The Parachute Regimental Association Aldershot Branch

Newsletter

06/2016 Charity Number 1125551 June 2016

Monthly Meeting

The next monthly meeting will take place in the Conservative Club at 2000hrs on Friday 3rd June 2016. The meeting after this is the July Meeting and will be held on Friday 15th July 2016. Please note that the July Meeting is being held later in the month due to functions being held in the Conservative Club

Yearly Subscription

As a reminder yearly subs of £15 are now due. As in previous years, members have until the end of June to pay their subscriptions. To assist the treasurer please pay as soon as possible. All cheques should be made payable to “Aldershot Branch PRA” and sent to the treasurer or secretary.

New Members

Tony Williams who served in 10 Para joined at the May monthly meeting. Welcome to the Branch.

Regimental Day and PRA AGM

The Branch is running a minibus to the National Arboretum for the Regimental Day and PRA AGM which is taking place on Saturday 18th June. The cost is £20 per person and this includes £5 for the meal. We still have a few seats on the minibus for those who would like to attend. The minibus will depart from the Princes Hall, Aldershot at 0730hrs and will return to Aldershot at 1800hrs. Wristbands for the meal will be issued at the entrance to the National Arboretum. The wristband is to ensure that only those who have paid for the meal will gain access to the marquee. The dress for the day is blazers or suits and Regimental or Branch ties. There is a motor train that travels around all of the gardens and wheelchairs can also be booked for those who can only walk short distances. Please advise the secretary if you require a wheelchair so that he can book you one. We still have places on the minibus if any member would like to attend. Please contact the secretary by Saturday 4th June so that the meal can be booked.

Tree Removal We needed to remove two trees from the Conservative Club car park to make room for our Shipping Container which is still in Malta Barracks. After an appeal for assistance I am pleased to tell you that six members volunteered. We were very fortunate that Ian Penrose was one of the six. Without Ian’s expertise and knowledge it would have been a lot more difficult. Ian brought along a mulching machine and Stuart Soane spent the six hours feeding small twigs and branches into the machine. In all we filled 16 bags with mulch. The main trunks and larger branches were cut into smaller logs and placed at the side of the car park. Most of the logs have been taken for wood burning stoves but there are a few cut branches should any member wish to take them. We would like to thank Ian Penrose, George Sherwood, Chris Chambers, Stuart Soane, Iain Rodgers and Stuart McLaren for volunteering. I have since met the Garrison Sergeant Major, Tom McCabe and once we have put the footings in place, he will arrange for the Container to be moved. See page 5 for photos.

Aldershot Tabbers Walking Group

Please bring waterproofs in a small back pack and a change of shoes/trainers at the end of the walk as we don’t want to walk into the pub with muddy boots. This also helps when getting into the car for the ride home. The group will be meeting in the Garrison Church Car Park from 9am/9.15am next to the Wellington Statue. It is proposed that we car share to save taking empty cars. Peter Richens has now organised the following walks for June. The walks will be 5/6 miles.

Stuart

Thursday 2nd June, Thursday 16th June and Thursday 30th June. If you would like to attend any of the walks or require further information please contact the Secretary.

Air Loadmasters Remembrance Service

The Air Loadmasters Association held their Service of Remembrance in St Clement Danes Church in London on Sunday 8th May. They asked for representatives of the Parachute Regiment to attend this year’s service. Peter Richens, Steve Gerrard and Gerry Lewis represented the Aldershot Branch and Peter carried the Branch Standard. Unfortunately, I don’t know the other person in the photo. Gerry, ------, Peter and Steve

Army v Navy Rugby

A rugby match was played between the officers of the British Army and the officers of the Royal Navy at Kennington Oval, London on 13 February 1878; it was not until 1909 that the Army v Navy Match became an annual fixture. Apart from the first and second world war years, the game has been played every year since and this year was the 99th time the game has been played. The game saw another new record with a crowd of 81323 watching. This year 30 members of the Branch travelled up to Twickenham for the game. The match was very close and the Navy equalised with a successful penalty with only two minutes to go. After 80 minutes the final score was 29 – 29. A trip to a local restaurant was followed by the journey home. The 100th Army v Navy Match will be played at Twickenham on 29th April 2017. See page 6 for photos.

Presentation to Peter Gayler

I owe Peter Gayler an apology. Peter was presented with his 75 Statue at the December monthly meeting. It was only when I recently used my small camera to take some photos and downloaded them onto my computer that I noticed Peters photo. Although it is belated, well done Peter.

