The Royal Signals Association Darlington Branch - The First 80 Years
The Branch was first formed in 1936 but for various reasons little is known of the history before WWII. As a result of a letter to the Northern Echo by Lt Col WA Lee, R. Signals a meeting was held at the Imperial Hotel Darlington on 23rd October 1945 with the object of re-forming a branch of the Old Comrades Association. Chaired by Brigadier TTJ Sheffield TD ADC it was attended by 43 members or ex-members of the Royal Signals.
A temporary Committee was voted in as follows:
Chairman: LtCol WA Lee R.Signals
Secretary: Capt EN Atkinson R.Signals
Treasurer: Mr RE Cobbing
The Committee was to obtain the necessary information with regard to the formation of a Branch and to arrange a further meeting in December 1945.
Meeting held on 10th December 1945 at the British Legion Club
Chaired by Brigadier TTJ Sheffield TD ADC in the absence, through hospitalisation, of the Branch Chairman Lt Col WA Lee R.Signals.
In accordance with Rule 2 of Rules for a Local Branch of the Old Comrades of the Signals Association, it was agreed that the occupants of Secretary and Treasurer be reversed:
- i.e. Hon Treasurer now to be Capt EN Atkinson R.Signals
- Hon Secretary now to be Mr RE Cobbing
Efforts to be made to place adverts in the NAAFI Club Darlington, Cinemas and in the Daily Orders of the 1st Signals Training Centre, Catterick Camp.
It appears that informal meetings of members were held twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, Committee meetings held monthly and General Meetings quarterly.
In January 1946 it is noted that Lt Col WA Lee R.Signals is now shown as OBE.
In December 1946, the venue for the meetings changed to the Waterloo Hotel and it was voted on 5th December 1946 that in future the Waterloo Hotel be referred to as RHQ.
It was also announced that:
- An AGM of the Royal Signals Association will be held at Catterick Camp on 22nd June 1947 and as many members as possible to attend.
- A Meeting of Honorary Secretaries to be held in London on 2nd or 9th April 1947.
Announced in June 1947
That the Drill Hall, Larchfield Street, would shortly be available for the Branch to use as HQ.
That only 7 members attended the Old Comrades Association Reunion at Catterick on 22nd June 1947 which was recorded as a most enjoyable day.
August 1947
The Drill Hall of 50(N) Div Sig Regt (TA) was offered for meetings and social events by LtCol WA Lee OBE R.Signals now 2IC 50(N) Div Sig Regt (TA).
Committee Meeting 29th October 1947
Noted that the Chairman was now Major WA Lee OBE R.Signals. It is noted that the Social Committee also holds meetings.
Meeting June 1950
The Chairman is now LtCol WA Lee OBE R.Signals Commanding Officer 50 Inf Div Sigs (TA)
Meeting 19th January 1951
Chairman: Major FF Ellis MBE R.Signals
Secretary: Mr L Burnside
Meeting February 1951
Financial concern, £3 in cash, £20 outstanding in loans. A proposed Social and Dinner should be changed to a Social, for which no charge should be made as raffle should defray expenses, but the Dinner should be quashed.
Meeting 25th May 1951
Secretary now Mr GE Dean MM.
There is an unexplained gap of minutes between 29th September 1951 and 4th November 1954 when a meeting was held to “carry on the Branch”. This was carried unanimously, and a new Committee elected.
Meeting December 1954
That a Bank Account be opened.
Meeting 24th February 1955
Brigadier H Firth, General Secretary of the Royal Signals Association in attendance.
Committee of the Darlington Branch is now:
Chairman: Col WA Lee OBE
Secretary: Mr GE Dean MM
Treasurer: Mr W Rawson
Branch funds £8.12.3. Cost of Branch Standard £14.18.0. Proposed payment on delivery will be an initial £5.
It now appears that Branch meetings are held every month with the exception of each February when the Annual General Meeting is held.
Annual General Meeting February 1967
It was announced that this would be the last meeting at the TA Centre, Larchfield Street. Enquiries would be made into the possibility of meeting at the new TA&VR Drill Hall, Neasham Road, Darlington.
This enquiry was successful and the first Branch meeting took place on 6th April 1967, after meeting at the old venue for 20 years. Meetings still continue to be held at the TA Centre 44 years on. The attendance numbers have varied alarmingly over the years from as low as 7 (including the Committee) to as high as the mid-30s.There is no apparent reason for these fluctuations.
Presidents
The first evidence of an appointment of a President is in the minutes of February 1993. LtCol E. Thompson filled this appointment until his death on 6th October 1995.
The position remained vacant, due to the Association Rules at that time, until November 2000 when Major (TOT) R. Todd agreed to accept the appointment. He served until February 2009 when he had to resign due to ill health.
Mr C. Cooke was then elected President of the Branch and served until 2014 when he resigned due to ill health.
In 2014, Mr R Botham stood down as Chairman and was elected as President of the Branch and served until his death on 3rd April 2021.
At a Branch Meeting on 19th August 2021, the Members elected Capt R Jeffery as President and agreed to delete the position of Vice President from the Committee.
Vice Presidents
At the Branch AGM in February 2016, the Branch approved a new position of Vice President and Capt R Jeffery accepted the appointment following his standing down as Branch Secretary. The position of Vice President was deleted from the Committee in August 2021 and Capt R Jeffery was elected as Branch President.
