THE SUFFOLK REGIMENT O.C.A. STOWMARKET  About Suffolk Old Comrades  2011. On the 4thJune some of our members and the standard went to support the Ipswich branch in a ceremony  for the dedication of their new Standard. Saturday 11th we went to the dedication of some new homes at Stanningfield then on the village green next to the war memorial a bench was dedicated in honour of L/Cpl Adam Drane. Sunday the 19th we went to  Bury St Edmunds for the rededication of the home for ex-servicemen at Minden Close and later to the abbey gardens (Rose Garden) for the unveiling of a memorial  to the Royal Anglian Regiment. The OCA standard was paraded with the RAFA and Royal British Legion standards as the AAC troops from Wattisham were warmly welcomed as they marched  through Stowmarket on the 20th. The 25th there was a church service for Armed forces/veterans day, afterwards we retired to the Royal British Legion club where there was entertainment and refreshments laid on. At our June meeting Jan Wright gave a very interesting talk about the Eureka stockade. The Eureka Rebellion of 1854 was an organised rebellion by gold miners which occurred at Eureka in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. On July 9th our annual outing was a trip to Cromer and was enjoyed by all of us who went. The Minden day parade at the Keep at Bury St Edmunds was on the 31st of July. There was a display of old military vehicles. The bands put on an enjoyable show and the beer tent was popular as usual. The museum was open and had a great many visitors. On the 3rd September the Royal British Legion at Stowmarket held an open day to mark the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion please we had a few visitors come along to meet us. There were members of other groups that meet at the Royal British Legion club. Check our memories page there are some interesting items including our latest memories from Roley Baker, an ex far east POW The Royal Anglian Re-Union day on September 11th was well attended and the meeting up with members of other branches was enjoyed by all. Some of our members and the standard took part in the Battle of Britain parade through Stowmarket on Sunday 18th September. Several of our members took advantage of an invitation to visit Wattisham Airfield on Sunday 25th. On arrival we went to the officers mess where we enjoyed a wonderful curry, after which we were shown around the Wattisham museum and then into one of the hangers for a guided tour of the apache helicopters We had our fish and chip supper on September 28th, some members of other branches joined us for an evening Quiz and chat. At our October meeting we had a slide show and talk about Afghanistan from before the present troubles. Some of our members attended the festival of remembrance at the regal on the 12th November and the remembrance day parade in the morning on the 13th at Stowmarket and in the afternoon at Pakenham. Our annual coffee morning on the 19th November has been a great success with many friends meeting up again. Vic Mayhew has shared some of his memories with us and are now on our members memories page. I would like to announce that 2 of our members are going to do a coast to coast sponsored walk, from St Bees head, in the lake district, to Robin Hood bay, on the Yorkshire coast. The walk will take place in May and the money raised will go to Walking Wounded (60%) and the Suffolk Old Comrades, Stowmarket Branch (40%). Anyone wishing to sponsor the walkers please contact mick@suffolkoldcomrades.co.uk or any other of our members on our contacts page Some of us joined Felixstowe and Ipswich branches on a very enjoyable tinsel and turkey break in Torquay. Our Christmas dinner was held on the 2nd December. We had some guests from other branches and enjoyed a wonderful meal and excellent entertainment   2012 On 6th January some of our members joined the Ipswich and district branch for their Christmas dinner. All agreed that it was great to have a wonderful meal and to relax with friends after the hectic Christmas break. At Our AGM on 25th January the OCA was presented with a cheque from the town council by the Mayor, Debbie Ball, and was accepted on our behalf by Major Cobbold (president) and Mr Brian Wright (secretary). The cheque was given to help with the welfare of our members and we would like to thank the town council for their generosity. We shall have a team representing our branch at this years Mayors Charity Quiz, which is on the 11th February