MINUTES OF THE BRANCH MEETING HELD AT THE HOUSES …



MINUTES OF THE BRANCH MEETING HELD AT THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, LONDON. ON FRIDAY 18th OF APRIL 2008

Members present (Officers and Committee):

Mr J Baldock BEM - Chairman

Mr G C R Woodman-Simmons - Honorary Secretary

Mr M I Collarbone MBE - Honorary Treasurer

Mr K Bryant - Welfare Officer

Mr H Marshall - Committee

Mr J Swanborough - Committee

Participating members Present:

Major (Retd) D Harrington and Mr A Dixon. (8 Present).

Apologies:

Colonel B S T Archer GC OBE ERD, Mr J A Allerhead BEM, Capt P A Sanderson MBE, Mr A D Luton, Mr Ivor Smith, Mr J Paul and Mr R F Harris.

THE BRANCH CHAIRMAN MR JEFF BALDOCK BEM OFFICIALLY OPENED THE MEETING AT

13:00 HRS.

The silence for fallen and lost comrades had been observed at the start of the AGM.

MINUTES:

The Branch Chairman asked whether everybody had read their copy of the minutes of the previous Branch meeting. Members present were then given time to read through and brief themselves on the minutes of the previous Branch meeting held at the WOs and Sgts Mess, Carver Barracks, Wimbish on Friday the 18th of January 2008. These minutes were proposed as being a true and correct record of that meeting by Mr M I Collarbone and the proposal was seconded by Mr H Marshall.

Matters Arising:

The Branch Chairman Jeff Baldock said that in respect of the letter from Reg Journet querying the minutes for the 12th of October 2007. As there had been no further communications from Reg Journet on the issue, that the matter was now closed.

Hugh Marshall asked whether there had been any further information regarding the emergency services bell from the 4 ton BD redwing truck that he had intended to make as a presentation and which had gone missing. Jeff replied that he would take up this issue with the new RSM who takes

up post in July.

Adrian Dixon enquired whether a copy of the minutes went on line and if it went online was the financial statement removed. Gary Woodman-Simmons replied that the minutes were not put online but they could if that is what is required. Gary continued by stating that he would be putting a piece into BD News giving a brief on the AGM and of any subsequent meetings, and that BD News goes online. It was agreed to review this at a later date.

SECRETARY’S REPORT:

The Secretary started his report by informing members of matters raised by HQ REA and London Group. The dates previously given, by HQ REA for the Aldershot / Minley weekend were incorrect. The amended date is 27-29 June 2008. This has already appeared in the spring edition of BD News.

The Corps Memorial Weekend at Chatham is to be from 19-21 September. This event will be promulgated in the next issue of BD News.

REA AGM will take place at 1600 hours on Saturday 11th of October at the Victory Services Club 63-79 Seymour Street, London W2 2HF. This will be followed by the Annual Dinner tickets are £18.00p per head for the dinner

Sapper Sunday at the Royal Hospital Chelsea will be on Sunday the 12th of October 2008. A curry lunch will be provided.

Remembrance Sunday will be on the 9th of November. Tickets have to be applied for via Branch Secretaries through HQ REA and not direct to the RBL as in previous years bids should be in by 31st of July. Gary continued that we have our own pitch Column B Section 22 is BD section Column B Section 21 is RE.

The Health Secretary and the Veterans Minister announced priority treatment for all veterans for conditions which they suspect are related to their military service. Previously only War Pensioners were entitled to priority treatment.

Gary spoke on the London Group Dinner, and that five members of the branch and their spouses had attended on the 9th of February 2008 at Clerkenwell. Group Secretary Grant Mackintosh has asked us for our views on the lunch, which secretaries and any branch members able to attend will discuss with him at the Group meeting on 28th of May (Wednesday). Jeff Baldock stated how well organised and successful he thought the dinner had been and he hoped we would continue to support it.

London Group is also trying to get a representative from each branch to make up an “events/entertainment committee”. As this develops Gary will keep the members informed.