Chairman
1945 - Brig TTJ Sheffield TD ADC
Oct 1945 - LtCol WA Lee R.Signals
Jun 1950 - Capt (then Maj) FF Ellis MBE
Nov 1954 - Col WA Lee OBE
Jan 1963 - Capt TA Jacks R.Signals
Feb 1969 - Mr H Whitfield
Feb 1972 - Mr A Stenning
Feb 1974 - Mr GE Dean MM
Feb 1976 - Mr AET Bosten
Feb 1978 - Maj A Stirk R.Signals
Feb 1987 - Capt T Cushen R.Signals
Nov 2000 - Mr R Botham
Feb 2014 - Mr B McSherry
Feb 2017 - Mr D Courtenay
Feb 2019 - Mr B Paton
Vice Chairman
In 1956 the Branch Committee decided to appoint a Vice Chairman and the first appointed was:
Sep 1956 - Capt TA Jacks R Signals.
Jan 1963 - Mr R Mellis.
Feb 1974 - Mr C Cooke.
Oct 1975 - Mr WA Bennett.
Feb 1977 - Capt T Cushen R Signals.
Feb 1987 - Mr W Munro.
Feb 1992 - Mr F Sampson.
Feb 1997 - Mr D Rees.
Feb 2004 - Mr B McSherry.
Jun 2006 - Mr V Forsythe.
Feb 2015 - Maj PA Buckley R Signals.
Secretaries
Oct 1945 - Capt EN Atkinson R.Signals.
Dec 1945 - Mr RE Cobbing.
May 1949 - Mr WJ Evans.
Jun 1950 - Mr L Burnside.
Oct 1956 - Mr GE Dean MM.
Feb 1973 - Mr WA Bennett.
Oct 1975 - Mr C Cooke.
Mar 2005 - Lt ST Wise R.Signals.
Oct 2007 - Capt R Jeffery RAMC (V).
Feb 2016 - Mrs J Fletcher.
Treasurers
Oct 1945 - Mr RE Cobbing.
Dec 1945 - Capt EN Atkinson R.Signals.
Nov 1954 - Capt J Rawson R.Signals.
Feb 1966 - Mr F Green.
Feb 1970 - Mr JA Dobson.
Feb 2000 - Mr J Meaney.
Jan 2003 - Mr E Morton.
Jun 2006 - Mr B McSherry.
Feb 2012 - Mr T Thorp.
Feb 2018 - Mr J Arkley.
Notable Members
Colonel Sir WA LEE Kt OBE TD DL - Former High Sheriff of Durham, Chairman of the Northern Regional Health Authority, President of SSAFA Darlington, Commander of 4 Corps Signals and 50(Northumbrian) Div Sig Regt (TA).
Mr George Dean MM - As a Signalman serving with 50 Div during WWII he was awarded the Military Medal for action as a Regimental Runner in the run-up to Dunkirk. He served as Chairman of the Branch for 2 years and as Secretary for 17 years.
Mr Jack Dobson - He served as a Corporal in WWII and saw action in Italy at Monte Cassino. After joining the Branch in 1945 and serving on various committees he became Branch Treasurer from 1970 to 2000 a total of 30 years. For giving such outstanding service to the Branch and the RSA he was awarded Honour Membership in April 2000. Jack was 94 in October 2011 and although he is now unable to attend regular Branch Meetings he was enthusiastically applauded when he was able to attend the 75th Anniversary Dinner.
Mr Cyril Cooke - Past Branch President, was awarded Honour Membership for his 30 years service as Branch Secretary and enthusiastic involvement in all aspects of the Branch and the Royal Signals Association.
Mr Fred Alexander BEM - A former member of the White Helmets, he was awarded Honour Membership for his work as the Branch Visiting (Welfare) officer, regularly visiting members having difficulties through illness and disabilities and for his organisation of the Branch’s contribution to the Annual Poppy Appeal which, under his leadership, has increased the collections year on year. The amount of the collections in 2010 being in excess of £9300.
Charities
In 2008 it was decided that the Branch would support a charity each year, starting with Help the Heroes in 2009, and the sum of £1,203 was raised. The following years achieved these results:
2010 - Great North Air Ambulance - £700.
2011 - Macmillan Cancer Support - £700.
2012 - Star & Garter - £500
2013 - Butterwick Childrens Hospice - £600.
2014 - British Heart Foundation - £600.
2015 - Gurkha Welfare Trust - £600
2016 - ABF The Soldiers Charity - £600
2017 - The Not Forgotten Association - £500
2018 – NSPCC - £350
Celebrating Milestones
On 2nd July 2011, a formal dinner was held in the TA Centre Neasham Road to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Branch. In attendance were over 120 members and ex-members of the Royal Signals and their partners.
The Worshipful the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Lee Vasey and her Escort, Councillor John Vasey, together with the Representative Colonel Commandant and former Signal Officer in Chief, Brigadier John Thomas MBE and his wife Janet were invited as guests.
After dinner, the Chairman gave a short history of the Branch and concluded by presenting the Mayor with a Corps Plaque.
The Mayor responded with her thanks and a short speech, ending with her presenting the Branch with a Ships Decanter on an inscribed wooden base, which was warmly received by the Chairman.
The Brigadier then followed with a brief resume of the state of the Corps and took great delight in being asked to present a 75-year pennant to be displayed with our Branch Standard. He was ably assisted by founder member Jack Dobson to tie the pennant on to the top of the Standard.
The Branch President was invited to “cut the cake” and then light music was played in the background as the evening slowly wound down over “happy memory” discussions.
From its humble beginnings the Darlington Branch of the Royal Signals Association is now a thriving and vibrant concern looking forward to supporting its members and other ex-R Signals, and continuing its involvement in local events such as the Armed Forces Week, the Annual Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Day.
