5th May 2026.
21 people sat down with another 21 logged in via Zoom for the May 2026 branch meeting. A reduction in numbers from the dizzy heights of last month, which was expected, but such a large reduction was a surprise. It does show how far we have come in recent years though. 3 years ago, 21 people in attendance would have been regarded as an excellent turnout, today it is a tad disappointing, but you are always going to get variations and now we concentrate on next month.
We had a slight delay in starting the meeting due to some technical issues regarding Zoom. Our technical wizard and IT Jedi master Dave Larcombe did however overcome, and we got started.
The recap of activity included Anzac Day at Weymouth, the convoy T4 (Exercise Tiger) commemoration in Portland with the Mayor of Portland. We also had the sad duty of attending Harry O’Dell’s funeral
Forthcoming activity announced or confirmed was the branch visit to DSG at Bovington on 15th May & 5th June 2026.
This Thursday 7th May 2026 the diesel train with the Royal Tank Regiment nameplate will be at Swanage, there will be a ceremony and the branch standard will be paraded.
The Stephen Ford memorial service on 21st May. Stephen Ford was killed in action aboard HMS Ardent during the Falklands war.
The Chairman & Secretary will be attending the next Royal Marines Association meeting to check out their guest speaker with a view to recruitment!
Bank Holiday Monday 25th May is the annual US Memorial Day service on Weymouth Esplanade.
It was announced that the RTRA has two tickets for the Governer’s review at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Tuesday 2nd June 2026.
It was announced that the guest speaker for June 2026 is Mensun Bound. Mensun is the man who led the expedition that found Ernest Shackleton’s ship the Endurance under the Antarctic Ice. His presentation is about that epic expedition.
Members were invited to join the Chairman & Secretary on 4th June 2026 to help scrub the wall under the D Day memorial in Poole. Bring your own scrubbing brush!
Saturday 6th June 2026, members were reminded of the D Day remembrance service at the D Day memorial (above a very clean wall) on Poole Quay. This will be followed by a shorter service at the US Coastguard D Day memorial 200 meters away.
We are now taking names for seats on the Minibus to Portland for the CWGC tour of the Royal Navy cemetery there. This event is on Saturday 20th June 2026.
Finally, members were informed of the dawn vigil held on Weymouth Esplanade on Anzac Day. A few branch members are thinking of staying overnight in Weymouth the night before to attend this and the main event at 11.00hrs. So, everyone has a year to think about it.
With no further business to discuss the meeting closed and the guest speaker was introduced.
Allan “Chippy” Wood ex 17th/21st Lancers took us on a trip down memory lane with a nostalgic look at “Cold war tank soldiers”.
He went through basic training, arrival in Germany, Hohne Ranges, the Soltau training area and Wolfgang with his bratty van. FTX’s, Tennent’s lager with lovely ladies on the cans. He covered BATUS, the Canadian Army trophy, Compo food, NI tours and adventure training.
He described the RAC Centre Regiment including ATDU and the Mobile Display Team. He talked about the Chieftain upgrades both engine and Fire Control equipment, he told us about how Challenger I arrived and the difference it made to the Regiments that got it.
For a short while we were all 30 or 40 years younger as we remembered doing what was as being described by Allan. All too soon we came back to the present day and remembered that we are not 18 years old anymore.
A great presentation that was enjoyed by all who were there both sat down and at home on Zoom.
Fear Naught
