Post by aghart on Jul 6, 2022 12:52:09 GMT
16 members present and 16 linked in by Zoom for the July 2022 branch meeting. A recap of June activity was given which included founders day at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Armed forces day in Weymouth. Dave Roberts gave an update on the Ladies Lunch for January 2023, we have had to change venue because so many people want to attend our "Flagship Event" and the Poole Quay Hotel cannot manage the numbers. The event will now take place at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution College in Poole. The College actually incorporates a fantastic events room able to cater for 100+ people with views over the inner Poole Harbour, and a hotel both of which are open to the public. In the words of Michael Caine "not a lot of people know that" To think that just a few years ago we were worried that we might not be able to reach the minimum number of guests required by the hotel, and now Dave Roberts & Mike Everton had to search high and low for somewhere big enough and good enough to accommodate the event. It shows how far we as a branch have come.
Members were reminded about the Wareham Veterans Breakfast club this Saturday and the Longfleet veterans drop in centre on the first Saturday of the month. Branch activity for July/August was highlighted, the main events being the branch BBQ on 13th August, the VJ Day service in Poole Park on 15th August and the visit to the Tower of London on 22nd August. Virtually all those going on the Tower trip are travelling by rail so we are of course slightly worried about possible industrial Action by the rail unions at the moment.
It was announced that we have acquired 3 new members this month and one of them Alex McKechnie was attending his first meeting. Alex gave a brief introduction about himself and was later guided to the branch clothing table so he could view the items for sale and where we could empty his bank account! The secretary then gave details of certain individual donations to branch funds which have boosted our branch funds. The treasurer then gave an update on those branch finances and we seem to be in a quite healthy position at the moment. Our finances would take a bit of a hit in regard to the Ladies Lunch in January, but if you can't push the boat out for your Flagship event, then when can you?
An update was given on the 2022 Cambrai Lunch being held at the WO's & Sgt's Mess, Allenby Barrack, Bovington on Friday 25th November 2022. The update was the announcement that "Card carrying" RTRA members would have their £45 "cost of the function" paid for by RHQ RTR.
Members were reminded that the next meeting is in September 2022 and that it would be the AGM. Anyone wanting to nominate themselves for any of the branch officer positions were asked to let the Secretary know before the September meeting commenced.
We were then given a Cambrai 105 update by Geordie Forde (via Zoom) which put everyone in the picture regarding the trip to France. This was followed by our Guest Speaker Capt (ret) Dean Hutton, the Regimental Secretary. Dean explains how HHQ was made up, what it's main functions were, how it spent it's money and some of the plans for the future. He did say that the Commanding Officer of the 1st Regiment Royal Australian Armoured Corps who are linked to the RTR would be with us in France for Cambrai 105. He also announced a welcome home (Estonia) medal parade & families day for the Regiment in Tidworth on Saturday 24th September 2022. RTRA branches will be invited .
Members were reminded about the Wareham Veterans Breakfast club this Saturday and the Longfleet veterans drop in centre on the first Saturday of the month. Branch activity for July/August was highlighted, the main events being the branch BBQ on 13th August, the VJ Day service in Poole Park on 15th August and the visit to the Tower of London on 22nd August. Virtually all those going on the Tower trip are travelling by rail so we are of course slightly worried about possible industrial Action by the rail unions at the moment.
It was announced that we have acquired 3 new members this month and one of them Alex McKechnie was attending his first meeting. Alex gave a brief introduction about himself and was later guided to the branch clothing table so he could view the items for sale and where we could empty his bank account! The secretary then gave details of certain individual donations to branch funds which have boosted our branch funds. The treasurer then gave an update on those branch finances and we seem to be in a quite healthy position at the moment. Our finances would take a bit of a hit in regard to the Ladies Lunch in January, but if you can't push the boat out for your Flagship event, then when can you?
An update was given on the 2022 Cambrai Lunch being held at the WO's & Sgt's Mess, Allenby Barrack, Bovington on Friday 25th November 2022. The update was the announcement that "Card carrying" RTRA members would have their £45 "cost of the function" paid for by RHQ RTR.
Members were reminded that the next meeting is in September 2022 and that it would be the AGM. Anyone wanting to nominate themselves for any of the branch officer positions were asked to let the Secretary know before the September meeting commenced.
We were then given a Cambrai 105 update by Geordie Forde (via Zoom) which put everyone in the picture regarding the trip to France. This was followed by our Guest Speaker Capt (ret) Dean Hutton, the Regimental Secretary. Dean explains how HHQ was made up, what it's main functions were, how it spent it's money and some of the plans for the future. He did say that the Commanding Officer of the 1st Regiment Royal Australian Armoured Corps who are linked to the RTR would be with us in France for Cambrai 105. He also announced a welcome home (Estonia) medal parade & families day for the Regiment in Tidworth on Saturday 24th September 2022. RTRA branches will be invited .