WATLINGTON BRANCH
NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER
2009
Membership News
Three new members have joined us since the last Newsletter: We
welcome Mr Peter Percival, ex RAF, Mr P Guggenheim ex Merchant
Navy, and Sergeant Alex Hicks serving in the RAF at
Benson; this brings our current membership up to 231. However there
are still a number of cash payers who have not yet renewed their
subscriptions for the year 2009/10, and we would be very pleased to
receive these as soon as possible. As in previous years money
can be paid to any committee member or, thanks once again to the
co-operation of the staff, left in a suitably marked envelope at
Watlington Post Office. Remember it is stillonly £11.00 for
the year, but it was due on 1st October.
Branch Matters
Meetings: In
future Tuesday evenings are to be Pool Nights in Watlington
Memorial Club, and in order to avoid the possibility of disruption
at our monthly meetings the decision was taken by members at the
AGM to change from the first Tuesday in the month to the
2nd Monday starting in January
2010. Your committee made this recommendation after much
deliberation and apologises to anyone who may be inconvenienced by
it.
Recent
meetings have been well attended and the talks interesting and
informative, especially that by Sqn Leader M C Allen in
October. The December meeting will still be on the first
Tuesday, ie December 1st, when chefs from RAF
Benson will demonstrate their skills.
The
AGM was held on November 3rd; all the officers and
committee members were re-elected and were joined by Alec
Powell who was also elected.
Welfare. It
is a pleasure to report that 4 members have added their names to
the list of volunteer drivers. A big thank you to them.
Garden
Fete in August was another great success and once again the
weather was kind to us. The takings this year received a welcome
boost from the Draw in which the first prize was won by Don
Campbell who immediately donated it all back, 50% to the
Legion and 50% to the Band. Thank you Don. We are also extremely
grateful to the local shops and businesses which provided prizes
and sponsorships as well of course to the many of you who bought
and sold tickets. Gross income from the Fete and the Draw was
£2701.00.
Next
year's programme will kick off with a talk on January
11th by Wing Commander Steve
Molsom from RAF Benson; in February we shall be entertained
by Mr Hugh Grainger on the subject of Deception in
WW2; in March we hope to host ex-Marine Gavin
Stewart who will be climbing Mt Kilimanjaro early in December,
and in April Mr Malcolm White from Thames Valley
Police will address us on the subject of Crime Prevention. Further
talks are being planned but have not yet been confirmed, so watch
this space.
The Poppy Appeal was launched in Watlington
by Squadron Leader M C Allen RAF
The Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service was very well attended
and more people than ever were thought to be present. Chief
Technician Boris Burnettfrom RAF Benson kept the contingents in
good order. Chris Williams carried the Standard and the
front rank was led by our newest member, Sgt A Hicks RAF.
Wreaths were laid and the names of the fallen from both World Wars
were read out.
Although
some of the collections were surprisingly down on last year, others
were up, and the total amount collected during the two weeks
was £7007.72which equates to a rise of almost 12% over 2008.
So a huge thank you to Julie for organising everything so
efficiently, to all the volunteer collectors, to the Post Office
staff for their help with the counting and banking, and of course
to all the generous donors and Poppy buyers.
Other Matters
Would you like to adopt a soldier? If so the Padre of
1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment who are
preparing to deploy to Afghanistan early next year would love to
hear from you. Write to him at Somme Barracks, Catterick Garrison,
N Yorks, DL9 4LD.
A visit by coach to Bovingdon tank Museum in Dorset is
being planned if enough people show interest. The likely cost will
be £20 - £25. If anyone would like to go please contact the
Chairman on 613105.
Watlington Concert Band will be giving their annual concert
in the Primary School on Saturday 28th November.
Doors open @ 7.30, concert starts at 8pm.
Michael Slater, acclaimed author of a new biography of
Charles Dickens, will be reading from "A Christmas
Carol" in the Town Hall on Wednesday
16th December. There will be mulled wine and mince
pies, but admission will be by ticket only, available from the
secretary and Watlington Post Office priced £6.00. Proceeds will go
to the Poppy Appeal.
