(Chairman: Col T C L Drake)

I write this on the day after the Worthy Down lunch & garden party and the sun is still shining. A magnificent turnout of over 160 again. It was good to see so many friends enjoying the Mess facilities and the entertainment provided by the Jazz Group of the AGC Band. I understand that Worthy Down is no longer under immediate threat of closure and is safe for some years to come so I hope we will be able to count on the Annual Lunch and Garden Party on the first weekend in June next year and several more
besides. Many thanks to the Station Commander, the Commanding Officer and PMC, the AGC Band, the Quartermaster and the Mess Manager and all their staffs without whom such an event would not be possible.

The last 6 months included our pre Christmas supper at the Fisherton Mill Gallery and the Studio Show in the Playhouse. The numbers were similar to last year in that 22 of us foregathered for a drink and a chat amongst the many artefacts on show and for sale. The food was again just right for the occasion. The show was bright and cheerful and flowed along rather like the Bishop’s Stream under the Bishop’s Mill nearby. I hope our next one on 14 Dec 06 does the same.

Our numbers were restored to 50 for the curry lunch at the WOs & Sgts Mess in Wilton on 2 Apr where we had the departing Regimental Secretary Ewan Simmonds and his wife Jennie as our guests. My thanks to Ewan for serving on past his time to see us through this summer and to him for his assistance to the Branch network over the years.

I have asked for the same weekend for the curry lunch in 2007 which I have every hope will be possible so pencil in Sunday 1 April 2007, no jokes after midday please. Numbers are looking even better for our Branch Annual lunch at the Emblems near Fovant on 10 September 2006. I hope to send out the booking confirmation and payment forms in late July and 37 members have said they want a copy so we might get 60-70 attending. Let’s hope for a fine day with just enough cloud to stop us melting! I would encourage members to support the evening in the WOs & Sgts Mess at Worthy Down on 14th October.