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Editors musings

The Royal Observer Corps Association

24 Group Edinburgh Edition 85 Winter 2016

To all other group news letter editors 24Gp operates a copy let system whereby providing the item is not changed permission is freely given to use ,providing an acknowledgement is

given the next newsletter will be published in MARCH 2017

Seasons greeting to one and all Can I on behalf of the rest of the group committee wish you and yours all a joy-ous festive season And a prosperous new year I have edited the reports from the reunion and ADM as

they would turn the newsletter into the Sunday edition

(almost doubling its size) please email me if you wish the

full reports.

Firstly to clarify the comments made in the last newslet-

ter regarding badges & berets , And a big thank you to

those who contacted me from far and wide but This was

not an appeal for them but rather a point that if there is

no control over the supply of them then how can we be

assured of the integrity of our “members ” on parade. As

witnessed by a post on facebook showing a collection of

at least 7 different ROC & ROCA ties and I have seen

more clothing than that offered by several suppliers

The Poppy. I am not a badge of honour, I am not a racist smear, I am not a fashion statement, To be worn but once a year, I am not glorification Of conflict or of war. I am not a paper ornament A token, I am more. I am a loving memory, Of a father or a son, A permanent reminder Of each and every one. I'm paper or enamel I'm old or shining new, I'm a way of saying thank you, To every one of you. I am a simple poppy A Reminder to you all, That courage faith and honour, Will stand where heroes fall.

Our 25 stand down anniversary passed on September 30th With a few events held to commemorate this sad-ly none in the former group area PLEASE NOTE THE ADDRESS CHANGES IN THE GROUP DIRECTORY The Christmas meal was held in the new venue and

proved to be a success and this looks like the way for-

ward perhaps a change for the AGM as well ? A we

are ware of access issues for some members

Thoughts please.

And in the words of the late Rikki Fulton

This is “LAST CALL”

Please make it your resolution to attend the AGM

For those of you who don’t already know Legion Scotland Offer Full (Ordinary ) memberships to ex ROC Personnel At present our ordinary member-ship is made up from ex-servicemen and women, including members of the Armed Forces, Reserve Forces, cadet adult instructors, Merchant Navy, HM Coastguard, the police, fire, ambulance and lifeboat services personel , War Widows Associ-ations, Bevin Boys, Women’s Land Army & Timber Corp, Royal Ob-server Corp and the forces of Allied Nations Well worth considering for the welcome and friendship it provides.

DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT Basic Membership information is stored and passed electronically. This information will

not be given to any non ROCA office holders unless requested by court order any members who supply email address will have the

news letters sent electronically in pdf format a link to the reader down load will be supplied each time


News from the national reunion.

David Shaw (22Gp repots )There was discussion of the uniform issue at the ADM and points were put across by both sides.

There is going to be no quick solution BUT voices have been heard and the matter is now truly on the ta-ble. Only thing to say from me is please be patient and diplomatic. Ranting and shouting is only going to muddy matters and put people's backs up. It is now recognised as something people care about and we must be seen to be willing to talk not demand. I reiterate my plea to contact your local group (in a civilised manner) and ask for your view to be represented.

John Sharpe our National Chairman sent the following (See page 5 as well)

In order to clarify the situation following the recent debate, at the 2016 Annual Delegates Meeting,

AT PRESENT to ensure a smartly turned out ROCA contingent in the future, the current national policy is as

follows:

Dress Code for Formal Parades

1.Head dress: ALL Association members should wear a Beret with ROC cap badge.

2. Outer clothes:

FULL members (Ex ROC )

Gents: Blazer & dark trousers or dark suit, with ROC or ROCA tie.

Ladies: Blazer & dark skirt/trousers or dark suit. with ROC or ROCA tie / scarf.

ASSOCIATE members

The same but the tie should not be an ROC one

October 2016

While I understand this still no mention as to where the badges can be sourced without the risks of unscrupulous

dealers on the interweb (I have seen very poor reproductions for sale at over £40 each)

A comment from an associate member of another group sum this up well :-ROCA appears to be one of a select

number of associations who do not sell there ties badges etc. Yet again There seams little apatite to take the

initiative and get the mater sorted by establishing a small supplies store of these items.