Airborne Forces Weekend

This years Airborne Forces weekend takes place in the Trafalgar Inn, Aldershot over the weekend 1 – 3 July. With the Traf beng recently refurbished and under new management we are expecting a bumper turnout. In previous years more than 300 people have turned up. Come along and you may be surprised at the old comrades that you meet up with.

Ski Centre at Hemel Hempstead

We have received enquiries from members interested in attending the skiing trip next year to Soldeu in Andorra in the Pyrenees. For those who have never skied before we are proposing to run a minibus to the Ski Centre in Hemel Hempstead. Experienced skiers are also welcome. It takes just over an hour to get to the centre and there is real snow for you to have a go before committing to the trip to the Pyrenees. Full information is on the next two pages. Please contact the Secretary.

HTTP://WWW.THESNOWCENTRE.COM/

WHAT TO EXPECT

Whether you’re hitting our slopes on a Lift Pass or a Lesson, on skis or on a snowboard, our

steps to the snow will guide you on your way!

Checking in

After you book your Lesson or Lift Pass we will send you an email with your Booking Reference.

Please bring your booking reference with you and arrive at The Snow Centre Check-in-desk 30

minutes before your session is due to start, to have enough time check in, collect your equipment

and get changed. If you remember your Booking Reference you can beat any queues and use

our Fast Track Machines to print off your tickets.

Clothing

The temperature on the slope will range from -2°c to -6°c so we recommend thick warm socks

and layered clothing. You will need gloves for all slope activities and we don’t recommend

jeans, as they usually end up pretty waterlogged, but any waterproof clothing would be ideal.

Don’t worry if you don’t own any Snowsports clothing as you can hire warm and waterproof

outerwear from The Snow Centre Check-in-desk for just £7 per person and collect it from our

clothing hire stand after you check in. Gloves and socks are available to purchase. Gloves are

£10.00 and Socks are £4.

Changing Rooms

Once you've picked up any rental clothing from the clothing hire desk, get your ski and

snowboard clothing on in our changing rooms, located next to the clothing hire stand.

Lockers

Lockers are also available! Placed alongside the changing rooms on the 1st floor, they are Free,

but take a £1 that is returned after your session.

Equipment

Whether you're skiing or snowboarding make sure you know your height, weight and shoe size so

we can set you up with skis, snowboards and boots at our equipment rental desk. If you are

bringing a junior along make sure you do know their details too.

We’ve partnered with HEAD to provide you with all the Snowsports equipment you’ll need on the

slope. Your Lesson or Lift Pass includes the hire of your skis, snowboard, boots, poles and

helmet. So, no need to worry about extra costs.

Helmets

If you’re participating in a high adventure sport, it makes sense to wear a helmet.

We want to promote safety awareness amongst Snowsports enthusiasts, so helmet hire is

included within the price of your session.

While we encourage everyone to protect their heads by wearing a helmet, it is compulsory for all

children aged 16 years and under whilst undertaking any snow activity, everyone participating

in Skiing and Snowboarding lessons from Level 1 to performance, everyone participating in

freestyle activities, race training or any form of competition and everyone participating in a

Sledging session or Birthday Party.

You can grab your helmet from the racks next to the entrance to the slopes!

Prices for a Saturday

Complete Beginner 2hr Lesson £47.00 Adult Ski 2 hr session £47.00 Mini Bus Hire – Cost to be Advised when we know the Numbers. We are looking at either Saturday 16th or 23rd July depending on numbers and session availability. If you have any questions, please contact the Secretary.

The main slope at Hemel Hempstead The beginners slope

Tree Removal

Ian Penrose cuts down the first tree whilst Ian cuts the smaller branches for the mulcher Stuart Soane, Chris Chambers and George Sherwood

make sure the tree doesn’t fall backwards

Stuart Soane helped by Chris Chambers feed the Iain Rodgers secures the rope on the smaller branches into the mulcher second tree. Why is it always Iain who

ends up in the tree!

The lads get ready for a log race Both trees are down and the site tidy They are sure the logs were this size on P Company

George, Stuart, Chris, Iain, Stuart and Ian

The Army just before the first try The youngsters entertain us at half time

Army v Navy Rugby Match

The teams form up for the National Anthem Members of the Aldershot Branch

The final score, look at the crowd