Sandbag - Wincanton RBL Newsletter: April 2011
Summary
Editor Tony Goddard - 01963 824193
Secretary Arthur Pickup - 01963 32952
Branch Meetings for 2011 and 2012 - Wincanton Memorial Hall - Monday at 7 p.m.
18th April
16th May
20th June
11th July
15th August
19th September
17th October
7th November(AGM)
19th December
16th January
20th February
Coffee Mornings for 2011 - Wincanton Memorial Hall - Saturday at 10 a.m.
2nd April
30th July
29th October
Alan Mann
Alan Mann passed away on 22nd March after a long illness. Alan will be sadly missed for all his charm and wit and for being a thoroughly nice person to know. Alan was three times mayor of Wincanton and was involved in many aspects of town life. Although he was in a reserved occupation in 1945 Alan volunteered for the Parachute Regiment and was entitled to wear the coveted Red Beret. After service in the army he went on to a distinguished career in engineering eventually becoming chief engineer to what was then Unigate in Wincanton. Rest in Peace Alan.
Events for 2011
Visit to Thorney Island 19th May
As we go to print it looks like the coach to Thorney Island Royal Artillery Base on 19th May is completely full, if you wish to go and have not put your name on the list I will take names on a waiting list in the event of cancellations. Because it will take about 2 hours to get there we must leave the Memorial Hall promptly at 8.30 a.m. and we should get home about 6 p.m., we will make a stop both ways. Cost is as usual £10 and we must pay £5 for the lunch in the Mess which will include wine.
Lunch at the new Otter Garden Centre 6th April
Well over 40 of us attended the branch lunch at the new Otter Garden Centre on 6th April and all agreed it was not only an excellent meal but a very good venue. I was fortunate to have been invited to the opening of the centre last month and met their owner . She tells me that she is a staunch supporter of the Legion and would be very happy to give us a "behind the scenes tour" at their main nursery at Ottery St.Mary. On discussing this further I find that she could possibly do this during the time they are preparing for the Christmas items and they have a "Poinsettia Trail" which by all accounts is very nice. It would also give us a chance to see the Christmas market and get those difficult present too ! We could also incorporate our pre-Christmas lunch there and perhaps go on to Exmouth (we went to Sidmouth last time we were at Ottery St. Mary). Once I have more details I will let you know the date. We do not want to be too near Christmas as it gets very busy there.
Visit to Hall & Woodhouse Brewery Blandford 26th March
Although there were not enough of us to make a coach trip viable we did have a moderate size group who went by cars to Hall & Woodhouse Brewery in Blandford on 26th March and it turned out to be a very enjoyable day out. Having an excellent tour guide and all of us staying for lunch at the brewery a good time was had by all. We were very fortunate to have decided to make the tour this year as the old traditional brewery is being closed next year, making way for a new modern building which is in the process of being built. Whilst it would have been interesting to make the trip in future we were able to see the old traditional methods and the historic charm of the original building. All of us agreed what a good day out it was.
June trip is to Bournemouth 18th June
We are all familiar with the delights of Bournemouth in the summer so I have arranged the June trip to be to Bournemouth on 18th June. Cost as always is £10 each. I would appreciate your names as soon as possible if you wish to go.
Depart Memorial Hall at 9 a.m. and return home around 6 p.m.
Festival of Remembrance Colston Hall Bristol 5th November
After discussion at the last branch meeting members expressed a desire to go the Festival of Remembrance at the Colston Hall, Bristol as opposed to going to the Albert Hall London again. The date for this is 5th November and we will
incorporate an afternoon in Bristol as well. When more is known I will firm this up, nearer the time.
As I mentioned at the meeting we can still obtain 4 tickets to the evening performance at the Albert Hall from County and these will be available in July. It is also possible to go independently to the afternoon performance at the Albert Hall and if you are interested please contact me.
Poppy Party 11th June
Arrangements are now finalised for the Poppy Party on 11th June. The party will start at 7.30 p.m., John Gudge will sing us country music and in the interval we will provide a fish & chips supper. As it is a members only event we will make available wine, beer and soft drinks for a very moderate donation. Cost is £5 and tickets are available from me from now on. Please get your tickets as we are only selling 60 on a first come basis. The second Poppy Party in August will be a larger event open to the public. Profits will help boost our 2010 Poppy Appeal.
Coffee Morning 2nd April
We had another very successful Coffee Morning on 2nd April and we raised £172.32 for branch funds (Raffle £110 & tea/coffee donations £62.32) The above photo was taken by Phil & Yvonne Rogers's friend Karlheinz Bindemann who was visiting them from our twin town of Lahnau Germany. It was very nice to welcome Karlheinz to our gathering.
Old Faithful Day 25th June
The plaque is being made and aircraft propeller will be forming part of the new memorial at Snag Farm. Don't forget to register for an invitation to the ceremony at the farm at 3 p.m. on Saturday 25th June. I will be writing a commemorative feature for Sandbag next month.
Main Article
Our "Local Regiment"
I know many of us look back with great affection and regard when remembering the old English County Regiments. We are indeed proud of the history and achievements of the Somerset Light Infantry, The Dorset Regiment and the Wiltshire Regiment. With continual reorganisation of the Army over the years we have seen many changes. When I served in the Territorial Army the TA battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh Royal Regiment was the Wessex Regiment. The "Duke's " as it was known amalgamated with the Gloucestershire Regiment and then became Royal Regiment of Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire and the Wessex Regiment became it's TA battalion. The Dorset Regiment became the Devon & Dorset Regiment and the Somerset Light Infantry became the Somerset & Cornwall Light Infantry and in 1968 all the Light Infantry regiments became "The Light Infantry".
In 2007 a new regiment was formed from The Devon & Dorset Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire & Wiltshire Light Infantry, The Light Infantry and The Royal Green Jackets. This of course is The Rifles and in it's short history has already given us a sense of pride in our army and has established itself in the best traditions of bravery and excellence worthy of the British Army.
To read the full story, download the attached pdf file.
Support Article
Hall & Woodhouse Brewery Blandford
It was in 1777 when Charles Hall founded the brewery during the time of the threat of invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte. Hearing that the army encamped at Weymouth were not only getting very bored awaiting the French but were in need of water and supplies etc., Charles Hall approached the government and was awarded the contract to supply the army with beer. In those days clean water was always difficult to supply and many people drank beer instead ! Charles Hall developed the business over the years and in the mid 1800s employed a young Edward Woodhouse into the business. Charles liked Edward and admired his acquired brewing skills, being very pleased when Edward became engaged to his daughter. Over the years the Woodhouse family married into the Hall family and having more boys than girls finally became a total Woodhouse family brewery but retained the original name.
To read the full story, download the attached pdf file.
Other points of interest
Two important meeting date changes
I will remind everyone again during the coming months but there has been a need to change the date of the AGM to Monday 7th November and to change the date of the July meeting to 11th July. This has been brought about by key committee members being unavailable on the original dates.
Welcome new members Violet Welch and Peter Berry who joined us this month.
Advance notice of local events
27th May, The Rifles will receive the Freedom of Blandford Forum, ceremony will take place outside the Council Offices at 11 a.m.
6th June, Dorchester D-Day celebrations outside Keep Museum 10.30 a.m.
19th June, Veterans Parade at Weymouth. Car Park at Lodmoor and bus service to the Esplanade for veterans from 9 a.m. until 10.20 a.m. Assembly 10 - 10.30 a.m., March off 10.45 a.m. Return shuttle bus is available.
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