By Paul Jobling
Some may be aware, RMA Deal has an Air BnB accommodation on the top floor of their building and it is available to book for anyone at all! It used to be the living accommodation for staff at the RMA but in recent years it has become a real gem of a location to stay for a nice break in Deal.
This is exactly what Jenny and I did a few weeks ago in the eye of “Storm Ciaran” Having made the booking some time ago we travelled from Poole despite the dire warnings NOT to travel to the south east coast!
Arriving in one piece we were met by Anita Lignum the Branch Chairman of RMA
Deal and shown around our accommodation. Two bedrooms, a large lounge and dining area overlooking the sea and of course the “Memorial Bandstand” (Built in memory of those 11 killed and 21 injured in the Deal bombing of 1989) there is also a magnificent kitchen with all the facilities to prepare a Christmas feast!
For our evening meal we got fish and chips from the chippie next door to the RMA and hunkered down for a cosy night in. The next day – a Friday – we got up to glorious sunshine and a calm, if not windswept Deal. We spent the day walking along the sea-front into town for a mooch around the shops and then back to the RMA for lunch with the members at the weekly Friday luncheon club. We were fortunate enough to bump into Archie Houston a former Chairman of RMA Deal. It was fascinating to hear and understand the way RMA Deal has developed over the years and the secret of its success.
On Saturday, before heading home we met RMA Secretary Bob Guest. He was prepping the “Gibraltar Room” for a private function. We were able to see all the mementos and gifts on display including a 41 Plaque from the Korea era which our Chairman David Sippitt purchased from our memorabilia collection and gifted to Deal RMA, which was presented to them by me on the weekend of the 41 Commando Reunion as Dave had just come out of hospital and was not well enough to travel. It was nice to see it proudly displayed in a section dedicated to 41 Commando Royal Marines. (Thanks to Mick St Pier RMA Deal)
This was a great couple of days, we were very well looked after and everyone we met was very friendly and pleased to see us. Jenny and I would heartily recommend others to enjoy staying in the Bandstand during a break in Deal. There is a 20% discount for veterans and all emergency services and a discount of 10% for all RMA Deal Social Club members. I also collected our RMA Poole copy of the Photographic History of RM Deal so if any members wish to borrow this please let me know.
Paul & Jenny Jobling
Good to know, thanks Paul. Best to Jenny. 🙂