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REME Association: Lincolnshire Branch
Lincolnshire Branch
Adapt, evolve and soldier on! Relocation of the Lincs Branch meeting venue. Since before its formation in 2001, the Lincolnshire Branch had the use the Boston Drill Hall; the place we called “home” for over 20 years. Sadly, due to service requirements the branch has been required to vacate the Drill Hall and remove all fixtures and fittings with effect 1st December 2021, leaving the Branch “homeless”.
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The story starts when I started work with the then East Midlands Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Association ‘TAVRA’ (soon to be East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (EMRFCA)). In 1996 as a Crown Servant (CAA) based in the Drill Scribe: Graham A Matthews, (Secretary) Lincolnshire Branch
Members in the Drill Hall Bar
Games Night in the Drill Hall
Branch at the Dedication of the REME Association Memorial Plinth
Hall BOSTON, I was also required to join the Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force (ACF) as a uniformed RQMS and was granted permission to retain REME dress allowing me to record 40 years in REME uniform. I held the Boston post for 18 years followed by a further 9 years as a RFCA pensioner key holder for the Boston Drill Hall.
After 22 years’ service in REME I was keen to join a local REME Association Branch, however, this being Lincolnshire there were no Branches within travelling distance and after numerous advertisements, phone calls and visits to other Ex service clubs I made contact with a small number of Ex REME Vets with whom we formed a friendship and held planning meetings in the Drill Hall, and as the requirements back then was a minimum of 20 to form a new Branch we continued in this way recruiting new potential members for some 4 years when in 2000 we had 22 founder members.
The Lincolnshire Branch was formally formed in 2001 located in the Boston Drill Hall, with the Branch Standard dedicated in 2002 numbers slowly increased to a maximum number of 48 in 2012 since then our numbers have receded to the present 32.
Our President Lt Col (Retd) David Skaife accepted the presidency in 2000 and still presides today; having
supported the Branch for 22 years. The Branch Secretary, Ex RSM Graham A Matthews was joined by another Ex RSM Phil Exley who was Treasurer, however, Phil Escaped to Cyprus and Graham took over as Secretary and Treasurer a post he has held for 22 years. The Branch has had several Chairmen and Vice Chairmen and committees over the years all have shown great loyalty and commitment to the Branch.
During the branches time in the Drill Hall we enjoyed the monthly meetings in the comfort of the Bar and lounge and the RBL, Normandy, Dunkirk, Forester’s and RBL ladies also used the drill hall facilities. Graham was the Administrator of the Drill Hall responsible for hirings and resources and during this time we had many successful annual Regt Dinners, Summer Balls, Annual Christmas Dinners, BBQs, and numerous other functions as well as visits to various locations of interest. These were supported by the Resident REME Recruiter in the Army Careers Office situated in the Drill Hall, initially the Drill Hall Was occupied by a Coy of Lincs Regt TA, a Recruiting Office, Lincs ACF3 Coy HQ, an ACF Cadet Detachment, a 25M indoor Range, armoury, RFCA stores, Classrooms, kitchen, Bar & Lounge and the Office of the Boston Cadet Administration Assistant (CAA), as well as garaging for ACF minibuses and trailers, The Drill Hall had a full time Cleaner and a full time Caretaker with many outside organisations using the facilities.
The TA were first to go (drawdown) then the HQ (cutbacks) followed by the ARMY Recruiting Office (outsourced to SERCO) as well as the Caretaker/Cleaner (Not Funded). The other Ex services Associations slowly folded and by 2014 the Drill Hall was left with the CAAs office and a small ACF cadet detachment parading two nights a week and the REME Branch meeting once a month (the sole users of a large bar/lounge and kitchen) a huge building underused and costly to maintain, the writing was on the wall! The Branch had over the years acquired a large amount of equipment, cash register, indoor bowls kit, new age curling kit, fridges, bar fittings/glasses, raffle drum, 60 place settings of cutlery and crockery, Burco’s, flags/bunting, shields/plaques and more so much that on vacating the Drill Hall we had to “borrow” a lock up until arrangements can be made for disposal.
EMRFCA (MOD) conceived a project to consolidate all 3 cadet organisations (Army, Air, Sea Cadets) in one location cutting costs and utilising the large underused Drill Hall in Boston. Consequently, it was decided reallocate the space and in doing so a bar and lounge were no longer required in the new Tri -Service Cadet establishment.
We like many organisations found it difficult to endure the 18 months of lockdowns and restrictions; last meeting March 2020 only to restart our Branch meetings in September 2021 and again cease meetings in November 2021 now we start again in 2022 with a new chapter being written for the Lincolnshire Branch. On Tuesday 1st February 2022, we held our first Branch meeting, in its new home, the Boston Conservative Club. Our new home is situated next door to the Drill Hall and our regular meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 1900hrs.
Anyone wishing to join the Branch, please email: remelincs@gmail.com or follow our Facebook page ‘REME Association-Lincolnshire Branch’.
Table ready for the Annual Regimental Dinner in the Drill Hall
