MINUTES OF THE BRANCH COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 8 FEB 18 AT THE BRANCH HQ

The meeting was opened by the Chairman at 1937hrs. The dedication and final tribute read by SR

PRESENT

Vince Taylor (VT) / Chairman / RAFALO Shrivenham
Tony Smith (TS) / Vice Chairman
Ian Hone (IH) / Secretary / Caseworker
Kevin McLeod (KM) / Treasurer
Hugh Thompson (HT) / Welfare Lead / Caseworker
Sandie Rule (SR) / Wings Organiser / Assistant Secretary
Janet Hardy (JH) / Club Representative
ITEM / TEXT / ACTION
1. APOLOGIES
2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
3. MATTERS ARISING
4 TREASURERS REPORT
5. WELFARE REPORT
6 WINGS REPORT
7. RAFALO SHRIVENHAM UPDATE
8. 1244 SQN AIR CADETS
9.CLUB COMMITTEE UPDATE
10 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
11. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING / 1.1 Apologies were received from Stu Patton (President) Kevin McLeod (Treasurer) and Richie Collins.
2.1 The minutes of the last meeting held on 11 Jan 18 were accepted as a true record. Proposed by HT and seconded by TS Carried
3.1 There will be a Branch Social evening on Tue 8 Mar 17 with a
presentation given by Shrivenham Stn Cdr on RAF 100 followed
by a quiz and raffle. UPDATE The presentation will commence at 1900hrs followed by a Quiz and Raffle Ongoing
3.2 The visit to National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire is scheduled for Sat 28 Apr 18. VT will look into costing for a coach and entry. UPDATE Costs are hiring of Transport £560. Non refundable deposit of £5.00 required. Proposed by HT seconded by TS that the Branch proceed with the booking Carried Ongoing
3.3 JH stated that the external condition of the Club was beginning to look tired and required Painting. JH agreed to obtain quotes for the work to be carried out. UPDATE The Building has now been inspected and a verbal quote has been received. Proposed by IH and seconded by HT that the Branch allocate up to 3k for the work to be carried out. Carried The written quote to be forwarded to VT Ongoing
3.4 JH noted that following an inspection of the Club Premises the annual checks and certificates for the Building Boiler and Lighting were out of date or overdue. JH was asked to ensure an inspection to take place. Ongoing
3.5 The Branch still requires a Standard Bearer since Roy Lobley resigned from the Branch. All committee members are encouraged to assist the Chairman find a willing volunteer to become the Branch Standard Bearer. Ongoing
3.6 VT will meet with the RBL riders during their meeting on Wed 7 Feb 18 and will give an update on Branch activities. VT will suggest perhaps a social function take place between both groups (ie darts match). UPDATE VT has met with the Riders Group and has suggested a Social Evening with the Swindon Branch Closed
4.1 The quoted figures are taken from the Branch Bank Statement generated on 8 Feb 18.
  • Treasurers Account £34227.97
  • Welfare Account £6056.72 (Working Capital £2937.16)
  • Wings Account £157.86
5.1 Mr Chairman, fellow committee members, the Branch Welfare Account as of today, stands at £6056.72. This unusually high balance for the Welfare account is because I am still holding the £944.56 previously reported against a previously successful Ben Fund loan application. Plus, I have recently received funds from both the Ben Fund and Area HQ to the tune of £2175.00 against a successful grant application that Ian’s been working on, (more about that in a minute). Take these grant funds away from our total £6056.72 balance and it leaves us with a working capital of £2937.16 in the Welfare account. I am expecting a further income of £1800.00 in the near future, again relevant to the case Ian is working on.
The Welfare Accounts for 2017 were duly submitted to our auditor, via Colin Wilson, Club Treasurer, and he tells me everything “tallies” and he is in the process of preparing said accounts in the required format for our AGM and subsequent onwards transmission to Area HQ.
