Yeovil
Yeovil branch of the Westland Retirement Association continues to enjoy a busy and varied programme of activities in this its 25th year. When plans for the formation of the Association were first announced there was strong and enthusiastic support from former employees at Yeovil.
The Yeovil Branch was formed after a packed meeting took place at the Westland Social Club attended by pensioners from Westland Engineers, Normalair-Garrett and Westland Helicopters.
The original Branch Secretary, Peggy Collie, reported at the inaugural AGM of the Association in November 1981 that the Branch had already formed three sections: social and travel, welfare and fund-raising. Trips to the Houses of Parliament and the QE2 and regular skittles evenings were planned. Visits to the sick and housebound were already being made by the welfare section.
By 1982 the Branch had already organised further trips to Falmouth for the start of the Tall Ships Race, a day out in Devon and a visit to the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge, as well as sending 300 members on the annual outing to Butlins at Minehead.
By 1984 so many members were attending the regular coffee mornings that half a dozen members of the Branch completed a first aid course so that they could cope with any emergency. With over 400 members regularly attending the events, the committee arranged for Georgina Hunt, Fred Heyworth, Renee Laird, Charlie and Neda Barnfield and Jack Tuck to attend the St John's Ambulance course.
The Branch supported the Westland Families Open Day in 1984 when a draw raised £50 which was given to the Company to donate to the charities they were supporting. The event itself raised £8,000.
Later the same year eight coachloads of Yeovil members went on the annual outing to Bournemouth and trips to Beaulieu, the Bath & West Show and London were also enjoyed.
In 1985 George Baynham retired as Chairman as he was by then living in Budleigh Salterton and found it difficult to attend meetings and functions. Local MP Paddy Ashdown and Yeovil's Mayor Councillor Joy Stanton were among the guests who attended the coffee mornings that year.
In 1987 there was an exhibition of photographs covering the history of Westland - there were around 300 photos and pictures. Harold Penrose, former test pilot for Westland for 20 years, and author of 14 aircraft books, donated personal pictures to the display. Yeovil Branch secretary Muriel Thorpe reported at the Association's AGMthat year on a busy and eventful programme of activities, the highlight of which had been the annual outing involving 350 members. The Branch's welfare section had made nearly 200 hospital visits during the year.
By the following year the number of welfare visits had topped 250 and the Branch had also raised nearly £200 for local charities. Tea dances, whist, bingo, keep fit and choir practices were among activities regularly taking place.
The branch's popular programme of trips and holidays grew more ambitious as the years passed with Yugoslavia and Portu¬gal featured in 1989 and 1990.
The welcome work of the welfare section continued to increase with the number of visits passing 350 during 1990.
In 1991 the 10th anniversary of the Association was celebrated with a group party at Yeovil. The President's wife, Margaret Rushworth, cut the cake. Doug Farge was