From Liz

If I have not kept you up to date or have missed sending out info, please accept my apologies.

It's been a bit of a strange year. June 6th I got told I and the rest of my team were being made redundant.

Eventually finished work on 25th November.

It was rather fraught at times, still under contract but at times just wishing we could tell them to let us go.

My nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews then decided that I had to move back home, so they began house

hunting for me. They managed to find my new house reasonably quickly and moved in on 28th November. It is a lovely 110

year old house that used to be a Colliery Manager's house for the Wellesley Pit. The view from my back window is out across

the Forth with oil rigs, wind turbines, Bass Rock all glorious in either the morning sunrise or evening sunset. Got a fair bit of

work to do, some small minor repairs, re decorate the whole house then tackle the garden. The house had been empty for

about a year as it was caught up in divorce settlements. I am looking forward to the challenge and making it my own .

Take care Liz

https://www.facebook.com/observer2256?fref=nf


Presidents Christmas Message

It is always a pleasure to see so many of the Association at the annual re-

union and this year was certainly no different. The lovely Hotel in Buxton

was an admirable venue for all to renew friendships and the inevitable

walk down memory lane. For this, and for all of the other work that John

Sharpe and the members of committees various do in keeping ROCA

moving forward, I extend my sincere thanks.

As with all of my Christmas messages I find myself wondering where the

last year has gone. At his time of year we remember with fondness our

family and friends and the ones that are no longer with us but whose

memory we keep alive in reliving those wonderful days when we shared

laughter and comradeship. This has been year that, with the enormous

change that it portends, has been at best unsettling, but I take great

strength from the people I meet within the association who display the

strength of character and commonsense which is so reassuring in a slight-

ly crazy world.

I hope that you will be able to enjoy the Christmas season as you would

wish and that the coming year brings peace and contentment to you and

your families.

My wife joins me in wishing you a very Happy Christmas.

Cliff Spink

President ROCA

Chairman's Christmas Message

Sadly John is going for a small operation (on his hand) over the Christmas period

But wishes to convey best wishes and seasons greetings to all


CHAIRMAN JOHN SHARPE 2016 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

As we fast approach the run-up to the Christmas period I cannot help but wonder where this year has gone. Time seems to get faster and faster but perhaps this is just a reflection of how busy all our lives have become.

Our membership figures continue to show a slight downward motion and this is hardly surprising, but nevertheless some Groups have reversed this trend and have managed to bring some former colleagues back into the ROCA. I am sure that if we all took the opportunity to speak to former ROC colleagues about the Association we might be able to boost our numbers even further. Our web site has played a vital part in attracting both former ROC members as well as new associates to the Association.

This year has again been a very special one in the history of the Corps and the Association with a number of important anniversaries to be celebrated. It is 75 years since the granting of the Royal title by King George V1 and in the same year women were admitted into the Corps. It is 30 years since the Association was formed and we also commemorate the standing down of the majority of the Corps on 30th September 1991.

I have just returned from our Annual Reunion at the Palace Hotel in Buxton and this proved to be a really enjoyable event with some 137 members in at-tendance. Our first Reunion at this venue and the hotel did us proud and made sure that our 27th Reunion was one of the best ever. Next year we will be re-turning to Buxton and I hope that our numbers will be even higher once news of how enjoyable this year's event was permeates through the Groups.

Once again I will be writing on your behalf to Her Majesty, our Patron, to con-vey our very best seasonal greetings and to assure Her of our continuing loyal-ty, devotion and gratitude for her patronage.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to send my very best wishes both for yourselves and also your families. I hope that you have a very Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2017.


