ROYAL LINCOLNSHIRE AND ROYAL ANGLIAN REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION

PRESIDENT – Lieutenant Colonel S Bacon R Anglian LINCOLN BRANCH

CHAIRMAN – C Key SECRETARY – J Gooding HON.TREASURER – I Simpson 10 Marne Gardens, LINCOLN 49 Queensway, SKELLINGTHORPE 7 Redwing Close, LINCOLN LN1 3UQ Tel: 01522 530762 LN6 4RJ Tel: 01522 853495 LN6 5SH Tel: 01522 682721 E.Mail [email protected]

Minutes of the Branch Meeting 19:30 Thursday 21st February 2008 Sobraon Bks, Burton Road, Lincoln Cyril Key Mick Reams H Bellamy 24 Members Present Ian Simpson John Gooding Apologies T Stephenson D Metcalfe J Searby J Green

No. Item Action 09. Minutes of the meeting on 17th January 2008: File Read and approved by Laurie Buttery and Stan Clayton 10. Matters arising from previous meeting: The Chairman commented on the success of the Sobraon lunch and thanked all those who File attended as well as the Chef, the ATC Waiters and the ACF Band. He had received 3 letters of appreciation from invited guests. It was reported that a comment had been made about people attending who where not members of the branch or who had not supported other events. It was pointed out by the Chairman that everyone had had the opportunity to book a place and everyone who had attended were either a member or a guest of a member and all were welcome. Jack Summers proposed a vote of thanks to the piper (Sgt Jan Ward of Derbyshire ACF) for her excellent rendition of Highland Cathedral. The secretary will pass this on, as she is his sister-in-law. The proposed visit to 2 Royal Anglian has had to be postponed as they are due to deploy to Iraq in May/June. Major Birch, OC A Coy implied that he saw no problems next year. Wally Hibbard invited (press-ganged!) the webmaster Alistair Garrod into giving an update on last months story on the mini sub shooting gallery. Alistair had been contacted by someone who had seen the article on the website and said that it had partially explained the loss of so many of them from a 90 strong K Flotilla. He would be sending some photos to Wally to see if he could identify the type that they had destroyed. (Wally was warned to say nothing as it might be a late insurance claim!!) The secretary read out a letter of thanks and appreciation from the Ghurka Welfare Trust in recognition of the £100 donation the branch had sent in January. 11. Treasurers Report: File The treasurer presented his monthly report, approved by H.Bellamy and Don Milns.

12. Welfare Report: Nothing to report (Welfare officer, Chris Spring in New Zealand)

13. New Members: Mick Reams was asked if we had had any new membership applications in the past month, to which he replied “int-enny” The secretary had to ask the members how many ‘T’s and ‘N’s to use as he was unsure of the correct colloquial spelling of Mick’s response. 14. Correspondence: File A letter had been received from RAFA inviting the branch to their service of rededication at St Mary-Le- Wigford church on Sunday 27th April 2008 at 3:30pm. Mick reams would attend with the standard. The secretary read out a letter from the Mayor, thanking the branch for inviting him to become an honorary member and expressing his great pleasure in accepting. 15. Any Other Business Cyril Key gave a resume on events outlined from his attendance at the last meeting of Lincoln Ex-Services Association (LEXSA). Specific details to follow in due course. He announced that Mayor W (Bill) O’Driscoll was the new Regimental Officer designate and hoped to take up post in 3/4wks time. (an office had been identified for his use at Sobraon) B Coy camp would be from 19 Sept to 4 Oct and they would be having a recruiting weekend on 18-19 June. The Band of the Grenadier Guards would be holding a concert in the Cathedral on Wed 7 May (Tickets £10 from the cathedral) and on the following day would be exercising their right to a Freedom of the City parade. An inspection would take place in front of the War Memorial with the salute being taken in Guildhall Street. On the 27th June the Chief of Staff would be attending an event at the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, where the Queens Division, Minden band would be performing a Beating Retreat ceremony. Any member interested in attending should contact the chairman. Friday 27th June had been designated as ‘Veterans Day’. On sat 28th June various events by different service organisations would be going on in the centre of Lincoln. More details to follow when clarified. An invite had been received from Grimsby branch to join in on their forthcoming trip to Verdun, between 8-14 October. The proposed itinerary was read out, the cost being £200- £250 with a non-refundable deposit of £100 being required. Again, anyone interested in this trip should, in the first instance, speak to the Chairman. On 3rd March, at Sobraon, a presentation of the Malayan Medal was taking place. It was anticipated that there would be between 250 and 300 recipients. Colin Coggan took the opportunity to remind the branch that the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment Malayan re-union would also be taking place on Sat 4th October 2008 at Sobraon Bks. Interest parties should contact him direct on Lincoln 804817. Terry Marker gave a talk on a presentation he had been to as a member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides. This was by Brinn & Helen Parry (Help for Heroes.org) and was about the work they were doing to rehabilitate the seriously wounded and maimed troops coming back from current conflicts around the world and help them come to terms with their disability. (Our words, not theirs, as was pointed out by Terry). He explained about their current project to raise money for a swimming pool for them. It was the intention for some of them and helpers to cycle through France, get picked up by the Royal Navy, then dropped by landing craft on the south coast of England and then carry on cycling to London to hand in a petition to Downing street. It was proposed by the treasurer and carried unanimously for a donation of £100 to be made to the organisation from the welfare fund. Bunny Barratt questioned whether the stone tablet about the Lincolnshire Regiment above the front door of Newport barracks could be saved before they demolish the barracks in a few weeks time. The secretary replied that as far as he was aware the front part of the barracks was a listed building and would be incorporated into any new development but he would make enquiries to make sure. Harry Bellamy mentioned a trip to Monte casino by ---- during the week 11-17 may at a cost of £545 pp from Heathrow and £585 pp from Manchester, he mentioned that many of the 6th battalion were buried at Anzio and anyone interested should contact him for details. The treasurer informed the meeting that for various reasons the Xmas concert by the Minden Band had made a loss of £98.44 and the cost to the association for the Sobraon Lunch had been £306.45. A discussion then took place on various aspects of publicity, or the lack of it. Al Garrod agreed to have a go for the next event requiring it.

The next coffee morning would be Mon 28th January 2008 08. Date of Next Meeting: Thursday 20th March 2008