A visit is being planned for the 24th of Sept (Wed) to the Army Museum at Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea followed by a lunch at the Royal Hospital (next door) and hopefully a short guided tour of the hospital. We would meet at 10:30 hours at the main entrance. The cost will be promulgated in the next issue of BD News. The cost for the museum is free, and the cost of the lunch will receive a subsidy from London Group. Also 101 Regiment have 10 members of the unit away on operations and have asked the five branches in the group to sponsor two of these soldiers each. A discussion took place and a motion was tabled by Jeff Baldock that we donate £50.00p towards this sponsorship. The motion was seconded by Mick Collarbone and the motion passed.

The secretary went on to inform members present that 579 Fd Sqn (EOD (V) were running a sponsored cycle ride from Paris to London. 14-17 of June. SSgt Dickinson and his team are raising money for MIND and BLESMA. It was hoped that the cycle ride would finish at the Beating Retreat Ceremony being held by 101 Regt at the Imperial War Museum. It was proposed by Kev Bryant and seconded by Hugh Marshall that the sum of £50.00p be donated to this cause. The vote was passed.

Gary informed members that the new Commanding Officer for 101 Regiment will be Lt Col Aiden Smith RE (V) and the new RSM at 33 Engr Regt (EOD) will be WO1 (RSM) Justin Spreadborough who takes up post on the 14th of July 2008.

Tom Nicholls one of our blind members was in hospital, waiting to go into a care home. With The RBL and HQ REA we were able to help get funds for his carer Mrs Joan Shorter, HQ REA via the Branch gave a gift of £300.00p. The branch also sent Tom a get well card as well as flowers and a thank you letter to Mrs Shorter. Thomas has now been found a place in a care home and we continue to send him a copy of BD News in CD format. We have received a letter of thanks from Mrs Shorter.

William Clifford Carlton age 92 who is also blind and one of our missing members has been located. He has had to move to the St Dunstan’s Home in Brighton. The files on both Tom and Clifford were passed to the newly elected Welfare Officer, Kev Bryant.

The branch had also received a letter from Mrs Feldman thanking the branch for allowing the standard to be on parade and to those who attended the memorial service at Bushey Synagogue for her late husband and branch member Gerald Feldman

Gary went on to remind members that the cost of postage was rising 1st Class will rise from 34p to 36p and 2nd Class will rise from 24p to 27p. This means that the cost of postage per bulletin run will rise from £74.88p to £84.24p and then there are the increases to overseas mail.

A vote took place for the menu for this years Annual Lunch the winning menu was Smoked Tomato and Roasted Pepper Soup, followed by Beef Fillet served on a bed of Mustard Creamed Potato, with Chateau and Minted New Potatoes Citrus Straw Carrots and Courgette Nisioce with Guiness Jus. Pudding will be Chocolate and Orange Profiterole Cake.

Membership.

The secretary informed members that the following had decided to resign from the branch mainly due to age, Lt Col R H Morton ERD, Capt (Retd) Thomas Irvine Moore MBE, Mr Anthony Orton, Mr Gary Lomas (moving overseas) and Major T J O’Brien MC.

The following members had died: Major General Chris Thompson CB, Chris was a branch member and also the President of the BDO Club. Missing member Howard Strickland had died 2006.

Lastly Mrs Sylvia Fisher wrote from California to inform us of the death on the 6th of April 2008 of her husband Jack Fisher, who served with No 4 & 9 BD Companies in 1940 -1941. Jack was 85 years of age and died of complications after surgery.

We had the following new members; Mr David Atkins, WO1 Steffan Wright RE, Major (Retd) John Manley MBE TD, Mr Josef Z Matulewicz, Major Mark Lancaster TD MP, Mr John Swanborough and Major (Retd) Michael Jenkins

Having tried to trace all the missing members via the bulletin and letters, which had been sent to all the new occupants of the last known addresses of the missing, asking for any known information. Unfortunately there is still no trace of the following members:

Robert Howell Knock age 45 and George William Rochford age 90

As every effort had been made to re-locate Robert Knock and George Rochford without success

Gary proposed that their membership cards be returned to HQ REA. This motion was seconded by Jeff Baldock and passed.