Other things I have been involved with, I submitted an E.P.V. application for a female Gulf War 1 veteran who wanted a specific travel style machine called a “Luggie”. She was advised it would be up to the assessing O/T as to what type of “fit for purpose” machine she might be offered by the Ben Fund; however she could make her preferences for a “Luggie” known to the O/T during the assessment. It seems that when the O/T turned up to access her she wasn’t at her own address, but her parents, so the O/T wasn’t able to access her location, storage facilities etc. Also, she declined a trial on a different machine the O/T had brought with her, apparently stressing her particular preference for a “Luggie”. Based on that the Ben Fund subsequently decided not to grant her an E.P.V. First one ever that I haven’t been successful with, still deliberating on how I re-visit the case.
I had an Area referral come in that turned out to be a still serving Sgt at RAF Brize Norton. It seemed Area hadn’t explained to him the “Chain of Command” protocols that have to be observed when a still serving individual seeks our assistance. I subsequently explained these to him and he later came back to me saying that he was now “sorted” and thanked me for my help and direction.
I have recently had an approach re obtaining a recliner chair for a veteran’s wife about to leave hospital, it’s still on-going, and I may deal with the case locally as opposed to going to the Ben Fund due to the timescale involved.
I have just had a referral from area re an ex-member of the WRAF who is in some sort of situation revolving around a back injury. I’m shall be looking into that in the coming days.
We continue at the RBL town centre “Pop-In” with a RAFA “Welfare surgery” every Wednesday afternoon from 13.30 hrs. Thank you Vince & Ian for covering for me during the past month and giving me a break for a couple of weeks. If anybody wishes to help with a stint at the RBL “Pop-In” for a couple of hours on a Wednesday p.m.it would be most appreciated. I say again, you don’t necessarily have to be “welfare trained” as you can always make a referral through to me on forms present in the “Pop-In. Currently the RBL staff are looking forward to working with us on an RAF100 coffee morning and an “in house” RAF centenary display. Unless there are any questions that concludes my February 2018 report.
5.2 The Branch will be familiar with the ongoing work being carried out to find a Builder to carry out the conversion of a Bathroom to a Wet Room and secure the appropriate funding from the Benevolent Fund and the Officers Association. I am pleased to report that funding has been approved following the intervention of HT to cover the shortfall from Area and Branch Welfare Funds.
5.3 As reported in the January Report the Branch were able to secure funding to send a client to attend of Celebration 100 Years of Woman in the RAF held at Princess Marina House at the end of January.
6.1 Activity on the Wings front has been very quiet, due to the Festive period and my own current health problems.
As mentioned in my December Report, I have now made contact with Jeff Browning, Chairman of the Old Rotary Club, who invited the Branch to present a Wings stall at their very popular Annual Duck Race on Bank Holiday Monday 28th May at Westcott Place Recreation Ground. I have requested further details i.e. times available for setting up, whether we may present our Marquee, etc.
I have also emailed West Swindon Shopping Centre requesting two or at least one date for a Wings collection, ideally with the use of their Charity Barrow, which does produce a lot of response.
Once I have the required information to hand, I will notify the Branch.
I am delighted to inform everyone that following a very successful Charity Christmas Market in Christ Church in November, our stall was photographed and published in our very popular Parish Magazine – of which 2000 were printed (all sold out) and distributed around Old and New Town via Newsagents and the three Churches involved – Christ Church, Immanuel Ecumenical Church in Upham Road and Bath Road Methodist Church. This has a wide distribution area and hopefully will go some way to making RAFA Wings Appeal recognised for any future events.As I say, Mr Chairman, that completes my Report.
7.1 Past Events
  • 7 Feb 18 Visit and chat with Del Rowlands RAFA HQ
7.2 Future Events
  • 27 Feb 18 Attend Waitrose Anniversary Event
  • 12 Jul 18 Shrivenham Music and Fireworks Event
7.3 Other Matters
  • The meeting with the Dir RAF Div to see whether his RAF Personnel will assist Swindon Branch with the Area RAFA Token Project has resulted in a no response.
