2003 BACK ISSUES OF "WHAT'S NEW"

This page contains back issues of the Whats New! first published on the Home page in 2003.

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General Stuff - _{removed from Home page - 17 Dec 2003}

Ian Campbell Pictures of the 3 PCD RE Crossbow team ~ names needed.

Keith Kimber Pictures of the PTS Mill Hill 1961 ~ names needed.

Tom McDermott Pictures of the 275 PCCU RE Dhekalia football team 1974/5 ~ names needed.

WRAC (Postal) Reunion 2003 Pictures of the 2003 Blackpool reunion. Up dates

Maxey Maxwell - _{removed from Home page - 12 Nov 2003}

Maxey Maxwell It is with much sorrow that we inform you that Maxey Maxwell passed away last night Tuesday 4 November.
Jim Bradshaw - reports: "After a memorial service held at the Co-op Funeral Parlour in Clydebank Arthur was laid to rest in brilliant sunshine at Dalnottar Cemetery Erskine on Friday morning (7 Nov). There was a good turnout of family and friends including Ron Jessiman, Mick Malley and myself. A lone piper at the graveside added to the solemnity of the occasion. Afterwards at Oliver's Restaurant in Drumchapel a few toasts were raised to Arthur's memory." May he rest in peace.

General Stuff - _{removed from Home page - 5 Nov 2003}

RE Museum news The Curator confirms that:

1. The Museum would be delighted and proud to accept medals of the ATS/WRAC who worked in RE (PS/PCC/PCS). This will be promulgated by means of a notice in the FoREM newsletter and via the WRAC Association. Contact the Museum.   More info on the PCS Archive page
2. The special Korean War exhibition (which features George Cleasby) will be turned into a permanent display at the Museum.

Recollections We have not had any recollections submitted recently - Go on tell your life story submit today! See other recollections.

General Stuff - _{removed from Home page - 22 Oct 2003}

Pete Askew Photos of the Football (1968) and Cricket (1978) teams - we need names.

Margaret Grant Historic Photos of the laying of the Foundation Stone, Mill Hill 1962

Reminder - WRAC Postal Association - AGM and Annual Reunion, Blackpool on 17-20 October - Organisor - Margaret Grant MBE

Congratulations! Chris Neill MBE - has recently been appointed the new Chairman of LAMs (see details on the Associations page) - Next meeting 1-3 Oct 04

General Stuff - _{removed from Home page - 8 Oct 2003}

WO2 Theresa Quantrill will be leaving the service after completion of 22 years on Oct 10th if anyone who knows her would like to attend please contact WO2 Donna Druce on 004952192543631 or snail mail : WO2 Druce, SSM, 30 PC Sqn RLC, BFPO 39.

Clive (Taffy) Jones - _{removed from Home page - 27 September 2003}

Clive (Taffy) Jones It is with much sorrow that we inform you that Clive (Taffy) Jones passed away on Wednesday 10 September. Bryan Rowney had been visiting Clive in hospital at Kettering and has just informed Margaret Grant. May he rest in peace.

General stuff - _{removed from Home page - 27 September 2003}

Bill Heath's paintings - special offer on the Noticeboard

Branch Reunion 2004 - Booking Forms for the Reunion Weekend 19 - 22 March 2004 can be obtained from Jim Steer. Please send a long stamped addressed envelope to his address.

Bikers & Reunion - Does anyone going to next year's reunion at Northampton, who still rides, fancy taking their bikes and going for a blast on the Saturday? There are some lovely roads in the area, and it will give you a break from the booze!! Let Dave Muckle know.

The Posthorn The latest issue of the Posthorn has been sent to members.

Update to the WRAC section of the Regimental page

Update to the Postal historical sources/books of the PCS Archive page

General stuff- _{removed from Home page - 14 September 2003}

Margaret Moule's (nee Douglas) photos of BFPO London in the early 1960's. Quite a lot of names are missing could the blanks be filled?

Jean Booth and Joan Stephenson, who worked in the Directorate in 1961 are looking for old friends - Contact through Alan Davies.

Branch Ties - There are 11 Branch Ties left. Cost of each tie is £7.45 which includes post and packing. To obtain one of these please send a cheque made payable to "Jim Steer" to 49 Middleton Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6HD.

Korean War exhibition - The RE Museum has just opened a new special exhibition on the Sappers in the Korean War - The postal contribution features a write up as well as a photo of George Cleasby in Korea. For more on the postal experiences of the Korean War read Hugh Jones' article.

Terry Wall and W02 Phil Norsden- _{removed from Home page - 22 August 2003}

Chris Connaughton reports: Just to let you all know that Terry Wall passed away earlier this year, (Ginge Wall as we knew him) I had spoken to him around Christmas time and he was suffering from cancer. His name appeared on my buddy list the other night and I said "hello" his daughter replied saying he had passed away earlier in the year. Another sad note is that W02 Phil Norsden has also passed away his wife gave me the sad news last month.

The DPCS Officers Association AGM and Annual Dinner will be held on 22 November at Grantham

General Stuff - _{removed from Home page - 11 August 2003}

Darts Team - Veterans Weekend at Chatham 5-7 Sep Volunteers are required for the PCS Darts team. If members want to go and arrange to stay in local Bed and Breakfasts they can still have their lunch and buffet in Brompton Barracks. Lunch on Sat 6 Sep costs £3 and the Buffet £4. Cheques to be made out to "Central Bank 1 RSME Regt". Returns required ASAP to Jim Steer.

