New President for SAMA

Lieutenant-General Sir James Dutton KCB CBE

Jim Dutton was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1972.  After standard junior officer appointments and three consecutive communication jobs (he was Signals Officer of 40 Commando on Op Corporate), interspersed with staff training, he commanded 40 Commando from 1996-8, deploying for extended exercises in South East Asia and South Africa.

On promotion to Brigadier he was appointed as Director NATO Policy in the MOD, responsible for NATO and Western European security policy.  Following this he attended the 2001 course at the Royal College of Defence Studies; after the terrorist attacks in the USA in September, he was sent to Washington DC as their Chief of Defence Staff’s liaison officer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon.

He commanded 3 Commando Brigade from July 2002 to May 2004.  2003 was dominated by operations in Iraq.  In 2004 he was promoted to Major General and appointed as Commander UK Amphibious Forces and Commandant General Royal Marines (CGRM).  He returned to Iraq in 2005 to command the Multinational Division (SE), based in Basra.  Handing over as CGRM in June 2006 he spent a short time as COS (Capability) in the Fleet HQ.  In February 2007 he was appointed as COS (Operations) in the UK’s Permanent Joint HQ.

Promoted to Lieutenant General in October 2008, he was appointed as Deputy Commander of the International Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan from November 2008 to November 2009.

Retiring from the Royal Marines in May 2010, he joined Bechtel (US engineering and construction firm) as the Operations Manager for their Infrastructure and Aviation business.

He was appointed CBE in late 2003 and KCB in the 2010 Birthday Honours.

He is married to Liz.  Their son is a serving Royal Marine officer and they also have a grown up daughter.

Remembrance Day, Sunday 13th November 2011

If you have not yet applied for your ticket to join SAMA in the parade at the Cenotaph this year, this is your last chance so get your application in NOW.

Send a stamped self-addressed envelope to the office, and, if you want to join everyone at The Feathers, after the parade for a ‘Bangers and Mash’ lunch include a cheque for £6.50.

Falkland Islands Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour

The 2011 awards of the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour recipients have been named by His Excellency the Governor, Mr Nigel Haywood, acting on the advice of the Executive Council.

Mrs Jan Miller is awarded for her work with the Scout Group, help in organising events, wreath making, and support given to visiting veterans and their families.

Many veterans will know Jan and her husband Tim and we all know of her hospitality and hard work.

SAMA 82 wishes to congratulate Jan on this award.

Pen y Fan Walk – Memorial Fundraising

IT HAS ARRIVED.  The walk is to take place this SATURDAY.  It starts at 10 am and is to be completed by 4.00 pm

If you can help out with bottles of water, chocolate bars etc please let us know and even if you cannot do the walk, then you can come and support those who are.

See you Saturday.

Money Advice Service

The Money Advice Service website provides information and guidance on various aspects of personal finance, including budgeting, managing family finances, planning for retirement and coping with the financial side of a divorce or separation.

There are also valuable resources such as a jargon buster which explains key terms in simple and clear language and free printed booklets on subjects such as redundancy, retirement, mortgages, equity release and many more.

For further information visit:  http://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk or telephone 0300 500 5000

‘Pension Liberation’ BEWARE

In recent months it has come to the attention of the Financial Services Authority and the Pensions Regulator that a number of companies are claiming to be able to release pension funds for members, contrary to the Government’s early access rules.

Known as ‘pension liberation’, methods of doing this vary, and include loans written to the scheme member, or the transfer of pension scheme funds into an alternative product which then releases money at a much earlier date than intended.

Both the TPR and the FSA have issued warnings about the danger of such action; both can be viewed on the website of the Pensions Advisory Service at http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk

Area Rep Wanted

SAMA82 is looking to recruit an Area Rep for Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight.

Our former Area Rep Robert Geddes has had to stand down due to increased work commitments, and we are looking for a member to take over.

This voluntary role will include liaising with members, as well as event management and organisation.

Please contact the office if you are able to assist with this or want further information.