Snipping the Snippets from Natcom, benevolent fund & heritage

The full text is available either by emailing the editor or on the Web site (at over 6 pages

ADM :- The Delegates Forum Delegates questioned the National policy to allow Associate members to wear the ROC beret and badge on Parades The Chairman summarised the consensus and agreed the way forward that the National Committee will consider a design for a ROCA beret badge for Associates and to ask all Groups to consult all the grass root members to obtain the Groups overall view on the current National policy to allow Associates to continue to wear the ROC beret badge. Following the consultation by the Group if member’s majority view is to change the policy and if so minded the Group(s) to summit a Resolution by 30 June 2017 for discussion and voting upon at the ADM 2017. All Group Committees are asked to arrange consultation on same

Trophies

The John Simmonds Memorial Heritage Trophy =

Presented to Bill Warwick

The Jock Burnie Memorial Trophy = Jenny Morris who also accepted the Trophy on behalf of the sub group who arranged the Banner Service. President Certificate of Commendation = To Jim Ander-son Ann Smith & Ralph Pickering

Vice Presidents ~

Hilary Daniel Terry Giles and Joyce Shrubbs

Area Reps elected to hold the following ap-pointments for the year

Chairman John Sharpe, Vice Chairman Dave Arnott, Secretary Jenny Morris, Treasurer Dave Arnott, , Joyce Shrubbs Keeper of the National Standard, Deputy Keeper Jenny Morris. Mick Marks and Tim Kitching were elected as the Midland Area Reps to serve for the following 3 years.

Thanks expressed to Norman Hart who had stepped down as Midland Area Rep but has agreed to continue as Membership Secretary. The Chairman also thanked on behalf of all members for their valuable input to maintain-ing the smooth running of the Association volunteers Keith Arnold, Assistant Web Edi-tor, Tim Kitching National Admin Assistant and Margaret Pickering for taking on the task of Honorary Accounts Inspector. The Portfo-lio Holders continue to give their time and work hard on behalf of all members they are: – Arboretum Liaison Jenny Major, National Heritage Officer Edwina Holden, Web Editor Mick Marks, they are all supported by small groups of very hard working volunteers.

Tails from the trails

Two of or group members are of on a bit of a jaunt

Robert and Lewis Gorman are heading down south ,

well quite a bit down south Namibia in fact , your

ed has prevailed upon bob to put finger to key-

board and give us an insight in to this journey what

will, I expect be, a fascinating journey

How ever one of there training days in November it

was cold and frosty I imagine both were saying

some nice words about the weather but I bet they

may wish for the chill when they are we wish both

Bob and Lewis best wishes for this epic undertak-

ing.


