Royal Observer Corps Association (10 Group)

NEWSLETTER - April 2004

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No New Changes at Novotel

Chairman Tony Child welcomed only 15 members of 10 Group ROCA to the ACM 2004 on Sunday 14th March. This was the lowest turnout for some time. After the minutes of :he ACM held on 23rd March 2003 had been read out Lawrence Holmes asked what was the reference to ‘ROC plaque transferred to Truro Branch’? This item referred to the ROC Shield, which had in fact been taken out to Veryan Post. Jim Parsonage asked if anyone knew what had happened to the Group Commandant’s Board, which was located at No 11 Group Truro HQ when the Group had closed in 1973? Lawrence said he would ask Geoff Paine, the former DGC.

In the Chairman’s Report Tony Child first called for a minute’s silence for all our former colleagues who had passed away in the last year including Lorna Buchanan, Daphne Steward, Dave Sanders, Owen Bishop, Alice Ibbeson, Les Hough, Ivor Simms, Charles Topliss. Their total service was a staggering 237 years. Tony then referred to the presentation of the ROC plaque to St Eval Church to mark the dedication service of the new Standard in 2002 and the presentation of the Queen’s portrait to Plymouth City Council in 2003.

Treasurers Report and increase in Group subscriptions

Joan Tremlett presented her report, which showed an expenditure of £575.10 and income of £530.40 for the year 2003. The deficit was £44.70. Cash in the bank was some £830. All accepted the report as correct. Balance sheet can be seen on request to Branch or Group Treasurer. Because of the continuing deficit Joan recommended an increase in Group subscriptions from £4 to £5 per annum. She reminded members that this increase had been approved at last year’s ACM, if this was deemed to be necessary and she now felt this proposal had to be implemented.

Lawrence Holmes said that the Truro Branch was against any rise unless steps were taken to reduce current expenditure, particularly with regard to non-ROC events. The proposal was put to members and accepted on a vote of 11 to 2 with 2 abstentions.

In his Newsletter Editor’s Report, Lawrence reported that there had been three A4 sized newsletters in the year of 18 pages per issue. Newsletters had been sent to 100 members, 25 other Group Editors and the remainder to national Officers, Honorary Vice Presidents and people who had lapsed in paying subs. Yearly newsletter costs of about £300 should always be budgeted for. Newsletters for 2004 would be published in April, July and December. One member asked if newsletters could be sent out by e-mail where possible. Lawrence said this was not practicable at the moment due to long transmission time and the fact that relatively few members were on e-mail, but he had no doubt that this method would be used in time. He accepted that the newsletter costs were the greatest source of expenditure but said the Truro branch were against any reduction in the standard of the newsletter as this was the only means of contact for many members. All members, however, agreed that the newsletter should remain in its present good form.

Election of Officers

There was virtually no change in the Officers of 10 Group ROCA. Tony Child was re-elected Chairman, Murray Harper as Vice Chairman, Joan Tremlett as Treasurer, and Lawrence Holmes as Editor. Mike Davis had expressed a wish to stand down as Secretary but in his absence he was re-elected but with Barbara Baker as Minute Secretary and Jim Parsonage as Assistant Secretary. General committee members were Ken Algar, John Heywood, Ron May, Rod Tremlett and Phil Dwyer. Welfare Officers remain as Ron May for Cornwall and Mike Davis for Devon.

Suggested future changes in ROCA structure

Tony Child introduced this national ROCA item. The national committee had asked all Groups to send in ideas on ‘The future Organisation and Structure of the ROCA’ on 20th July 2003. 10 Group had discussed the subject briefly on 6/9/03 and on 7/9/03 a Southern Area meeting discussed the topic. Southern Area, including 10 Group, decided that they had every confidence in the national committee and recommended no specific changes.

Oxford Group submitted a report dated 26/10/03 which was circulated to all other Groups. Briefly the Oxford report recommended that national ROCA membership cards be printed and used. This would support their belief that we should be part of a national ROCA first and part of the Group or branch ROCA second. A quarterly national newsletter should be provided and national subscriptions could be increased to pay for this. Lastly they felt there is no need for regional representation (Area Reps?). The Oxford report prompted three subsequent reports from Winchester, Coventry and Norwich. (10 Group debated whether any of the reports were as a result of full Group consultation or the work and thoughts of a relatively few number of Officers within those Groups?)

Winchester Group felt that there was nothing wrong with the present organisation and the ROCA should be organised on a local basis. Groups should be responsible for communication and membership levels. They felt that newsletters should be improved and national activities should be funded from the national draw.

The Coventry report suggested that there was a definite split between national and local ROCA activities. Coventry supported a national membership like Oxford and to support this they too favoured a national newsletter or Journal. Coventry also felt that Group committees retain focus on the ROCBF and social activities only. They recommended that the national committee be retained but that the roles are clearly defined.

The pragmatic Norwich report did not accept the statement that the ROCA was presently structured ineffectually from the bottom upwards. They felt that members were fiercely loyal to their Groups and to national ROCA last of all.

They did riot support a national newsletter and thought this was a pipe dream, nor did they particularly like a national membership scheme, seeing no benefits over the present Group membership system. No doubt the debate will be continued at the ADM in Liverpool on 24th April 2004.

Other items at the AGM

• Talking about the Group Standard, Tony Child reviewed the use of the Group Standard in 2003. Ron May asked for the Standard at Callington on Remembrance Day 2004 and Lawrence Holmes asked for the Standard on 29th May at Trebah D-Day celebrations and 10th September at RAF Portreath Battle of Britain Service.
   

• The National Committee had requested that all Groups submit any details they could provide on local museums, which had any P00 heritage content. Lawrence was preparing a UK list of such museums and was to liaise with the national Secretary on this task. He urged everyone to look around their local area museums in search of ROC material and make a note of them.
   

• English Heritage had prepared a list of P00 Cold War structures they considered worthy of protection under their listing procedure and this included some structures in 10 Group. Lawrence Holmes held the list of recommendations. English Heritage were now preparing a list of recommendations of WWll ROC structures (including slightly post war Orlit Posts) and Edwina Holden, the national Archivist, had written to all Groups requesting they survey their local Group area for examples of such structures. Lawrence had submitted recommendations for Cornwall but now required recommendations for Devon.
   

• Any recommendations should be given to Lawrence for onward transmission to Edwina thence English Heritage
   

• Spitfire Trophy results - First - Ken Algar with photo of a Sea King Second - Mike Davis with a photo .he Red Arrows Third - Ken Algar. Because of the very few aircraft entries in recent years for this trophy it was resolved, for a trial year, to award the Trophy to the best P00 Heritage photograph. These photos could range from WWII to the nuclear role. Judging was to be done by Lawrence Holmes and Roy Dutch.