From: Major A K Barley, National Events Co-ordinator (NEC) Royal Military Police Association (RMPA) email: allanbarley@necrmpa.fsbusiness.co.uk Tel: (01904) 427422 7 Allington Drive Appletree Village York YO31 0NL 1 st July 2016 71st ROYAL MILITARY POLICE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REUNION WEEKEND 12th -14th MAY 2017, IN CARDIFF GENERAL 1. The 71st Annual Reunion Weekend will be held over the period of 12th-14th May 2017 in Cardiff, the Capital of Wales 2. The weekend will be hosted by South Wales Branch RMPA led by the Chairman, Mr Eddie Evans and the Secretary Mr Steve McManus. OUTLINE OF EVENTS 3. The outline of events covering the whole weekend is shown under: a. Friday 12th May 2017 (i) Arrival in Cardiff. Members of the hosting Branch and the National Events Co-ordinator (NEC) will be present in the Reception of the Angel Hotel, Castle Street, Cardiff, CF10 1SZ to welcome guests and to assist with all administrative arrangements as required. The hotel will be the focus for all Reunion activities for the duration of the weekend. b. Saturday 13th May 2017 (i) Trustees Meeting. The Trustees meeting will be held in the Foxhunter Suite at 1030 hrs. (ii) Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM will take place in the Foxhunter Suite at 1500 hrs. (iii) Annual Reunion Dinner. The Reunion Dinner will be held in the Dragon Banqueting Suite at 1900 hrs for 1930 hrs. A pre-dinner drinks service will be provided from the Prince of Wales Suite which is adjacent to the Banqueting Suite. Dress will be civilian clothes (dark suit or blazers for gentlemen, ladies as appropriate).
c. Sunday 14th May 2017 (i) Church Service. The Annual RMPA All Denominational Church Service will be held, by special invitation from Cardiff City Council, in Cardiff Arms Park with music provided by the band of the South Wales Police Force. Final details of the Service cannot be confirmed until December 2016 but the administrators of Cardiff Arms Park are extremely keen and supportive of our use of the Rugby Stadium and are optimistic that approval will be given. As a back-stop position the Service will be held in the Angel Hotel. The service will be conducted by the Association Padre, Father Peter Newsam. If approval is not granted, Plan B will be applied! (ii) Parade of Standards/March Past. Following the Service there will be a March Past/Parade of Standards in Cardiff Arms Park (if approved) reviewed by the President RMPA Brigadier D S Neal. ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES 4. The hotel accommodation has been booked solely for the RMPA weekend and 64 double rooms, 28 twin rooms and 10 single rooms are available to members and have been negotiated at reduced rates. The booking options are: a. Friday/Saturday nights. (i) Double/Twin Room. The rate will be 95.00 per room per night for bed and breakfast and will include dinner on Friday night. (ii) Single Room. The rate will be 85.00 per room per night for bed and breakfast and will include dinner on Friday night. b. Saturday night only. (i) Double/Twin Room. The rate will be 95.00 per room for bed and breakfast. (ii) Single Room. The rate will be 85.00 per room for bed and breakfast. c. Shoulder Days. The days prior to (Thursday) or the day after (Sunday) the Reunion Weekend can be booked at 85.00 per room for a double/twin room or 75.00 for a single room on a bed and breakfast basis. It is emphasised that the booking of accommodation is totally the responsibility of individual members. To make your reservation members should contact The Angel Hotel on Tel No 02921 672322 and outline attendance at the Royal Military Police Association Reunion Weekend to receive the negotiated rates. Credit card details will be required to secure the booking but the card will not be charged until the completion of the weekend. 5. In the event of any difficulty being experienced, members should contact the NEC (Tel No 01904 427422) or Mr Steve McManus, the Branch Secretary (Tel No 01656 716955) for guidance and support. Accommodation must be booked by 12th February 2017.