Next Meeting is Wed 14 Feb 18
Nothing to report at this meeting
9.1 JH reported that the Club is vibrant and now open from Wednesday to Sunday each week. There are a number of events catering for all tastes and members are encouraged to pick up the Club Flyer detailing the events each Month.
10.1 VT confirmed that the AGM will be held on 20 FEB 18 in conjunction with the Club AGM JH was advised on the set up and procedure.
10.2 VT The B of B Parade scheduled for Sun 16 Sep 18 has been discussed with the Station Commander Shrivenham. TS will speak to 4626 (county of Wiltshire) Sqn to see whether they can attend a proposed parade.
10.3 VT The RBL Swindon will be holding a Coffee Morning to celebrate 100 Years of the RAF. Invitations have been sent out to the Mayor of Swindon and the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire a Senior RAF Officer and the RNA Association.
10.4 VT Armed forces Day Swindon 23 Jun 18 is under review. The Branch will have an input once the decision has been taken.
10.5 VT Club External Maintenance. Initial clean up will cost £100 thereafter £60.00 per month. Proposed by IH Seconded by HT that the offer is accepted and a DD for payment be set up. Carried
10.6 VT Request for Car Parking is under review.
10.7 VT proposed that the Branch enter a team in the 1244 Sqn Air Cadets Quiz taking place in the Club on Fri 23 Feb 18.
10.8 VT stated that the Branch requires establishing who has the Keys for the Branch Entrance and Offices. There have also been a number of instances where the Alarm system has been activated following attempted entry through the main entrance door. Chubb Security has advised that the door should be locked at all times and not just held on the door magnet. Frequent attempts of entry have weakened the door frame activating the Alarm when the door is pulled.
10.9 The Branch has agreed to the Chairman walking the RAFA “RAF 100” token to Birmingham over 4 days to present at the Birmingham Military Tattoo on 24 Nov 18.
10.10 IH An invitation has been received to attend the Old Town Festival 11 – 15 June. IH to follow up.
10.11 VT has now received 2 x RAFA ensigns. Once his receives the clasps, he will raise on the flag post.
11.1 The next meeting will be held on Thu 15 Mar 18 commencing at 1930hrs. Apologies and written reports are requested to be sent to the Secretary prior to the meeting.
There being no further business the meeting was closed by the Chairman at 21.55hrs
PER ADURA AD ASTRA
Swindon RAFA Branch Chairman
WO Vince Taylor RAF | Office Manager, Defence Attaché &
T:01793 788114|T:96161 5777(Military)|E:
Please link into theSwindon RAFA Branch Website
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BRANCH DIARY OF EVENTS FOR 2018

Date(s) / Event/Function / Location
20 Feb 18 / Swindon Branch and Club AGM / RAFA Club, Old Town
8 Mar 18 / Swindon Branch Social Evening
(Wg Cdr Turnbull guest speaker)
RAF Project 100 / Swindon RAFA Club
15 Mar 18 / Swindon Branch Meeting / RAFA Club, Old Town
23-25 Mar 18 / Area Annual Conference / Cheltenham
6 Apr 18 / RBL – RAF100 Coffee Morning / RBL Pop In & Advice Centre, Swindon
11-13 May 18 / Annual RAFA Conference / Yarnfield Conference Centre, Staffs
20 May 18 / Worcester Cathedral Event / Worcester
28 May 18 / Annual Duck Race / Westcott Place Recreation Ground
10 Jun 18 / Family Fun Day, Old Town Festival / Lawns, Old Town
23 Jun 18 / Armed Forces Day / Faringdon Park, Swindon
12 Jul 18 / Shrivenham Music & Fireworks – RAF 100 Event / Defence Academy Shrivenham
16 Sep 18 / Battle of Britain Parade and Church Service – TBC / Old Town and Christ Church
19-23 Nov 18 / Branch walking the RAFA “RAF 100” Token to Birmingham / Swindon to Birmingham
24-25 Nov 18 / Military Tattoo / Birmingham Barclay Arena