The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor ,

The group Committee or of No. 24 Group ROC Association or ROCA in general

ROC Benevolent Fund

It’s now 25 years since the main body of the Corps was stood down and over 20 years since its absolute closure. Firstly to deal with our results for 2015, which were detailed in our last annual report and accounts which are avail-able for all to see on our website – which, as you all know – is found at www.rocbf.org.uk The website is an area where there has been a lot of development over the last year or so The fund received income for the last complete year, 2015, of £28,891; mostly from investments. Charitable ex-penditure amounted to £55,199. This was significantly in excess of income and reflects the increased value of our grants (increased by almost £18k over the year). This reflects a similar volume of grants made in 2014, but with a significantly higher value. During the financial year ended 31 December 2015, we disbursed £39,283 in grant aid against 31 successful applications for assistance. There were also another six successful applications that rolled into this year for grant payment. That covers last year, what of our grant activities so far this year – we have dealt with some 40+ cases and distributed over £43k and rising and we may hit £50k, which would be the highest total since 2010. Now to mention Outreach The Trustees are pleased that various outreach activities conducted over the past few years have continued to give the ROCBF a higher profile. This is helping to maintain the level of our benevolent activity. We recognise however, that there is a diminishing pool of potential cases with the passing of time and the increasing age of eligible peo-ple. The Trustees recognised that professional help would be needed, along with a modern and accessible web-site. Accordingly, it was agreed to relaunch our website and launch more effective social media platforms. Digital marketing campaigns (currently seen by over 16k people) have been used as these are targeted and more cost effective and better value for money than traditional press advertising and nailing another poster to a tree! It is felt that all effort has to be made to make all former members of the Corps aware of their eligibility to call on us if they are in need. Recognising this, the Trustees held a workshop on Outreach as part of their annual meetings in May and November last year, establishing a rolling strategy and setting an appropriate budget. The ROCBF continues to be an active member of the Confederation of Service Charities (Cobseo) and this is also helping to raise our profile in that sec-tor. The ROCA Benevolent Fund Liaison Officers’ network, which is now being coordinated by your chairman John Sharpe That covers last year and our activities into this. We have so far dealt this year with some 35 cases and dis-tributed £43,000 (and rising) in grants as I mentioned earlier, and we are as busy as ever for a band of 8 volunteer trustees… But what of the future? It’s known that the ROCBF will not last forever – as indeed, will none of us! There is a dwindling band of former members as we all age. Arrangements have been made so that ROCBF does not become a moribund charity that still may have residual funds but no more former members of the ROC. That day will come. Any remaining funds will pass to the RAFBF for the relief of hardship, need or distress of former members of the Royal Air Force. That was approved by the Charity Commission in 2007. Managing the charity has become more complex over the past 20 years since HQROC disappeared. The Trustees now have to consider how best it can be managed into the future as we are all, bar two, well past retirement age. Terry Giles has been wonderful as our long-serving Secretary. A role that has at times been the equivalent of a full-time job. He is now due to retire, over the next two years from an increasingly complex role. The idea of a part-time paid servant was explored but that is not practicable as the administration of the administrator would still need to be managed. Accordingly, we are in discussions with the RAFBF to see if the operation of the ROCBF can be managed by them while still preserving the identity, objectives and ethos of the ROCBF until such time as we are all no more. It is a pragmatic approach that will allow for the Fund to be applied in the way always intended .



Contact Directory

Chairperson Secretary Treasurer

Mr John Stewart [email protected]

Susan Meiklejohn Mr Dane Murdoch [email protected]

Membership Secretary Newsletter Editor Benevolent Fund Liaison

Officer

Miss Elizabeth McMann 76 Kenmore Terrace, Wellesle Road, Buckhaven, Leven, Fife KY8 1HT

01592 573 996 [email protected]

Mr Joseph Yeardly

j_yeardly@ yahoo.com 07947 577170

Mr Tom Meiklejohn 16 Cuthill Brae, Westwood Road, West Calder EH55 8QE

01501 760190

HERITAGE TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES AND ASSISTANCE Edwina Holden Co-ordination, PR and heritage/media liaison

Simon Craine Website and research (Assistant National Heritage Officer)

John Shere Presentations

AndrewRamek Logistics /displays

Keith Arnold Archive Technical Assistance and Regional Promotion

Jenny Morris National Secretary / liaison with National Committee

Diana Mothersole Finance and accounts

Cheryl Stewart Scotland – displays and presentations

Paddy Malone Northern Ireland – displays and presentations

National Heritage Report to ADM 2016 - A very brief report today. When we set up a few years ago I think none of us knew how to proceed with preserving our heritage. However, we talked and persevered and the personal qualities of the Team emerged. You can see the pre-sent responsibilities of each member of the Team in the folder on the Heritage table, but if you didn’t have time I will tell you. Cheryl has been with us since the beginning, not only is she a great support to the Team but also has her own Museum and Underground Post at Arbroath. I know she enjoys the support of a great team of people in Scotland who are wonderful at portraying the history at public events. Every member of the Team take their responsibilities very seriously and never flinch when I ask them if we can do some seemingly daunting task, for which I am forever grateful. Recently we paid for a display tent for Frank to use in Scotland at his Open Days and other public events And a large tent for us to use for the National Display so that we can be self-supporting at events We are proud to represent our history in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England at large and small events, on the website and in literature. We may make mistakes sometimes when time pressures don’t allow suffi-cient planning time, did you realise that uniforms actually shrink when in wardrobes or in our archive so we can’t wear them?!

Note there is NO official ROC MUSEUM (despite what some people say) there is however a national collection is as far

as can be ascertained housed in a locked barn and it is not loaned out . Questions as to its condition , where about’s ,

ownership and contents have been met with no response nor information . The Ed

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