The Royal British Legion The Royal County of Berkshire and Vale of White Horse COUNTY CIRCULAR JULY/AUGUST 2017 LEST WE FORGET Stan Bradford Former President of Abingdon Branch Our deepest sympathies go to his family and friends BRANCH SECRETARIES: Please bring these items to your members attention and display this circular where your members can read it. GP90 - THE BIGGEST MEMBERSHIP EVENT IN OUR HISTORY In August 2018, the Legion s membership every county, branch and standard will be asked to assemble for a Remembrance tour of The Somme and the Ypres Salient. For more information and to register your branch please visit: www.rbl.org.uk/gp90 (names of participants are not required at this stage) GREAT PILGRIMAGE GP90 FUNDING A financial process has been agreed to facilitate GP90 Comradeship Support Funding: the process by which wealthier branches can support less wealthy branches in order that they can attend GP90. The processes have been constructed in such a way as to enable us to stay compliant with Legion financial rules whilst providing the greatest possible flexibility and engagement at all levels. The GP90 Comradeship Support Funding process is enclosed. The deadline for applications to County will be 1 February 2018 in order for the county to consider the application and submit by the deadline of 1 st March 2018 with the last date for approval being 22 th March 2018. An application form for assistance with funding will be designed and sent out in the September circular. The application will include the following criteria to be considered and responses detailed: 1. Is the application supported by the relevant County/District (who) 2. Has the branch attempted to raise the funds by other means? (specify) 3. Has the branch engaged with their local community in support of GP90 (specify) 4. Is the branch seeking all or part of the funding (specify) Important Note Branches are reminded that funds derived from the sale of a BPT property or from rental income from a BPT property are restricted funds and cannot be used for this purpose. 1
BOARD OF TRUSTEES RESPONSES TO THE CHARTER MOTIONS AND MOTIONS CARRIED AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017 The Responses by the Board of Trustees to the Charter Motions and Motions carried at Annual Conference 2017 have been published and are enclosed. BRANCH SUBSCRIPTION AND JOINING FEES A reminder has been sent to Branches who have not responded and previously charged a branch fee. Details of fees should be sent to membershipservices@britishlegion.org.uk by the deadline of 5pm 14 July 2017. ANNUAL ACCOUNTS The accounting year has now closed and your accounts should be submitted. The timescale is from now until 30 September. However to give time to ensure details are at Head Office can you aim to have them in by mid-september. BRANCH COMPLIANCE We are also three months away from the end of the Legion year and your Branch AGM s will be due. There must be four separate people holding the main Officer roles of Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. The Committee needs to be a minimum of three separate people and there must be a named Branch Community Representative (formally Welfare Officer) who can be one of the committee members. POPPY APPEAL Members from the Poppy Appeal recently met with Aldi to discuss arrangements for 2017. They are very proactive and would like to be much more engaged with the RBL. From this meeting Aldi have agreed to count and bank for us during the Poppy Appeal this year so we add another supermarket to our list which is great news. BRANCH COMMUNITY SUPPORT Do you visit individuals in their own homes for a cuppa and a chat, preventing isolation and loneliness? Do you visit individuals in hospital following an operation or episode of ill health, providing an opportunity for them to talk and experience companionship? Do you make telephone calls to check on someone or just to see if they need something, if they do not have family close by or they are away? Do you provide bereavement support by sending a Standard Bearer and / or representation to an ex-service person s funeral? Does your Branch hold or attend coffee mornings, community fun days, BBQ s or fetes where you promote the good work of the Legion? All of the above falls under Branch Community Support (BCS) and we know that most of you already carry out some fantastic work, but we do not always get to hear about it. We encourage you to sign up for BCS, record what you do and then together we can raise the Legion s profile and help prevent social isolation and loneliness. Requests for reports for Quarter 2 have been sent to registered branches. It is of vital importance to the Legion to record what branches do, even it is sending a Standard Bearer to a funeral or spending some time with a lonely person. That action can mean so much to someone and for BCS, it all counts. There are now 10 Branches registered for BCS in Berkshire and the Vale. Branches who wish to register and have access to the RBL Office 365 site can register on the useful links page. Otherwise contact the MSO, email jstrange@britishlegion.org.uk 2
D DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE RAF HARWELL MEMORIAL STONE 3RD JUNE 2017 The inscription on the stone reads: "THIS STONE MARKS THE END OF THE RUNWAY FROM WHICH AIRCRAFT OF No. 38 GROUP ROYAL AIR FORCE TOOK OFF ON THE NIGHT OF 5 JUNE 1944 WITH TROOPS OF THE 6th AIRBORNE DIVISION WHO WERE AMONG THE FIRST BRITISH SOLDIERS TO LAND IN NORMANDY ON THE MAIN ASSAULT FOR THE LIBERATION OF EUROPE" This year s service was organised by Harwell Branch and Harwell Campus with Harwell and Chilton Churches. Wreaths were laid by Legion County, Branches and Veterans Organisations from across Berkshire and Oxfordshire and on behalf of the local communities and on site businesses, led by the Chair of the VOWH District Council. Cadets Didcot ATC Squadron formed a guard of honour and laid a wreath along with pupils of Chilton Primary school. 80.58 was collected for the Poppy Appeal. Harwell Branch thanks all who participated and helped make the day a success. LAMBOURN BRANCH COMMEMORATION FOR THE CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, ON 31 JULY 2017 8pm A poster is enclosed about the event Lambourn Branch is holding to mark the Centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele. The event starts at 8pm with an introduction and a brief roll call of those from the area who fought, fell in or survived the battle. The award winning author Sir Max Hastings will give a short informative talk about the Battle of Passchendaele. The evening will close with the Last Post and 2 minutes silence. Members from other Branches are most welcome to attend. WHITE HORSE SHOW SUNDAY 27 AND MONDAY 28 AUGUST, NEAR UFFINGTON. Standards Bearers are invited to attend the show on the Monday to take part in a parade and Act of Remembrance. Please contact the County Vice Chairman Andy Gale, Email andrew.gale10@btinternet.com Tel. 0118 376 9309 Show website: http://www.whitehorseshow.co.uk/ ALBERT HALL FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE 11 NOVEMBER 2017 Branches are reminded to send in a request for tickets to the MSO at the County Office. For tickets to the evening performance Members should apply to their Branch Secretary. No more than 2 tickets which will be issued on the understanding that they are for the member and a close family member or carer. Branches can bid for a maximum of four tickets for the evening performance and should complete the enclosed application and send with payment for the tickets requested, to the MSO at RBL County Office by 21 August 2017. Tickets are 10.00 each. Application form enclosed. The County is issued with a limited number of tickets to distribute to its Branches. If the requests exceed the number of tickets available then preference will be given to members who have not previously attended. Unsuccessful applicants will be refunded. Due to heightened security measures the Metropolitan Police will need to conduct individual security checks on all participants. Basic personal information will need to be provided in advance for each applicant. Identification will need to be presented on the day and full details will be advised with the tickets. The tickets will be sent direct to the member and not to the Branch Secretary. 3
BERKSHIRE POPPY LAUNCH AND ARMED FORCES RACEDAY 28 OCTOBER Newbury Racecourse is supporting the Berkshire Poppy Launch which is held during the Armed Forces Race day. There will be military theme to the day, a guest of honour to launch the appeal & two complimentary tickets for the race day for RBL members, serving and ex-service personnel. To order your two free tickets telephone the racecourse on 01635 40015 and quote your RBL membership number or military ID. COUNTY FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE 4 NOVEMBER 2017 The County Festival of Remembrance is on Saturday 4 November at Waingels College, Woodley. Tickets are 12.00 each. A poster will be sent out shortly and we ask Branches to advertise the event as much as possible to encourage their members to attend. COUNTY HANDBOOKS The 2017 Handbooks have been printed and at the County Office. Two handbooks will be posted to each Branch. If your branch requires additional copies please contact the MSO. MSO HOLIDAY Jennifer Strange will be on holiday in August from Friday 4 August returning to the office Monday 14 August. The Welfare Team will be at the County Office part time to check post and messages. Branch Enclosures GP90 Financial procedure Lambourn Passchendaele event Festival of Remembrance Albert Hall application Membership Support Officer: Jennifer Strange T: 0118 9762362 E: jstrange@britishlegion.org.uk Welfare Michael Lake Case Officer Ann Bethell & Victoria Gornall-King Advice & Information Officers T: 0808 8028080 E: Southeastmidlands@britishlegion.org.uk Knowledge base: http://support.britishlegion.org.uk/ Community Fundraiser: Gaynor Dingley Tel. 07823 418842 Email: gdingley@britishlegion.org.uk Regional Clubs Relationship Manager, Midlands Pauline Swann, T: 07970 375421 E: pswann@britishlegion.org.uk 4
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2017 July 31 Lambourn Branch commemoration Battle of Passchendaele 8pm Lambourn August 27/28 White Horse Show Fawler Road, Nr Uffington September 16/17 Berkshire County Show Newbury Showground October 28 Armed Forces Raceday & County Poppy Appeal Launch Newbury Racecourse Launch 11.45am tbc November 4 County Festival of Remembrance Waingels College, Woodley 7.00pm starts 7.30pm 11 Armistice Day Festival of Remembrance Royal Albert Hall 12 Remembrance Sunday Salvation Army Festival of Remembrance Anstey Road, Reading 6.15pm Dates of County Committee meetings held at 7.00pm at the County Office, Eversley Road, Arborfield. Reading RB2 9PR 20 July 21 September 16 November If members wish to attend please advise Jennifer Strange, Membership Support Officer (jstrange@britishlegion.org.uk)
Standard Bearer Training Training takes place at the Tilehurst RBL Club on the following Sundays and is for all standards of competency. July 9 and 23 August 6 and 20 September 3 and 17 October 1 Training sessions will commence at 11am and last for approximately 90 minutes. Dress is casual (uniform not required) but please wear shoes suitable for drill and not trainers. Remember to bring your standard, sling & gauntlets. In the meantime if any Standard Bearers require any guidance the Ceremonial Team are very happy to help. Please contact the County Ceremonial Officer, Mr Phil Shaw Tel. 07971 463653. Email; philshaw59@gmail.com