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21 January 2010
ROYAL ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEERS 1960 - 1970
FITTERS TROOP OF THE LIGHT AID DETACHMENT
QUEEN'S ROYAL IRISH HUSSARS
12TH FITTERS TROOP REUNION AT LOUGHBOROUGH
(WEEKEND 16/18 APRIL 2010)
INTRODUCTION
For the second time we have booked with the same hotel at Loughborough, formally known as the Quality Hotel now the Compass Hotel. This time we have managed to negotiate some better rates. The accommodation B&B is still at £32.50 per person per night, however we have managed to get rid of the extra £10 supplement for single occupancy. Other reductions include a Friday evening 3-course dinner reduced from £19.95 to £10 and a Sunday 3-course carvery from £9.95 to £7.95 if we can get 20 or more to book in for these meals. These meals must be pre booked and paid for on the booking form and are only available to those who have booked in to Hotel Compass for B&B. We also got further reductions for our Reunion evening dinner, including complementary wine on the table. The cheapest wine purchased from the bar is £16 a bottle, so if you want extra wine please book this on the booking form at £10 a bottle. We are hoping that majority of you will attend as we need to have a minimum of 50 people to cover the costs of the dinner with complementary wine and entertainment. Because we have changed dates from Feb to Apr the entertainer we booked David Graham (male vocalist & guitarist) cannot make the new date so we had to cancel him. I will re-negotiate the entertainment and let you know when it has been booked. The highlight of the Reunion weekend is that our new Fitters Troop Banner will be officially presented to us from a member of the Regimental Association. We are hoping that Brigadiers Geoff Slater OBE, who has agreed to be our Troop President and Robin Rhoderick-Jones MBE and also the Regimental Association Chairman Major Peter Pusinelli and Secretary Major David Innes Lumsden, will be in attendance. At the moment we have enough rooms held for 60 guests; however the hotel will release these rooms at the end of Feb10, so you are advised to book in as early as possible. To take advantage of these rates you must book under the heading of "LAD Reunion". We have tried to organise this weekend to suit everyone's needs, so it can be taken as a short or long weekend break. Some of you may not want to book in to the hotel, but stay in local alternative lodgings or with relatives or friends in the area. Whatever your requirements the whole idea of these reunions is to be flexible, relaxed and to have an easy going weekend. This means you can attend for just an afternoon/evening, a day or the whole weekend spent in the company of old acquaintances. Please note that if you only book B&B and the Saturday evening reunion dinner, you will still have to make arrangements for all the other meals that you may require during your stay.
VENUE LOCATION
Compass Hotel Loughborough
(Formally the "Quality Hotel") Tel: 01509 211800
New Ashby Road e-mail: enquiries@hotels-loughborough.com
Loughborough Contact: Marlene Musson Conference & Events Manager
Leicestershire
LE11 4EX
The East Midlands Airport is just ten minutes away. Because of its great location, this makes the Compass Hotel Loughborough a great place to use as a base for touring the area, such as the Peak District. The famous Alton Towers is just 45 minutes drive away, and if you are interested in motor racing, the Donington Park Race Track located just 5 miles away.
DIRECTIONS
Getting to the Compass Hotel Loughborough
While driving along the M1 motorway, exit at junction 23. Follow the A512 sign-posted to Loughborough. Continue on the A512 past a closed Texaco station and the BP garages on the right, going through the two sets of traffic lights. After lights bear left onto the slip road to reach the Compass Hotel Loughborough entrance.
Swimming pool
Free of charge to guests staying at the hotel. There is also a steam room, a sauna, a heated indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, a fully equipped gym and Solarium.
Additional facilities
Should you require modem points during your stay, they are available on request.
Car Parking
There is an ample amount of free car parking for guests at the Compass Hotel Loughborough. The grounds are monitored by CCTV and there are Disabled and Ladies only spaces available these are located close to the hotel reception.
RATES (Bills to be paid by our members before departing the hotel)
To qualify for the negotiated B&B rate book under the title of "LAD Reunion"
B&B accommodation (pppn) - per person per night (Full English Breakfast)
2 sharing a Twin or Double bedded room £32.50 (pppn)
Single occupancy £32.50 (pppn)
You are advised to book early, however the hotel will try and accommodate late applicants. Disability facilities are available upon request. Deposits are not required but credit/debit card details must be supplied when booking. Payment for accommodation, room service, telephone calls etc must be settled before your departure.
