MARCONI VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION
February 2012
Dear Fellow Veteran
First, let me wish all Veterans a healthy and prosperous 2012.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all new members to the Association and hope to see them at the Annual Reunion, which will be held on Saturday 14th April 2012. This will be the 76th Reunion and the venue will again be the Marconi Athletic and Social Club, Beehive Lane, Chelmsford, where there is parking for those who travel by road.
We are, again, producing a commemorative Coaster and one per person is included in the ticket price. I will also have additional coasters, for sale, plus some coasters from previous years as well as a number of Ties, Scarves and Badges. I will also have a limited number of the New Street Photo CDs but I can make more if we run out.
Our President for 2012 is Ron Stringer, a Marconi trained Marine Wireless Officer who had many years
at sea as part of the crew on various commercial ships. He later joined The Marconi International Marine Company in a civillian capacity in Chelmsford.
Joining The Reuinion as our Honoured Guest is Tim Wander, who for many years was an Engineer at Marconi Communication Systems in Writtle and New Street. He is an Historian and has written a number of books including Writtle 2MT the story of how Marconi started the Wireless age. Tim is a Friend of the Marconi Veterans’ Association.
Both our speakers will be introduced by our Chairman, Veteran Peter Turrall M.B.E.
The proceedings will be timed as follows: –
a)Â Â Â Reunion at 12.00 noon
b)Â Â Â Luncheon at 1.00 p.m.
c)Â Â Â Annual General Meeting as soon as possible after b)
The menu for this year’s luncheon will be as follows: –
Bruschetta with Mozzarella, Tomato Pesto & Rocket Leaves
Roast Topside of Beef with Yorkshire Pudding, Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables
Shortbread Biscuits with Raspberries & Cream
Coffee, Cheese and Biscuits
We appreciate that some Veterans may have special dietary requirements and would request that you indicate this on your application. We are able to cater for most requirements.
We regret to announce that it has become necessary to increase the Subscription to £6.00; this is the first increase since its inception. We are, however, holding the price for the luncheon at £22.00.
Those Veterans who wish to attend are requested to apply to the above address at the earliest possible date in order that I may properly assess the numbers. As usual, we invite donations but I must stress that if only a modest donation can be managed, or even none at all, please do not let this prevent you from attending the Reunion, as all donations will be treated in the strictest confidence. To reduce administration, please combine your ticket price, subscription, etc. onto a single cheque which should be made payable to ‘Marconi Veterans’ Association’.
Please note that it is not acceptable for guests to bring their own drink or food into the Club. Please refrain from this practice as anyone doing so may be asked to leave the Reunion and could be refused a ticket in the future. As last year, cheese & biscuits are included in our menu and additional bottles of wine can be purchased from the bar.
Your assistance is requested with the seating arrangements and we ask you to indicate, on your ticket application, with which Company you would prefer to sit (i.e. Comms, Radar, Baddow, Basildon, Marine, MI).
Following a suggestion from a Veteran, we are compiling a list of forenames and nicknames in an effort to make the various lists less formal and enable people to distinguish between Veterans with similar initials. So please fill in the spaces on the Subscription/Ticket application form.
We are, again, inviting entries for the ‘Absent Friends’ book, containing messages from Veterans who were unable to attend. Two copies will be produced and prominently displayed at the Reunion. If you wish to place a message in the book, please use the space provided on the attached form. Entries will be identified by name but no contact details will be provided unless you include them within the message area.
As the Association has a very limited income, and in order to keep our expenses to a minimum, receipts for Subscriptions and/or Donations will not be issued unless requested so we thank you in anticipation.
Your Committee is prepared to receive any nominations, propositions or suggestions for submission to the AGM, providing they reach me in writing by 31st March 2012.
As in previous years, we have to vacate the main hall as soon as the AGM is completed to enable the Club to prepare for an evening function. We have, again, arranged for the board room to be made available for you to continue the reunion.
We are pleased to announce that a number of people have registered as ‘Friends of the Marconi Veterans’ Association’.  All ‘Friends’ receive the newsletter and we will do all we can to keep them in touch with ex-colleagues but they are not eligible to attend the Reunion. The 2012 subscription for Friends is £3.00. If you know of anyone who would like to be included, please urge them to contact me, at the above address, as soon as possible.
I am often not informed when a Veteran dies, and in these circumstances, I would like to extend my condolences to members of the families who receive this letter and apologise for any distress or inconvenience caused. Should you be aware of any Veterans who have passed away recently, I would appreciate it if you would let me know so that I can amend our records and avoid any embarrassment.
We trust that you will accept this letter as a very cordial invitation to attend the Seventy-Sixth Reunion, but if, for any reason, you cannot be with us, your Committee would like to take this opportunity to wish you the very best of luck and good health for the future.
I look forward to seeing you at the Reunion.
With kindest regards
I am yours sincerely
Veteran Barry Powell
Secretary
For those Veterans who wish, the Reunion ticket & subs application form may be downloaded in PDF format ready for printing by clicking here “Reunion 2012 Ticket and Subs.”
We regret that we are, as yet, unable to accept electronic payments.
