Chairman's Report

December 2024

As we come up to Christmas its time to reflect back on what has been a busy year.

Mel and I have once again had a busy time with social and commemorative events culminating in the AGM at Hull and the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London.

Craig Gadd and his team did a fantastic Job of organising the AGM and my thanks go out to him and the 299 Association for providing such a wonderful weekend.

This year at the Cenotaph we were allocated 42 places, the largest allocation the association has ever had, many were attending for the first time and have said how poignant the event is.

During my time as the association Chairman Mel and I have tried to visit every branch for at least one social event, and I am pleased to say that we have managed to visit all of the branches on their own turf.

The last event of the year for us was the Chatham Branch Christmas Lunch. The event was well attended which belied the problems that have beset the Branch over attracting and retaining members. This has now reached the stage where the remaining members have decided that the branch is no longer viable, and they have reluctantly taken the decision to close the branch. This is indeed a sad event for the branch and for the association.

Our difficulties in attracting and retaining members is brought into sharp vision as we ponder the closure of a Branch and also consider that we only attracted two new members in the last year, and it was with this in mind that I reopened the debate on the relationship between the AEA and REA. The current round of this debate has been going on for the last two years and culminated in the Vote of members as to whether we should merge with the REA(A) Branch, you will all know by now that the result of the Vote was a massive majority in favour of the merger.

For those not aware, 296 Association members voted and there were 230 in favour and 66 against. The Executive committee will now engage with the REA to arrange a smooth transition to the AEA becoming a National Branch of the REA. I realise that there are strong feelings over this subject and that not all of you will be happy with the outcome. However, we must now all work together, accepting the view of the clear majority and taking the association forward.

I will work with the committee on the merger, but it is also a sad time for myself as I have taken the decision to stand down as National Chairman at the next AGM. It has been an Honour and a Privilege to have been the Chairman of the Association for the last 7 years, but I feel that it is now time for someone else to take up the reins.

It only remains for me and Mel to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous new year.

Steve Wallis
Chairman, Airborne Engineers Association

June 2024

Hi to everyone and I hope that this finds you in good health and enjoying the summer, such as it has been.

It’s hard to believe that another six months have passed since the last edition of the Journal, it seems that the older we get the quicker time seems to fly by.

Much has happened since the last edition, not least of which was a near death brush with Sepsis that laid me low for several weeks, it’s not something that I would recommend to anyone and served to show how fragile we all are.

We are now into the planning for this year’s memorial events. Hardwick Hall was again attended by a stalwart group from the Birmingham Branch ensuring that the Corps was well represented at the commemoration to the first ever Airborne Depot, the place where the 1st Parachute Brigade trained before attending Parachute training at Ringway.

This year, being the 80th Anniversary of D Day and of Arnhem, I applied for 42 tickets to the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, to my surprise the request was granted by the Royal British Legion and so this year will see the largest AEA contingent at the Parade that we have ever had.

Important discussions have been taking place between the AEA Executive Committee, 23 Parachute Engineer Regt and the Royal Engineers Association to explore ways in which the AEA and the REA (Airborne) branch could merge, these discussions have been led by the AEA President Baz Bassett and Phil Taylor the Chairman of the REA(A) and also AEA Yorkshire Chairman, I appreciate that this is a very emotive subject, but it has to be addressed.  These discussions are ongoing, and the results will be passed to all of the Branches and AEA members for consideration. I stress that no decision to merge has been reached and that it will be for the AEA membership to decide in a ballot and I assure you that the executive committee will stand by the decision of the majority of AEA members whichever way the ballot goes. We will distribute updates as and when we get them.

I look forward to meeting many of you at the various events that we attend throughout the summer or at the AGM in Hull in October.

Best wishes from myself and Mel.

Steve Wallis
Chairman, Airborne Engineers Association