Following the successful commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of the D-Day Landings on 6th June, which began with a flag raising at the South Holland District Council Offices and continued with a Service of Remembrance at Ayscoughfee Gardens, I have been overwhelmed by the number of heartfelt messages received via Facebook and email. Veterans and members of the general public alike have expressed their gratitude to the Spalding Royal Naval Association for continuing to honour and remember the fallen.
What stood out to me was that many of these kind messages came from people with no military background at all. This has inspired me to launch a new and more inclusive recruitment campaign.
It is well known that many Army and RAF associations across South Holland have sadly ceased to operate. Yet the Spalding RNA remains active and thriving under the leadership of our Chairman, Shipmate Richard Brown. Traditionally, our new members have primarily been Royal Navy veterans, with some travelling over 20 miles to attend our meetings. More recently, however, we have also welcomed Army and RAF veterans who have joined us as Associate Members.
With this new campaign, I want to extend a clear invitation to Royal Navy veterans to join us as Full Members, and to Army and RAF veterans to come on board as Associate Members. If you are interested, please do get in touch with your details.
Although our membership remains strong, we are always looking to welcome new faces. That is why this time, I am also opening the door to members of the public. If you are someone who enjoys the company of veterans and values the camaraderie of a military-minded group, then this could be your opportunity to join us as an Associate Member of the Spalding Branch of the RNA.
If this appeals to you, please contact me directly. I will bring your details to our next committee meeting for consideration.
Kind regards
Rodney Grocock
Communications and Recruitment Officer
Spalding Royal Naval Association
01775 713989 | rodney@rodneygrocock.co.uk