Eddie Dent's pictures from his days in South Cerney in the early eighties

Bill Heath has a website to show case his paintings and drawings, see it @ http://www.heathpaintings.co.uk/

General Stuff - _{removed from Home page - 31 July 2003}

The Posthorn - Jim Steer needs contributions for our Newsletter which is due out Aug/Sep. The cut off date is 31 July. Some of you out there must have a story or yarn to tell if so, please send them in to Jim.

Simon Cuerden's PCS (AFSC) web site was down for a while due to an 'admin muck up' but is now online again. See it @ www.pcs.bfpo.org. Welcome back.

Golden Web Award - _{removed from Home page - 26 July 2003}

The PCS Branch REA website has been awarded the Golden Web Award by the International Association of Web Masters & Designers (IAWMD). The award is presented to those sites "whose web design, originality and content have achieved levels of excellence deserving of recognition".

Bill Heath's photographs of BFPO Ascension in the early 1980's

A photograph of an APO in India 1945 was sent in by FAL Laws, who served with the RE (PS) during the Second World War

Calling Korean War veterans! Reunion at Chatham over the weekend of 26/27 Jul 03.

Medal Roll - _{removed from Home page - 16 July 2003}

The RE Museum is constructing a Medal Roll - listing all Sappers and their medal entitlements - they are having difficulty identifying the various postal units of the late 1940's to 1970 - Can you help? if so please email Simon Fenwick (PCS Rep FoREM)

Ivor Thomas' wife - _{removed from Home page - 2 July 2003}

It is with regret that we have to inform members that Helga the wife of Ivor Thomas sadly passed away after a short illness. Our sympathy is with Ivor at this moment of great sadness. Bob Mckeever ask that if any members wish to send Ivor and his family messages of condolences please forward them to him and he will deliver them to Ivor when he attends the funeral on Monday 30 June 2003.

Mike Whitehead has created his own website visit it at www.mike.whitehead.de.vu

Can any one help Alan Davies? He is looking for any one who has knowledge or an interest in Java (rice) Sparrows (Padda oryzivora).

General stuff - _{removed from Home page - 18 June 2003}

Update on Op Telic the war in Iraq
Traffic statistics for 14 Jan - 30 Apr 03 despatched from BFPO London

• Forces Air Letters (blueys) - 900,000
  
• e-blueys 500,00 and New e-blueys accounts opened 81,000
  
• Letters and Packets 93,000 bags @ 750,000 kgs

General stuff - _{removed from Home page - 5 June 2003}

Tony Lane's Sgt Mess HPCCD RE, 1972 photograph. He now lives in Australia.

Did you know that the Corps has a patron Saint? see the updated Regimental page for more details.

Server down - _{removed from Home page - 25 May 2003}

Many apologises to all our members and viewers. We have not been on-line for the last couple of days (20-23 May 03)because our Host server was out of action - unfortunately we do not have any control over the matter. Thank you for returning.

Ernie Tomlin - _{removed from Home page - 28 April 2003}

Ernie Tomlin passed away on Saturday 19 April 03 in Hospital in Newport. Before he passed away he did say that he would like to thank everyone who sent cards, messages etc to him whilst he was in hospital. He will be cremated at Gwent Crematorium, Cwmbran on Monday 28th April at 1030am. Flowers only from family. Donations accepted for the St Nicholas Ward, County Hospital, Pontypool. Our deepest sympathy is given to his family.

Ernie Tomlin's photograghs

Read Pat Elliot's tribute to the late Ernie Tomlin

General stuff - _{removed from Home page - 28 April 2003}

Don Campbell's group photogragh, Mill Hill 1968

Updated The Posthorn page

Oh deer! add your caption.

Howard Hughes memorial - _{removed from Home page - 21 April 2003}

A memorial service for Lt Col Howard Hughes was held at John Keble Church, Mill Hill on 13 April 2003, it was attended by over 300 people and was followed by a reception at the Officers Mess, Mill Hill for all guests. Tributes were given by WO2 Kevin Jessop and Col Don Kent.

Jim Wilson - _{removed from Home page - 30 March 2003}

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of (WO2) Jim Wilson on Sunday 23rd March 2003. His funeral was held on Thursday 27th March 2003. Our thoughts are with his family and wife Avril.

Annual Reunion 2003 - _{removed from Home page - 30 March 2003}

We had another successful Reunion at the Moat House, Northampton (21-23 Mar). Over 257 of us sat down to dinner. Brig Chris Sexton, Chairman REA (SE Region), was our guest speaker. The raffle, run by Roy & Jean Walker and Nick & Tilly Clifton, raised £309. 'Gez the Mad Mex' (Gez Hernandez) provided the after dinner entertainment and music. Great time was had by all - Well done Jim! - Bookings now open for 2004 - 19-21 March 2004

At the AGM, Eddie Lyons stepped down from the position as Treasurer (thanks to him for all his work in helping to set up the PCS Branch.) Chris Connaughton was elected in his place. See new Committee line up.