6. Following this date, any unsold rooms will be released to the general public and thus our exclusive booking of the hotel will be lost. Be advised therefore to book your accommodation early! DINNER/REUNION BAR 7. Dinner will be held in the Dragon Banqueting Suite at 1900 hrs for 1930 hrs. A maximum of 250 persons may be seated; tickets can be obtained from the NEC using the proformae at Annex A. Should the need arise the NEC will run a reserve list and advise members should there be a late cancellation. Again you are advised to book early! 8. The Reunion Bar will be located in the Prince of Wales Suite and drinks will be suitably reduced. This will include the wines for dinner. 9. Dinner will be of four courses plus tea/coffee and Welsh cakes and will be inclusive of a glass of port for toasts. The main course will be Roast Loin of Pork, Garlic Fondant Potatoes, Creamed Leeks, Fresh Vegetables and Cider Apple Jus and there will be a vegetarian option. 10. The cost of dinner will be 32.00 per person. Applications for tickets should be made to the NEC on the proformae at Annex A, cheques made payable to RMPA. Closing date for applications will be SATURDAY 22nd APRIL 2017 following which no further applications will be accepted and no refunds given in the event of cancellation or subsequent non-attendance. TRAVEL 11. Travel to Cardiff is outlined below: a. By air. Cardiff is served by Wales International Airport and is 30-40 minutes from central Cardiff. b. By road. The two main approaches to the city are by the M5/M4 from the North and the Midlands whilst the M4 approach to the city serves the southern areas of the UK. Be aware that on the approaches to Cardiff, and in the city, there are many active speed cameras. Be vigilant! c. Car Parking. The hotel has limited parking of 40 spaces which will be allocated on a first come basis and will be free. Further parking can be found at the Cardiff Arms Park Rugby Stadium which is directly opposite the hotel at a cost of 3.00 per day (normally 7.00). The car park is manned and safe. d. By rail. The city is served by rail which terminates at Cardiff Central Station and is only 5-10 minutes walk from the hotel.
SUMMARY 12. Cardiff s rich culture has a diverse range of influences from Romans and Normans of antiquity to the industrial revolution and the coal industry. The castle was originally built of wood in 1081 but in the 12th Century was rebuilt in stone. The docks and city centre have been regenerated and together with the castle is a stone s throw from the Angel Hotel 13. The President and Chairman look forward to your support. A K Barley Allan K Barley National Events Co-ordinator Distribution: Major General J R Chiswell CBE MC - Deputy Colonel Commandant (Provost) and Honorary President RMPA Brigadier D S Neal Provost Marshal (Army) and President RMPA Colonel S D O Duckworth OBE DL, - Honorary Colonel, RMP (Army Reserve) Wing Commander M Bland RAF Commandant Defence School of Policing and Guarding Lieutenant Colonel M Cotton MBE Regimental Secretary AGC Lieutenant Colonel S C McLean Editor RMP Journal Warrant Officer Class 1 (ProSM) M Thomson AGC (RMP) In-Pensioner M Allen The Royal Hospital Chelsea Webmaster RHQ RMP Website The Serving: All Serving Provost Personnel (less DSPG personnel) via DCOS HQ 1 MP Brigade Association: Lieutenant Colonel J H Baber MBE National Chairman Mr R L Eggelton National Vice Chairman Honorary Secretary All Trustees All Branch Secretaries Father Peter Newsam
Annex A to letter dated 1 st July 2016 Return to: Major A K Barley 7 Allington Drive Appletree Village York YO31 0NL 71st ANNUAL REUNION WEEKEND Application for Dinner Tickets for Saturday 13th May 2017 The Angel Hotel, Cardiff Please forward to me ticket(s) at 32.00 each for the 71st Annual Reunion Dinner (RMPA members may be accompanied by one guest only). My cheque for made payable to RMPA is enclosed. Full Name Branch Total Payable (continue overleaf if necessary) Special dietary requirements are: The following seating preference is requested, please: Contact details: Name: Address: Postcode Tel No: email: (Signed): Date: THIS PROFORMAE SHOULD REACH THE NEC BY SATURDAY 22nd APRIL 2017