Branch Chairman Carol Stickler welcomed all to the Branch’s 2019 AGM, once again held at St Andrews Church in Deal.

As a Branch we have enjoyed our functions this year, with Judy organising the ticket sales and ensuring all goes well on the night, and Bob, with the help of John, continues to organise our well supported raffles. Once again, many thanks to the members who not only buy tickets, but help to provide the prizes, well done!

Forthcoming events were outlined, which included our St Georges Day Dinner, this year held at a new venue, The Waterfront, The Saracens Head for lunch in May and in the summer we will be back on the Pier for our annual Fish & Chip Supper, so there is much to look forward too. The County Spring Lunch and AGM details were given along with a new event, a Garden Party at Hadlow Manor, Goose Green.

Read more: 11 March 2019

Trafalgar Day

The Branch organises the Trafalgar Day Service, considered to be a County event. For more information see County Activities/Trafalgar Day Service.

Fish and Chip Supper

This annual Branch event is usually held at Deal Pier but, due to the refurbishment there, it was relocated to the Hythe Bay Fish Restaurant. There were 37 Members and friends in attendance, including some from other Branches. Once again, the weather had an impact: there was torrential rain, thunder and lightning. These provided entertainment during the meal. Local photographer David Christie, of Chrystal Memories, captured the most amazing picture of lightning striking Deal Pier.

Armed Forces Day

The Branch standard was included in the parade held to mark this day. There was a drumhead service on the apron of the Deal Pier, with many Branch members in attendance.

Winter Walmer (rescheduled)

Held at The Saracens, the resceduled event had better co-operation from the weather. There were 25 in attendance and the lunch was so successful that there are plans to make this a regular feature of the Branch schedule.

Royal Marine Heritage Trail Opening

For over 300 years, the Royal Marines were closely associated with Deal and Walmer. In 1665 a company of the Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot (the antecedent of the Royal Marines) was deployed to Deal to protect the naval yard located to the north of Deal Castle. It is likely that marines remained in and around Deal to protect the yard until it was closed in 1863. But, in 1861 the Royal Marines established a depot at Deal. Intially used to train recruits for the Royal Marine Light Infantry, in 1923 it became the training depot for all recruits. In 1930 the Royal Marines School of Music was relocated to Deal. It was moved elsewhere during the World War II, but returned in 1950 and remained there until the depot's closure in 1996.

In celebration of the long association, the Royal Marine Heritage Trail (for more information, click HERE) was officially opened and many Branch Members attended the event. There was a parade in which the Branch Standard was included.

Zeebrugger Raid Commemoration

Branch Members gathered, with many other from across the county, at the Cross of Sacrifice at St James’ cemetery in Dover on St George’s Day to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Zeebrugge Raid. This was one of the most daring amphibious raids of the First World War, and was carried out by a batallion of Royal Marines raised at Deal. Its main purpose was to blockade the entrance to the canal at Zeebrugge, which was being used as a base for submarines. The submarines were being used, not only to attack shipping directly, but to lay mines in the English Channel. More information on the raid is available from the UK government website - click HERE.

Winter Walmer

Initially, 25 people had booked for lunch, but only 8 were able to attend. On the day, the weather, which was so bad that it brought most of the county to a halt, forced many to cancel. The meal was excellent, and those who were there enjoyed it, but the small numbers in attendance prevented it being the success that had been anticipated. So, it was decided to reschedule.