(The costs to be paid to the LAD when using the booking form)
Reunion Dinner with wine & entertainment £29
Optional:
Extra bottles of wine £10 per bottle (uncorked)
Costs subject to 20 or more booking for the following:
Friday Evening 3-course Dinner £10 (Drinks extra)
Sunday Lunch - 3 course Carvery £7.95 (Drinks extra)
REUNION DINNER (Sat 17 Apr 10)
A 3-course dinner with complementary wine, coffee & mints and entertainment as been arranged at a cost of £29 per person (Please see menu attached) Dinner will be served in the connected Longcliff & Ashby rooms, which has its own bar facility. The entertainment and dancing will be held in the adjoining Nicholson room.
PROPOSED PROGRAMME (16 - 18 Apr 10)
The following programme of events is only a guide and can be flexed to suit individual needs.
|
Date |
Time (hours) |
Meeting Place |
Activity/Event |
|
Fri 16 Apr 10 |
PM 1900-2130 |
Belmount Bar Restaurant |
Some arrive & book in. Explore area. Ad hoc evening. Dinner for those who booked. |
|
Sat 17 Apr 10 |
0730-1000 1000-1400 |
Restaurant Reception |
Breakfast. Shopping & sightseeing. |
|
1200-1400 |
Belmount Bar Leisure centre |
Majority arrive. Congregate for welcome, reminiscing in the bar area. Use leisure facilities and get ready for reunion dinner/entertainment evening. |
|
|
1800-1930 |
Longcliff Room |
Assemble in the Longcliff room bar area for pre dinner drinks, raffle and group photo. |
|
|
1930-2130 |
Longcliff & Ashby Rooms |
Reunion Dinner. Toasts, Banner presentation, Speeches. |
|
|
2130-0100 |
Nicholson Room |
Entertainment & Dance (Bar closes 2359)
|
|
|
Sun 18 Apr 10 |
0800-1000 |
Restaurant |
Breakfast |
|
1030-1130 |
Longcliff Room |
AGM & farewell |
|
|
1130-1200 1200-1400 |
Reception Restaurant |
Depart (Some may stay for lunch and then depart) Sunday dinner for those who booked |
BOOKING FORM
Those who want to attend the reunion please book your accommodation direct with the hotel or arrange your alternative accommodation before completing the attached booking form. Once you have your accommodation confirmed please complete the booking form and send it together with your payment to reach me on or before 13 Mar 10. Cheques made payable to: "R TRAVES"
My postal address is on the booking form.
RAFFLE
Traditionally we hold a raffle during our reunion weekend. The prizes are graciously donated by our members; the proceeds help us with admin and running costs. The donation of raffle prizes is purely voluntary, so if you find you have any unwanted Christmas presents or items about the house, please bring them in for the raffle. Ursula Sefton is our supremo i/c raffle
REMINISCING MATERIAL
Please bring with you any photos, albums, cine clips, magazines, info on lap tops, any other documents or items of interest from our period of service. Most important though, bring yourself!
ROOM PARTIES
We suggest you bring with you your favourite tipple, so if you want or if needed we can socialise in our own rooms.
AGM & FAREWELL
Before we all depart on Sunday morning a short meeting will be held in the Longcliff Room. We hope the majority of you will attend. Please give some thought to the following as we will need to make some firm decisions at the meeting:
1. Officially we need to vote for a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and general Committee Members for the new Troop. Any new faces are welcome to submit their names.
2. Other items to be discussed are:
Treasurer's report, Our Website, Contact lists, Any other business, Next reunion venue & date
CONCLUSION
In closing the committee would like to thank all our active members and emphasize that if it were not for them and their continued support, there would be no Fitters Troop reunions. Your continuing support makes these reunion weekends such a pleasure to organise and to attend ourselves.
COMMITTEE
Roger Traves, John & Ursula Sefton, Terry Woolcombe, Geoffrey Knox & Richard Gleed
On behalf of the committee
Roger Traves