Post by aghart on Jun 8, 2022 12:37:31 GMT
12 members physically present and another 14 linked in via zoom for the June 2022 branch meeting. The physical numbers were a tad disappointing but England were playing Germany at football and we had just come off a 4 day Bank Holiday weekend so not totally unexpected.
A minutes silence was held for Col M Rose & Col J Dickson who both died recently. There was a recap of the branch activity in May and the D -Day commemorations in Poole the previous day. Members were reminded of the planned activity for June currently confirmed. This included 3 branch members attending the Founders Day parade at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Thursday 9th June 2022, Falklands 40 service in Falkland Square, Poole, at 10.45hrs Tuesday 14th June 2022, and the Armed Forces Day parade at Weymouth on Sunday 19th June. Members were reminded that this was also Fathers Day. Members were reminded about the return of the Cambrai Lunch at Bovington this year. It is being held on Friday 25th November. It was confirmed that the guest speaker for July will be Capt (retd) Dean Hutton, the Regimental Secretary.
An update on the branch finances was given.
An update on Cambrai 105 was given and it was confirmed that the branch would purchase an additional 3 x wreath's for use in France. Members were reminded that The Bournemouth & Poole Branch will be leaving for Cambrai on Thursday 17th November, returning on Monday 21st November (4 nights ). The Secretary reminded everyone to ensure that their passports were in date. Members were informed about the new stock of Regimental Blazer badges which are available to purchase from the branch. Both the Gold & Silver versions are available, but what is special about these is that you can wear one and be a bit "tribal". The banner below the Tank which displays the "Fear Naught" motto has a coloured background and is available in Red, Yellow/Saffron, Green or Blue. If you are ex 5 RTR you are a bit stuffed, but the rest of us are ok!
The date of the 2023 Ladies Lunch has been confirmed. Saturday 21st January, at the Poole Quay Hotel (formerly the Thistle Hotel), the same location as last year.
The meeting then closed and the guest speaker was introduced. WOII Mark Bethell is the RTRA link WO, whose job is to be our point of contact with the Regiment. in Tidworth.
Mark who is shortly to take over as SSM of Ajax, gave us an update on who is who in the Regiment, he showed photo slides of Regimental activity in Estonia & Oman and explained what the troops were up to in Eastern Europe. Apparently they are allowed to use live cam out there, actually chopping down branches and stuff and decorating their vehicles with it! Due to the situation in Ukraine he was limited in what he could tell us, I did ask outright whether war stock service ammunition had deployed to Estonia with the tanks, but didn't expect an answer, and I wasn't disappointed. So what new stuff did we find out? Two things really, they are going back to 3 tanks per troop instead of 4, and Bergen-Hohne ranges are being used by British Forces again. He did tell us something new about CR3 but I'm not sure whether It can repeated here, so I won't. If you had been at the meeting though you would know! Oh and I won a prize on the raffle.
A minutes silence was held for Col M Rose & Col J Dickson who both died recently. There was a recap of the branch activity in May and the D -Day commemorations in Poole the previous day. Members were reminded of the planned activity for June currently confirmed. This included 3 branch members attending the Founders Day parade at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Thursday 9th June 2022, Falklands 40 service in Falkland Square, Poole, at 10.45hrs Tuesday 14th June 2022, and the Armed Forces Day parade at Weymouth on Sunday 19th June. Members were reminded that this was also Fathers Day. Members were reminded about the return of the Cambrai Lunch at Bovington this year. It is being held on Friday 25th November. It was confirmed that the guest speaker for July will be Capt (retd) Dean Hutton, the Regimental Secretary.
An update on the branch finances was given.
An update on Cambrai 105 was given and it was confirmed that the branch would purchase an additional 3 x wreath's for use in France. Members were reminded that The Bournemouth & Poole Branch will be leaving for Cambrai on Thursday 17th November, returning on Monday 21st November (4 nights ). The Secretary reminded everyone to ensure that their passports were in date. Members were informed about the new stock of Regimental Blazer badges which are available to purchase from the branch. Both the Gold & Silver versions are available, but what is special about these is that you can wear one and be a bit "tribal". The banner below the Tank which displays the "Fear Naught" motto has a coloured background and is available in Red, Yellow/Saffron, Green or Blue. If you are ex 5 RTR you are a bit stuffed, but the rest of us are ok!
The date of the 2023 Ladies Lunch has been confirmed. Saturday 21st January, at the Poole Quay Hotel (formerly the Thistle Hotel), the same location as last year.
The meeting then closed and the guest speaker was introduced. WOII Mark Bethell is the RTRA link WO, whose job is to be our point of contact with the Regiment. in Tidworth.
Mark who is shortly to take over as SSM of Ajax, gave us an update on who is who in the Regiment, he showed photo slides of Regimental activity in Estonia & Oman and explained what the troops were up to in Eastern Europe. Apparently they are allowed to use live cam out there, actually chopping down branches and stuff and decorating their vehicles with it! Due to the situation in Ukraine he was limited in what he could tell us, I did ask outright whether war stock service ammunition had deployed to Estonia with the tanks, but didn't expect an answer, and I wasn't disappointed. So what new stuff did we find out? Two things really, they are going back to 3 tanks per troop instead of 4, and Bergen-Hohne ranges are being used by British Forces again. He did tell us something new about CR3 but I'm not sure whether It can repeated here, so I won't. If you had been at the meeting though you would know! Oh and I won a prize on the raffle.