The RNA No.4 Area Quarterly Meeting was held on Saturday 20th May 2017 at the Ferndown RNA Branch Headquarters in the St Leonard’s & St Ives Ex-Service Club, in St Ives near Ringwood. We were treated to being one of the first organisations to hold a meeting at this old but very comfortable Club. The staff were excellent and made sure the proceedings ran without a hitch. We can only wish them well for the future. Even though the deckhead was rather low our area Standard bearer found a way to conduct his drills splendidly.
The good service was much appreciated, so much so that the Club Stewardess was presented with a RNA No.4 Area pennant by the President. She did however lose some new found friends when she won the rum raffle! In part made up for it by going to all the trouble of baking a cake to welcome us
to her Club.
Vice Chairman Peter Shoesmith presented the Jaqui Ward trophy certificate* to this years winner Helen Day.
The Mick and Mary Hannen Cup** 2016 results were as follows: Brixham + 10, Plymouth + 8, Liskeard + 6. As the winning branch were absent the Chairman offered to deliver the trophy enroute home.
Saltash will host the No.4 area AGM, the event will be held on the 20th January 2018.
Date for your diaries if you can make it to Swanage in August – The Royal Marines Association have invited “Jack” to a memorial service at Saint Mary’s Church, on 13th August at 1415. Ben will be parading the Area standard and any others would be most welcome. The service is to celebrate 100 years since the death of CPO Pilcher who served in both world wars, being awarded the Victoria Cross and other decorations. There are a number of other Naval graves at which we will also pay our respects. (Webmaster’s note – all of the details can be found here).
Yours Aye
Dan Sherren MSM
Area PRO
Portland Branch Chairman
*JACQUI WARD MEMORIAL TROPHY. Awarded annually in memory of a former Social Secretary of Delabole Branch, who was an enthusiastic worker for the R.N.A. The Trophy is awarded to any Lady member of No.4 Area who has furthered the aims and interests of the R.N.A. during the past year. The award is presented at the Annual Reunion by the Deputy Chairman.
** MIKE & MARY HANNEN MEMORIAL CUP. Presented by Area Life Vice President (A.L.V.P.) Charles H Thompson BEM. MSM and Mike Hannen in October 1987 for the Branch with most improved Blue Card Membership. The cup is presented at Bideford early each year and covers the last year’s recruitment efforts by the winning branch. At Bideford this year it wasn’t presented, so therefore it was done at the quarterly area meeting in Ferndown.