In respect to missing Friend of the Branch, Mr Harry Barcott, the branch was informed that14 months ago Mr Barcott was taken away by his local police in Derby and sectioned. He has been institutionalised since this time. It was then agreed to remove Mr Barcott from membership.

Mrs Dorothy Portess has requested to be removed from the list of Friends of the Branch.

Membership figures:

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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:

The Branch Chairman, Jeff Baldock, gave his report during the AGM so there was no further Chairman’s Report.

TREASURERS REPORT:

The Honorary Treasurer Mick Collarbone started his report by informing the meeting that member’s annual subscriptions were being paid promptly. He went on to inform us that over £300 had been received towards the Derby Draw and donations to the branch. Mick continued by discussing the 33 Engr Regt open day, and that if we had known in advance we could have had a stall to sell Polo shirts and the likes. He stated that we would have to speak to the new RSM with regard to any future open days or events at the regiment. Gary informed everyone that in the past an average of £600.00p had been raised at this event annually. The Treasurer continued by informing members that the cost of the bulletin had been brought down even though the quality had improved and also in the light of the extra costs in ink due to the increased number of coloured photos.

Mick paid thanks to his wife Julie for all the help she had given him, and this was echoed by all in attendance.

The Hon Treasurer gave the financial statement: from 13 Jan – 18 Apr 2008.

WELFARE REPORT:

Covered under Secretary’s Report

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

Jeff Baldock congratulated Gary on the excellent job he had done and for all his efforts in producing the first issue of BD News, which was agreed upon by all the members present. A discussion then took place based on the letters received by Gary on the new look bulletin. Gary produced a slightly altered front page which now included mention of Archie as President and HM the Queen as Patron. Of the two styles with the amendments presented one was selected and will be the front cover of BD News. Gary informed members that it had been hard work producing the BD News, but had also been well worth the effort and it had been very satisfying as it was now totally in the control of the branch.

Adrian Dixon asked whether we were having a Tom-bowler stall or any stall at this years reunion. Gary replied that we had not been invited to have a branch stall as had happened in previous years but had not happened in the past two years. Jeff said that once the new RSM had taken up post we would need to get in touch with him so as to have a better working relationship between branch and regiment as it had been in the past.

Hugh Marshall asked that as this is our sixtieth anniversary was there any chance of the main silver centre piece to be on display at the annual lunch. Jeff Baldock said that he would again speak to the new RSM but stated that we could not demand it be on display and that there were lots of valid reasons why it is not, but he would enquire.

It was agreed that as this is our Diamond Jubilee year the branch standard should be on display at the lunch. Gary stated that we would need to get a stand for the standard. Adrian Dixon said that he would arrange for a stand to be made at Brompton Barracks and asked Gary to furnish him with the dimensions of the standard.

Gary informed the meeting that he would be away for the summer from the 28th of July until 16th of September. Due to Gary’s extended summer holiday it was agreed the closing dates for applications for the lunch would be the 15th of September. The application forms would reflect this and inform applicants that the mail would be collected and kept in received order to make the applications fair.

Gary assured the meeting that all printable admin would be completed before he left for Canada.

It was decided to dispense with sending all members a return envelope for applications as out of 320 sent less than 40 get used.

It was decided to invite Maj (Retd) Chris Driver-Williams QGM as Guest of Honour. Other guest are COs of 33 and 101 EOD Regts and their spouses along with the two RSMs and the spouses. Also to be invited is Lt Col Neil Jordan and his wife Pam and the curator of the W C Britain at War museum. Flowers would be presented to the Guests wives.

Lastly Gary reminded Jeff of the dates to send the letter of Loyal Greetings to HM the Queen, 12th of September.

Expenses:

Proposed by John Swanborough that these expenses be accepted and the proposal was seconded by

David Harrington.

There being no further business, the meeting was officially closed by the Chairman at 14:09 hrs.

Signed Chairman

J A Baldock BEM

On this Friday the Eighteenth Day of July in the Year Two Thousand and Eight

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