Waterloo Branch
Branch Officers
Chairman
Mrs. Jane Dorrington
Email: waterloo.branch@rssg.org.uk
Mobile: 07887 772 032
Vice President
Ken Baggott
Email: joanbaggott@hotmail.com
Tel: 020 8508 8904
Membership Secretary
Mike Green
Email: waterloo.memberships@rssg.org.uk mvg.minehead@gmail.com
Treasurer
TBC
RSSG WATERLOO EVENTS CALENDER 2025
20th February Hidden London Clapham South Underground Station and a meal at Pizzeria on the Green. 15 booked so far. Tour £36. Meal will be paid for on the day
Sherlock Holmes Theme Afternoon Tea Shepherds Bush with 90 minutes of bottomless prosecco. With a group of up to 20, you will all start the activity at the same time and be seated together in the same area. You can either work together to solve your mini mystery or split into smaller teams and go head-to-head. £50 per head. I need numbers before I book to see if worthwhile as payment is upfront. INSUFFICIENT NUMBERS May move to later in the year.
5th April Wine Tasting at Ridgeview Vineyard Fully Booked. Waiting list only.
16th April St Georges Day Lunch at Union Jack Club McIntosh Room. £63 per head to include a 3 course meal and an after lunch speaker Re The Honours System. Taking Bookings and payment now. Gusts welcome.
23rd April City Branch St Georges Day Banquet at Drapers Hall. Black tie evening event £179 per head to include a welcome drink, a 4 course meal, wine and port.
26th April RSSG and Cadets St George’s Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at The Cenotaph followed by a Service at The Tomb of The Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey. A meal will be arranged following the ceremony but no details just yet. A very important date in RSSG Calendar
8th May VE Day. The Theodore Bullfrog. Lunch with a special guest speaker. Price to be advised once their spring menu is available but the plan is for typical British Fayre. Taking Bookings now but not payment.
21st May Fly fishing and BBQ organised by Clive Bowles at Coltsford Mill, Mill Lane Oxted RH8 9DG. Nearest Rail Station is Hurst Green.
31st May Pubs and Pirates Walk with a meal at The Prospect of Whitby 22 booked so far. £22.50 per head. Taking Bookings and payment now.
20th June Battle of Waterloo (18th June) Carvery Lunch at Mark Masons Hall 1.30pm. £57ph 86 St James’s Street SW1A 1PL. FULL
8th August Lunch at St. Jaques Restaurant in St. James Street. Bill will give a talk on The Spanish Armada. Menu of the day 2 or 3 courses available.
5th August 6pm Jez and Gordon walking tour. TBA which pub to meet in for pre walk meal.
15th August 12 noon 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at The Victory Services Club. Limited numbers as only VSC members can book. We need your commitment asap. £45 per head includes a 3 course lunch and half bottle of wine. A Guest speaker will be advised later.
2nd September is the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II when Japan signed the surrender documents on board USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Information only, no plans to commemorate this as we will try and commemorate VJ Day on the 15th August.
12th September RSSG Battle of Britain Lunch at The RAF Club. I would like us to book at least one table this year. So I will collate and book for us and will let you know costs asap.
22nd October Battle of Trafalgar Portsmouth. RSSGYA will provide details in due course.
26th October RSSG Standards Service and Blessing at St Georges Church Hanover Square followed by lunch in a local pub.
8th November Festival of Remembrance Royal Albert Hall. Please register your interest. This takes a lot of planning. Each member is allowed to take 3 guests to the Dress Rehearsal in the afternoon. However they need a lot of personal information at time of booking to include date and place of birth, personal email address and telephone number. The earlier we know we can work out if we need more members to join The Royal British Legion. Please let Jane know if you would like to attend asap.
21st November Brick Lane Music Hall Magic of Christmas Themed Afternoon tea. £66 per head. 16 places booked. Taking bookings now.
December Xmas Party TBA possibly at Theodore Bullfrog. Waiting to see how VE Day goes but it does seem a great venue albeit the stairs.
Newsletter Autumn 2024
The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness comes around all too quickly as it seems not long ago that I was sending out the summer newsletter. I do hope you enjoyed the time in between and enjoyed some sunshine. Our membership remains at 93.
RECENT EVENTS
On Saturday 21st September 19 of us gathered on the steps outside the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square where we met our guide, Andrew, for the start of our “Historic walk – Royalty in Westminster”. The tour took us, at a leisurely pace, through Admiralty Arch into Horse-guards parade and then onto Whitehall, down to Westminster Abbey (not sure whether the ringing of the Abbey bells was in our honour, or probably a wedding!) and into St. James’s Park. The weather was fine throughout and our guide most informative and interesting. He showed us into what is reputed to be the smallest courtyard at Pickering Place, where King Henry V111 played Royal tennis, and where there is a delightful restaurant. We passed many Palaces, and we learnt a great deal of historical facts. Most of us ended up at the best palace of all, The Golden Lion, King Street, where a very convivial meal ended a great tour.
On Wednesday 9th October some of us attended a BBQ and Fly-Fishing Experience as guests of Clive and Judy Bowles at Coltsford Mill Fisheries near Oxted. The weather was so kind to us and the setting is amazing. Gordon and Clive each caught 2 huge trout and some of us had our very first fly fishing lesson. Others chose to sit and enjoy a drink or two with a view. It was great fun and the BBQ was excellent value. I hope to add this to our events for 2025, as even if you just enjoy the BBQ it is a beautiful place for us to meet up. Transport can be arranged from the station if you don’t fancy driving.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Thursday 21st November at the Victory Services Club 63-79 Seymour Street. Nearest underground station is Marble Arch.
We meet at noon in good time to order drinks before a talk on the Battle of Crecy at 12.30 by Bill. We will sit down for lunch at 1 o’clock, and we will pay the VSC directly for our meals.
This is the event that had to be postponed due to the kitchens being refurbished at the Victory Services Club and I know a few who had originally booked particularly wanted the talk to be at the VSC. Our apologies to Thelma and Harvey who did not receive the two notifications that the original event had had to be postponed. Hopefully, you will be able to come to this one.
Even if you applied earlier kindly apply again, to me as below. Hopefully more of you can make this new date. Few people know about the battle of Crecy, but you certainly will after you hear Bill’s talk. It is also a great opportunity to dine at The VSC as it is a member only club. waterloo.branch@rssg.org.uk
Wednesday 11th December - Christmas Luncheon Party.
The Brasserie Blanc opposite the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank.
Following a successful lunch for St Georges Day we have booked this restaurant again. I have received the menu and if we can get 40 people the ticket price will be £70 per head. I will be in touch shortly with the menu choices but I really need to know now if you will be attending so I can ensure we break even.
Contact Jane waterloo.branch@rssg.org.uk
As always thank you so much for your support and I look forward to hearing from you re Christmas asap.