to the signals wing at Bovington. Why would anyone not want to be a member of this branch?
As I have already mentioned it is very pleasant to sit here and be able to have so many good things to say in my report. But I am sure you are all aware that I am only able to do this as a result of the wonderful help and co-operation that I receive from all those selfless people who do the hard work and therefore earn my thanks. My thanks therefore to Cecilia for her welfare work. I would also like to thank all those who have gone out of their way to help other members with lifts, hospital visits etc. Your efforts are appreciated. My thanks to Graham for all his time as standard bearer and to those who have carried the standard when he has not been available. To David who took over as treasurer and has done an excellent job acting as our financial concience and maintaining our financies in a healthy state. To Tiny for all his hard work. The secretary's job is probably the most time consuming of all the officers and I am sure we all appreciate the time and effort he puts in. I wouldn't like to think about a meeting when we didn't have a speaker- it makes all the difference.
This year I would also like to thank the wives who have attended some of our functions and whose presence certainly adds something to those occasions. Once again my sincere thanks to David our President, for his wise council and guidance. As I said at the beginning of my report, it is a pleasure to be able to review such a positive year and that is down to all of you- the branch members. It is very nice to be part of a branch where we are all friends. Thank you all for your support during this past year and here's looking forward to the next 12 months.
""
Following the Chairman's address, our guest for the evening, Lt Col (retd) Stephen May, the Regimental Colonel, gave a quick update on both regiments and the forthcoming amalgamation. He then presented framed certificates to the older branch members thanking them for their support over many years.
Following the presentation we enjoyed an excellent buffet and of course helped boost the profits of the bar!
We do not have a meeting in August and so the next branch meeting is the first tuesday in September.
Fear Naught