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Over the years it has been speculated on, as to whether our members would be interested in meeting up at other than our official weekend in October . One of the possible venues was Chatham SME. They had heard that accommodation was available in the barracks. All things are possible but enough of us being interested in organising an extra get together is the key to anything getting off the ground.

There are various REA sponsored and organised events. Ripon weekend 15th to 17th May is one of these. Many times at our own weekend, debate has centred on the “North South” debate, and should our annual meetings be split between the two. Pragmatism has had to be addressed , in the difficulty Blackpool has presented in it’s accesability by road to many travelling north. Hence the decision to hold our annual meetings in Dover. The writer is domiciled in the north and attends the Ripon weekend. Many of our members attend, some with our own dedicated Junior Leaders contingent, but quite a few with their own branches. For those if us in the north, we have a chance to travel not so far to a very well organised weekend, with cheap accommodation and food along with very reasonably priced beer. Many travel from the south as well. I like to think that Ripon is as near to a half year get together as we can get. If this is of interest to you , then the booking forms can be downloaded from our web-site, or I will post them out to you.

The national Arboretum in Staffordshire has a dedicated R.E.site. Our own branch Standard was there at it’s official inauguration with Simon and Mick Dobson. This could be a consideration for a meet and a visit to pay homage. It is in the midlands and the distances to travel, probably equal north and south. View the web site .www.nationalmemorialarboretum.org/ - The list of conflicts over the page is from the site.

Many possibilities present themselves, if we have the support, then organising the choice is a small matter.

Let me know if you would be interested in any of the foregoing considerations or any other.

Email Or Mr D. Bishop, 2 Hollings Farm, Low Springs, Baildon, Shipley. W.Yorks. BD17 6BE.

For your information I have included the REA Diary and also the REA Spring Reunion weekend details

Over the page.

REA Diary 2009

02 May / Army and Navy Rugby
15-17 May / Ripon Weekend *
8-15 May / Spring Families Reunion, Mill Rythe Holiday Resort, Hayling Island
3-4 June / Beating Retreat London **
30 May / Trooping the Colour- “Major Generals Review” **
4th June / Royal Hospital Chelsea Founders Day Parade
6th June / Trooping the Colour- “Colonels Review” **
13 June / Queens Birthday Parade **
19-21 June / Aldershot/ Minley Weekend *
18-20 Sept. / Corps Memorial Weekend Chatham *
9-11 Oct. / Junior Leaders 10th Anniversary Weekend
10-11 Oct / REA AGM and Dinner 11th Oct Sapper Sunday Royal Hospital Chelsea
5- Nov / Field Remembrance Westminster
8- Nov. / Remembrance Sunday

* REA National Events.

** 1 St. Btn. Irish Guards.

REA Spring Reunion 8th – 15th – May 2009

Mill Rythe Holiday Resort Hayling Island

That’s 7 nights full board for just £284 pp!

A deposit of £30 is required when booking. Free coach travel from designated points throughout England and Wales. Accomodation in either twin or double rooms with en suite. TV and tea/coffee making. Full programme of Cabaret and entertainment. For more information or a booking form, contact:

Ken Coward, National Organiser,66 Selangor Avenue,Emsworth

Hants PO10 7LT, Telephone 01242 373940

Conflicts British Forces engaged in 1945 to present day.

Palestine 1945-48 / Peshawar 1989-90
Malaya 1948-60 / Namibia 1989-90
Yangtze 1949 / Gulf 1990-91
Korea 1950-53 / Kuwait 1991
Canal Zone 1951-54 / Irag/Kuwait 1991-2003
Kenya 1952-1956 / Western Sahara 1991 to present day
Cyprus 1955-1959 / Northern Iraq/Southern Turkey 1991
Suez 1956 / Cambodia 1991-93
Arabian Peninsula 1957-60 / Former Yugoslavia 1992-2002
Congo 1964-69 / Sarajevo 1993-98
Brunei 1962-64 / Georgia 1993 to present day
Borneo 1962-66 / Rwanda 1993-98
Cyprus 1964 to present day / Angola 1997
Radfan 1964 / Croatia 1996-98
South Arabia 1964-67 / Kosovo 1998-2002
Malay Peninsula 1964-65 / Sierra Leone 1999-2002
Northern Ireland 1969-2007 / Congo 1999 to present day
Dhofar 1969-78 / Kosovo 1999-2007
Rhodesia 1979-80 / East Timor 1999
South Atlantic 1982 / Ethiopia & Eritrea 2000 to present day
Lebanon 1983-84 / Macedonia 2001-02
Gulf of Suez 1984 / Afghanistan 2001 to present day
Gulf 1988-89 / Iraq 2003 to present day