Welcome to NARPO Colchester & North East Essex

Our Branch has both an active committee and an equally active programme. 10 Committee members meet on a quarterly basis and then take their discussions to the membership at a ‘Business’ meeting a week later.

Membership fees for the following year must be paid in advance by 28th December of the preceding year at the latest to ensure continuity.

Dickie Bird and Dave Rout as our two Welfare Officers are also part of the general committee and provide regular feedback on any member who may be in need of either assistance or just a little company from time to time.

Branch Meetings historically were held on the third Monday of each month however since moving to the Clacton Golf Club, West Road, Clacton on Sea, CO15 1AJ and retaining the start time of 11.00am, we are having to adjust the Monday date as necessary due to bookings from within the Golf Club. Reference should therefore be made to the section lower in this page for the latest information. By necessity meal orders must be placed with the bar before we commence a meeting, so please arrive from 10:30 onwards [not before] in order to place yours.

* The Golf Club also has a Dress Code that is basically “Smart Casual” and excludes frayed or designer ripped jeans, cargo shorts & trousers [i.e. those with the patch pockets], tee shirts however collared Polo shirts are fine. Additional to and specifically for motorcyclists, “Leathers” are not permitted in the clubhouse and alternative trousers and shoes should be changed into, in the men’s changing room. In a like manner, "Hoodies" were added to the banned list in October 2024.

Please see the map below in ‘Contact Us’ for the location detail.

Across the 12 months it is anticipated there would be four ‘Speaker’ meetings, three ‘Just Social’ and three ‘Business’ meetings, plus the AGM. After any meeting members can then enjoy a good meal, some more chat and also chance their luck in the raffle – which all goes to make for a good half-day out.

Following our AGM on Monday 17th March, our programme for the year 2025/26 is as follows: 

• Monday 14th April - Social meeting with a Quiz
• Monday 19th May - Speaker meeting: Norman Jacobs on 'Mods & Rockers, the '64 riot'
• Monday 23rd June - Business meeting
• Monday 14th July - Speaker meeting: Russell Webb on '30 years in London Fire Brigade'
• Monday 18th August - Lady of the Lee river trip with Afternoon Tea
• Monday 8th September - Business meeting
• Monday 20th October - Social meeting
• Monday 17th November - Speaker meeting: David Ennifer on 'Brother Harry and the English Shakers'
• Thursday 18th December from 12:00 midday - Christmas Social at Elmstead Community Centre
• The following dates are subject to confirmation
• Monday 19th January 2026 - Business Meeting
• Monday 16th February - Speaker meeting: Dave Webb on 'Foul murders of East Anglia'
• Monday 16th March - Annual General Meeting

We are always ready to welcome potential new members in the form of ex Police Officers from any Force, or the widows of ex officers, to join us for a “chat and a bite to eat” at any of our Golf Club based meetings.

Our ramble group normally meets on the first Tuesday of the month, starting and finishing at a public house where an after-walk meal can be enjoyed. Occasionally the day may have to be changed due to the availability of the intended pub having adjusted their trading days.

If you have never walked with the group before and would like details on how to join in, or where the next walk will be starting from, then please contact Steve Hunt via his email link below. For any walk, you would need to be at the start point by 10.15 - and for most venues - have pre-booked your meal with Shirley Carman if you wish to eat afterwards.

Please note that as this is not a NARPO recognised event and there is no Branch/National insurance cover for any incident that may occur.

Branch and Covid / Winter Flu etc: We would simply ask that if you feel unwell in the days leading up to a branch meeting, then please do not risk passing a potential infection on to other members as they might have an immune system with a lesser resistance to counter your infection. Please be ultra considerate and stay at home.

Follow the latest NHS advice on Covid of isolating for 5 days and hopefully having taken action, you will prevent the spread of any infection you may have.