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SOLENT BRANCH

The Solent Branch was set up in March 2009. The aims of the branch are to:-

a) be active and fun focused

b) use to best advantage the many group opportunities that exist in the Solent area.

This year’s Branch AGM was held on 8th March 2011 and the following committee members were elected for the coming year:

Chairman	Tess Thomas
Secretary	Viv White
Membership Secretary	Graham Piggott
Social Secretary	Gren Paget e-mail RSAgrn at f2s dot com
Treasurer	Dave Reeve
Members	Rob Herron

Proposed Outings

January 25th Wednesday.	New Year's Lunch At the White Horse, Romsey, 12 for 1230
March 7th	Solent branch AGM: The AGM of the Solent Branch of the CAA/NATS Retired Staff Association is to be held at 1445 on March 7th 2012 at Intech, near Winchester. Tea and biscuits will be served at the AGM. All Solent Branch members are very welcome. There is a Café at Intech where light lunches and snacks may be purchased. Arrival & DNA Exhibition From :- 1200-1230 Lunch From:- 1300-1400 Planetarium At:- 1400-1435 (General Astronomical show) Gather for AGM At:- 1435 (Tea and Biscuits) AGM At:- 1445 If you do not wish to eat at Intech then it is possible to arrive at 1300 and visit Intech and the DNA Exhibition prior to the Planetarium Show at 1400 If you are just coming to the AGM then arrive at Intech at 1430 and you will be directed to the meeting room. More details about Intech at: www.intech-uk.com The post code for GPS users is SO21 1HZ The DNA exhibition and Planetarium visit jointly cost £5 per head. Please complete a booking form and send with the cheque made to CAA/NATS Retired Staff Association Solent Branch. Please announce to the Ticket desk that you are with the RSA.
May 23rd 2012	Pub Lunch 1330: Drinks, and lunch if you wish, at the Osborne View, Cliff Road, Hillhead Near Lee On the Solent PO14 3JP. Osborne View
July 6th 2012	Visit to RHS Flower Show, Hampton Court. A group of up to 11 members will go by minibus to Hampton Court. The entry tickets (which are in short supply) are for the period 1500 - 1930. The cost will be £34. The price may have to be finely adjusted as it is based on sharing the fuel cost. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO GO MUST COMPLETE A BOOKING FORM AND SEND IT WITH A CHEQUE FOR £34 IMMEDIATELY. Pick up points likely to be Lee on the Solent and Winchester. Times to be confirmed. Return time unknown as it is a summer M3 Friday .....

Contact Gren Paget for further details or to book a place. Click solentoutingbookingform11109.pdf for a booking form for any of the above events.

Recent Events

December 2011. Bath Markets Trip

The Bath coach trip was attended by 6 members. It was a good day but the damp conditions did not help. Loads of stalls, quite a number were fortunately different to those in Winchester. We arrived at about 11, which was a little late, as we had to divert from the A36 due to an accident. Returned tired at about 7pm.

May 2011 Visit to RNLI College, Poole

On May 11th a group of RSA members, 18 from Solent and 3 from Wessex, visited the RNLI College at Poole. The group was split into two and were given very informative information by volunteer guides who were able to provide additional personal insights into what went on at the college today and through its history. For instance, Margaret Thatcher on a visit to the establishment ordered up a Lifeboat collection box and took it to the political demonstrators at the gates and demanded they contributed to the running of the Institution. The crowd were silenced and gave handsomely.

New entrants are sent on a five day course to learn some of the basic practical and theoretical aspects of lifeboats. Later they might come back for more advanced courses. The College has a large tank of water in which trainees learn many techniques; how to right a rigid inflatable boat; how to be winched up and down by helicopter. These activities are carried out in pitch black and by light and can be done in a swell of 12ft within the tank. Simulators are usually popular and that of the lifeboat was no exception. We crowded onto the bridge and with Tony Brewer as coxon, Ian Culley as navigator, Bev Paget took the helm and did three circuits around a burning tanker, only running down two survivors in the process! At couple of people were very glad to get "ashore" demonstrating the realism of the vessel.

The college is residential and is available for any RNLI members to stay at reasonable rates. After thanks to the guides we then had lunch in the college facilities. (Gren)

December 2010. Christmas Lunch

We had an excellent meal at the Concorde Club which was attended by 16 members

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