1
Royal Air Forces Association Minutes of the North Costa Blanca
BRANCH Meeting held 12.00–13.00, 13th June 2016, at Los Arcos, Pedreguer
1. Present
Bob Hunt (Chairman)
Colin McNae (Vice-Chairman and Webmaster)
Brian Flowers (Secretary)
Maggie Dennis (Treasurer & Welfare Officer)
Alan Gill (Social and Entertainment Officer)
Sue McNae (Wings Appeal Officer)
2. Apologies
Gaby Ferenczy (President)
Steve James (Flyer Editor)
3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
· Approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting was proposed by Len Hewitt, seconded by Alan Page and approved unanimously.
4. Matters Arising
· None.
5. Report by the Chairman.
5.0 Introduction
· The Chairman welcomed 41 members including 2 new members, David & Pam Forth, to the meeting. He also welcomed Tom Lowe, a RAFA member from the UK who was on holiday in Denia.
· The Chairman then presented a RAFA lapel badge and a name-badge to new Ordinary Member, David Forth, and Associate Member, Pam Forth.
· The Chairman was pleased to inform the meeting that the former NCB Welfare Officer, Jan Elders, had been awarded a BEM for her welfare work whilst in Spain.
5.1 RAFA Annual Conference and European Area Conference, Blackpool, 13-15 May
· The Chairman had issued a report on the Blackpool conferences, which was available in the June edition of The Flyer. Of the 18 European Area Branches, 13 were represented at the conferences in Blackpool.
· Not all the resolutions were considered at the RAFA Conference due to lack of time, including the European Area (Swiss Branch) resolution on the need for better communications between Central Council and the Branches.
· The Chairman of Central Council AVM Nigel Bairsto, was replaced by AVM John Cliff.
· Due to a problem with the RAF Memorial Flight Spitfire, the flypast was performed by a Hurricane, which gave an impressive display.
5.2 European Area Conference in Malta, 4-6 November 2016-05-15
· The Secretary had now received a new more comprehensive version of the booking form .for the Malta Conference, so copies of this form were available from the Secretary.
· The following NCB members would attend this conference:
- Colin McNae (Delegate) and Sue McNae.
- Bob & Margaret Hunt
- Michael & Celea Greenstreet
- Dick & Janet Smedley
- Gaby & Margaret Ferenczy, (depending on Margaret’s health)
5.3 Candidates for Secretary and Membership Secretary
· Volunteers were required to take over these important posts from 1st August 2016.
6. Vice-Chairman’s Report
· The Vice-Chairman reported that arrangements for a Flying Day at Muchamiel Airstrip on 15th June were in order, including the tour of the helicopter maintenance facility, which is the largest in Europe. Lunch would be available at the airfield canteen for €12·50 (correct money requested) and a flight would cost €27·50, giving a total cost of €40.
7. Secretary’s Report
· The Secretary reported that there were now 126 NCBB members, (60 Full Members and 66 Associate Members), including two new members, David & Pam Forth.
· Four new members had joined the NCB so far this year, namely George Frampton (Full Member), Linda Osborn (Associate Member), David Forth (Full Member) and Pam Forth (Associate Member.
· The Secretary had mounted on a notice-board the NCB’s certificate for a 5,000 pounds sterling contribution to the 2014 Wings Appeal.
8. Treasurer’s Report
· Maggie Dennis reported that at the end of April the Branch finances were as follows:
Bank Account: €14,725·21 Cash: €345·12
9. Welfare Officer’s Report
· €1,000 that had been advanced from Branch Funds to enable an ex-RAF gentleman to undergo two eye operations had now been refunded by the RAFBF.
· The situation with regard to access to the Spanish NHS by UK residents in Spain who have not yet reached retirement age was not clear. The Welfare Officer would attend a briefing on this subject by the UK Consulate, which would be organised after the UK Brexit Referendum.
10. Social and Entertainment Officer’s Report
· The Chairman thanked Cameron & Corinne Gair for organising an enjoyable Treasure Hunt on 19th May, and he thanked Shane Martin for her assistance with administration on the day of the event.
Alan gave the list of future events as follows:
- 15th June, 10.00, Flying Day (and visit to helicopter maintenance workshop), Muchamiel Airstrip, Flight €27·50, lunch €12·50.
- 25th June, Branch Anniversary Lunch, Verd y Vent Restaurant, Bernia, 13.30/14.00, €18.
- 19th July, 19.00/19.30, Rusty’s Restaurant, Just an Evening Out.
- 15th September, Battle of Britain Dinner, (in conjunction with the ACA), Cumbre del Sol, €20 (music included). DTF
11. Wings Appeal Officer’s Report
· A ‘Name the Bear’ contest would be held at the Flying Day and continued at the Verd y Vent NCB’s Anniversary Lunch.
· The 19th May Treasure Hunt raffle had raised €110 and the 13th June Branch Meeting raffle had raised €125
· The Wings Appeal Officer requested Members to donate prizes (other than bottles of drink) for Branch raffles.
12. Flyer Editor’s Report
· The Flyer Editor was unable to attend the meeting but he had distributed the June edition of The Flyer to NCB members by email. Current news about the RAF had been included as requested at the 9th May Branch Meeting. The Chairman’s report on the RAFA Annual Conference and the European Area Conference in Blackpool was also included
13. Webmaster’s Report
· The Webmaster reported that there were about 1,411 hits on the NCB website in May.
· The June edition of The Flyer was now available on the NCB’s website.
14. AOB
· The Chairman reported that he had discussed with David Prowse, (RAFA-CHQ), the possibility of making special offers in the Air Mail available to overseas members, as they are presently available only to RAFA members in the UK. The Chairman also asked members to consider other ideas and pass them on to him.
15. Date and place of next meeting
· The next Branch Meeting will be held 12.00-13.00 on 11th July at Los Arcos Restaurant, Pedreguer.
(Brian Flowers – Rev.1 - 28th June 2016)