News and Views

Treasurer: - C. F. Jones          President: - A. F. Webb        Secretary: - A Lott

30^th. March 201

Dear Member,

                I am writing this Newsletter to you, to give you details of the forthcoming Dinner & AGM, of our Association, and to remind you that Subscriptions are now due for the forthcoming year, and of course to give you some News of our Members.

                After last Year’s Dinner and AGM, your Committee were determined to find, a new place for us to meet, with more space, and better catering than last Years venue, The Drummond Arms Hotel.  We have searched for a new venue, with easy access from London, not too far from a main line Train Station, and easily reached by car, from the M25. We have considered several options, and found a really superb place, probably the best, most comfortable venue we have ever had for our Dinners, with plenty of space for us, and superb food, at good value.

                Our Meeting this year will be held in The Braid Room, at Tyrrells Wood Golf Club, The Drive, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8QP. (Tel: 01372 376025). This is a beautiful Edwardian Country House, in the heart of the Surrey Hills, only 5 minutes away from Junction 9, of M25., with superb views over Mole Valley, in fact an ideal meeting place. The Braid Room is a beautiful private room, adjacent to the Bar, with a large patio outside and adequate space to sit 30-40 people really comfortably 

The date for this event is Friday May 13^th. We would like to meet at 6.30pm., for a 7.15pm meal, followed of course, by a short AGM .The cost of the Dinner, will be £19.50 per person, for a high quality, three course meal, with Coffee/Tea, and mints included. I am pleased to tell you that Richard Smith has agreed to be Chairman for the Evening. . 

I enclose with this Newsletter, a Booking Form, which I request you fill out, and return to our Treasurer, Chris Jones, with a cheque made payable to “ The 83^rd. London OBA. I am going to be on holiday, at the end of April/early May, so Chris will be handling the Booking in my absence, but I will return home in time to be at our Dinner!

If you have an Internet connection, you can see all about the Golf Club Venue, by visiting www.tyrrellswoodgolfclub.com  or of course use a Search engine, such as Google. You will also be able to download a Map, and directions to find it from the same site.  For those of you without computers, I have noted directions for you, from the Motorway, on the back of the booking Form

Some Members like to stay overnight in the area, after the AGM. In the past we have been able to book rooms at the destination Hotel, at a favourable rate for those attending the Dinner Unfortunately, the Golf Club, does not have any residential accommodation, but there is a Travel Lodge, only a few minutes away from the Golf Club, where one could atay

The Leatherhead Travel Lodge, which is in the High Street in the centre of the Town, quite close to the Station, offers Accommodation at moderate cost, & can be booked by ringing 0871 98466248, or online at www.travelodge.co.uk.  If you prefer to stay at somewhere better or smaller, please contact me, and I will advise you of other options

          As we are now into our new Financial Year, the Annual Subscriptions to keep the Association running are now due. The cost is a minimum of £3.00 per Member per annum. Please send your Subscription, with your Dinner response slip to Chris Jones to renew your membership, whether you are booking to attend the Dinner, or not.

         I recently returned from a weeklong holiday, with Roger Butler, Chris Jones, and Richard Smith, aboard Richard’s luxurious Narrow Boat. We had a great time together, and many people that we talked to in our travels, were impressed that we are all still friends, and enjoying each others company, after nearly 60 Years of knowing each other! That is 83^rd. London comradeship for you! When we on the Narrow Boat, Chris had just returned, from a two week long Cruise in the Caribbean on a large P & O cruise ship. He found it difficult that there were not many Stewards available on the narrow boat, to provide an instant food & drinks service.

          Our President, Arthur Webb, has been in hospital a couple of times lately, but appears to be over the worst now, although he still has some more hospital appointments to attend!

          Many of you will remember John Hills, a great friend of the 83^rd. from the 1960’s & 1970’s. John passed away a couple of weeks ago, after having a stroke. He was brought up in the 88^th. London, and was at one time, Captain of the 181^st. London, at Bonneville Baptist Church. He was a great raconteur, which I well remember, from listening to him, at Staff Suppers, at our joint Company Camps at Whitecliffe Bay, on the Isle of Wight.

With kind Regards,

Yours sincerely,

Alfred Lott: Hon. Sec.