Bath & District Branch Branch Sec: 077 8087 1349 Meets: 1st Thursday monthly at 1930

Jeff White writes: It has been a long while since the Bath Branch of the Royal Marines Association has posted in the G&L, I am pleased to say we are still alive and kicking and in fact, thriving.

The Branch was formed in 1947 by Norman Myers who in WW2 served as a ‘Blue Beret’ Marine. Norman was present at the Japanese surrender on USS Missouri. He continued to attend every meeting up until his passing at the age of 96 just a few years ago.

Our meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 1930, in the Harington Club in the centre of Bath. We moved to the Harington Club around eight years ago and quite frankly ‘fell on our feet’. The Harington is a private members club which has been in existence since 1874, it has a real old military club feel about it with original oak panelling in the bar, a dining/quiet room, snooker room and skittles room. Jo, her husband Robin and their staff have made us extremely welcome, not only on the monthly meetings but hosting and providing excellent food for events such as the Corps Birthday, Burns Night, Christmas lunch and on Remembrance Sunday.

The Branch currently has 77 members and is always looking to attract new ones from the Corps Family. In addition to our monthly meetings, we have regular curry nights locally and have formed a very good relationship with the Northeast Somerset Branch of the Parachute Regiment Association, attending their social events and vice versa. So, all you serving and former ‘Royals’, if you live in the Bath or the surrounding area, please come and join us, you will be made very welcome.

Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Branch Branch Sec: 012 5388 6561 Meets: 3rd Thursday monthly at 1930

Margaret Taylor writes: 2025 has started off with a bang here on the Fylde Coast. January was a busy month with a special ceremony on 5 January held at the Guards Club by the James Garnett Foundation entitled ‘The Charles Penfold Centenary Celebration’, which marked the 100th anniversary of the date Charles joined the Royal Marines with whom he served globally and with distinction until he was killed in action in 1941. The foundation presented the Branch with his medals which will be kept at the club with all our other memorabilia.

The ‘Cold Dippers’ on Blackpool beach

The event was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackpool and to our delight, former Marine Jim Laughlin who had been presented with replacement medals before Christmas. The Branch gave him a new Green Beret and a RM jacket which he didn’t take off for the rest of the day, flouting Decca’s rules of no headgear, but no one complained as he was so proud.

On Thursday 9 January a group of our members attended the funeral at Southport Crematorium of Derrick Lockie RN who was known to many of us through the RMA. Bob Wareham played ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’.

Our cold water dip was held on 11 January, which was a freezing cold day, but Paul Briggs, Paul Deacon, Decca Taylor and Wolfy Wolstenholme all took the plunge. There were plenty of supporters despite some of our members being laid up with the winter flu virus.

Collection buckets at the ready

On 1 February we held a bucket collection at Blackpool football Club’s Bloomfield Road Ground. A big thanks goes out to Blackpool Sea Cadets for their help, the day was brisk to say the least, but we raised funds for both the cadets and RMA TRMC plus, those who wanted to go, were given free entrance to the match.

We are looking forward to the various upcoming events throughout this special year and hope to meet some of you at them.

Brighton, Hove and District Branch Branch Sec: 012 7323 6437 Meets: 3rd Wednesday monthly at 1930

Tim Mitchell writes: A quiet few months... Christmas was celebrated at a local veteran friendly pub with members enjoying a few ‘more’ wets than usual. January saw us welcome the parents of a newly Passed Out Royal Marine who has ‘proffed’ from being drafted up to Faslane and 43 Cdo FP Gp RM. Great to meet and discuss what is happening currently for the guys from a ‘new parent’s perspective.