The Royal British Legion
Watlington Branch
35 Chapel Street
Watlington
OX49 5QU
Tel: 01491-612288
e-mail: keredsiri@tiscali.co.uk
President: Brigadier J N B Mogg DL.
Chairman: R M D Stillwell Esq.
Hon Secretary: D Elliott Esq.
Hon Treasurer: G Preston Esq.
BRANCH NEWSLETTER APRIL 2008.
Dear Members
A very warm
welcome to the following new members who have recently joined us: Mr Peter
MacKinnon, Mr Haro Hodson, Mrs Julie Polkinghorne, and Mrs Anna Thomas. But
sadly we have to report the deaths of the following long serving members: Mrs
Joyce Bull who was one time secretary of the John Hampden Group and a regular
attendee at meetings, Mr Ivan Collins and Mr Arthur House, who both served in
the RAF, and Mr Fred Peacock who was with the RASC in the North African
campaign and who passed away recently at the grand age of 92. We also record
the passing on 12th April of Mr Fred Farley MM who was 93 and was
for many years County President, and well known to many of us. May they all
Rest in Peace.
Our Membership
currently stands at 227.
The final
figure for our Poppy Appeal collection last
year was £5960.00 which is another new record for the Branch and sets a new
target for the coming year. To say a sincere “Thank You” to helpers and
collectors the committee recently hosted a social evening at which the guest of
honour was the County President, David
Mason DL. Various awards were presented to collectors for long service to
the Appeal including four people who have been collecting for 35 years or more:
they are Mrs Doris Norcutt, Mrs Eileen Hopkins, Mrs Barbara Mullins and Mr
David Smith. Huge congratulations and thanks to them, and many thanks also to
all the other collectors and helpers. Without their efforts and those of
similar people up and down the country the Legion’s welfare work could not
continue at its present rate.
Branch meetings continue to be well supported
although there is always room for more people. Talks this year so far have
ranged from “Safer Driving for Older People” by a representative from the DVLA,
to “The Life & Times of Lord Nuffield” by Branch member Barry Thornton by
way of “A Snapshot of Modern Operations in Afghanistan” by another of our
members, Captain Alice Rawdon-Mogg who recently returned from a 6 month
deployment there with the Royal Engineers. All fascinating, interesting and
entertaining stuff.
In June we
shall be hearing about plans for the new Military Museum in Oxfordshire. And
hopefully in July Michael Walsh, the author of a book entitled Brothers in Arms will be visiting us. As
always everyone is welcome and meetings start at 8pm sharp on the first Tuesday
of every month.
Welfare as we all know, is the foundation stone of the
Legion’s very existence; and while our Caseworkers are kept busy with serious
cases, so too are our volunteer drivers of whom there are never enough. If you
can spare the time occasionally to run someone up to the surgery or to one of
the Oxford hospitals for an appointment please ring Eileen Hopkins on 612627
and let her know; a few more names on the very short list would be more than
welcome. And whilst on the subject of Welfare we take this opportunity to send
Good Wishes for a speedy return to health and home to Mrs Cecilia Leighton and
George Gale who at the time of writing are in hospital.
The 100th Anniversary of the TA will
be marked by a special Service of Commemoration in Christ Church Oxford on Saturday 26th April at
1400hrs. Local TA units and RBL Standards will participate in a Parade on the Broad
Walk after the Service. The general public will be welcome to attend the
Service and Parade, and the Cathedral will be open from 1330hrs.
The Armed Forces Veterans Badge scheme has
now been extended to include everyone who has ever served in the UK Armed
Forces. If you qualify and have not yet applied for yours you can do so by
visiting www.veterans-uk.info or by
phoning 0800 1692277, or you can contact the Branch Secretary.
The Legion’s newest
Poppy Break Centre in
Weston–super-Mare was opened recently by HRH The Duke of Kent. Poppy Breaks are
for serving and ex-Service people, their partners, dependants and carers who may
need a break for any one of many reasons such as coming to terms with bereavement,
recovery from an illness, or some other major life affecting event. Breaks are
for up to 2 weeks at minimal or no cost depending on assessment. More details
if required from the Secretary.
The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth will
be giving a concert at Reading Blue Coat School on Friday 16th May
at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £7.00 to £10.00 and all proceeds are in aid of
SSAFA. Further information if required can be obtained by phoning 0118 9335892.
Just for a Laugh: Going to bed the other night I
noticed people in my shed stealing things. I phoned the Police to report it
but was told no-one was in the area available to help; they said they
would send someone round as soon as
possible so I hung up. A few minutes later I rang again. “Hallo I said, I called you a
minute ago because there were burglars in my shed. You don’t have to hurry
now because I’ve shot them!” Within minutes there were half a
dozen Police cars outside my house, plus helicopters overhead and an armed
response unit. They caught the intruders red-handed. One of the officers said “I
thought you said you’d shot them?”. To which I replied “I thought you said
there was no one available!”.
Just for a
Laugh