MESSAGE FROM THE BRANCH CHAIRMAN

Time for the Autumn edition of the Newsletter and we did enjoy the summer (briefly among the floods and rain).

Your committee and a few members enjoyed a pleasant day at the National Memorial Arboretum on 26 July.  It was a beautiful day and gave us an opportunity to see the new Armed Forces Memorial, which, at the time of writing this, has managed to reach the final in the National Lottery Awards in the Best Heritage Project Category.  We await the outcome.

You will see later in the Newsletter that it is time at the Annual General Meeting this year for certain Officers and Members of the Committee to stand for re-election.  I have to inform you that Cathie and I will not be standing again.  Cathie has done three years as a member, supporting me, and I will have completed 7 years in November.  I have enjoyed my tenure very much, and have seen a few changes.  I wish my successor as Chairman the best of luck and hope that he enjoys the support of the Committee and members as much as I did.  I shall be continuing my Legion duties at District level, at present as Chairman.  Thank you for your patience in the past.

 God bless you.  

John Clark

(John and Cathie are pictured on the front cover, relaxing in the sunshine at Alrewas.

They have worked hard for the Branch, and deserve a bit of a rest. I am sure I speak for you all when I say thank you for all you have done, and wish them good health and lots of luck for the future – Ed)

SECRETARY’S CORNER

 The Branch recently held a Committee and Social meeting at the National Memorial Arboretum located in Staffordshire.  Those who attended will, I’m sure, testify as to the impressive and fitting memorial to our colleagues and friends.

The Arboretum is now the home of the Armed Forces Memorial which was opened in October 2007.  It is a striking and emotive memorial that is quickly assuming national significance.  The Arboretum opened in 1997 and now houses over 130 memorials and some 5000 trees.  The grounds and memorials are maturing into a beautiful and poignant place that gives recognition and thanks for those who have died whilst on duty and acknowledges the enduring sacrifice of those who mourn their loss.  It was also very good to so many young people paying their respects.

This year’s Annual General Meeting will be held in the Ramada Hotel in the centre of Loughborough.  The Hotel has recently undergone a Million pound refurbishment and is now one of the top hotels in the town.  Over the weekend there are a number of activities to keep your partner occupied in the busy bustling town of Loughborough.  There is the Loughborough Fair that takes place over the weekend of 8/9 November, or just a stone’s throw from the hotel are a number of modern shops and cafes.  Or if you want something a little quieter there are the beautiful gardens surrounding the Carillon.

To ensure the Branch moves forward and continues its good work it needs to have strong and proactive Officers and Committee members.  Our Branch elects members to the position of Officer or Committee member for 3 years.  The Committee meets at least 4 times a year, presently twice electronically and twice by a physical meeting in or around the Loughborough area.  As you will see on the Notice Board, this year there are 12 positions up for re-election.  Some of the present Officers and Committee members are volunteering to stand again.

 The process for volunteering and voting for Officers and Committee members is:

• Positions available posted at least 21 days prior to AGM.  As above.
• Volunteer to me ASAP with a Proposer and Seconder.
• I will check for eligibility.
• 7 Days prior to AGM volunteers posted on the Notice board (web page) along with the Agenda.
• At AGM volunteers stand up and identify themselves, then either elected or not.

So if you feel you have something to offer the Branch and wish to volunteer for a position complete the form on page 2 and send it to me at :-

N Watton,14 Ordnance Road, Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot, OXON OX11 7EE

nigeclaire@hotmail.com Tel 01235 819728

Nige.

           Report on the Royal British Legion Annual Conference 2008

                                                        Southport

The 87^th Annual Conference was held on Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18th May at  the Southport Convention Centre, Merseyside.  This was the first ever two-day conference (down from three days previously) and was attended by nearly 430 branch delegates and nearly 50 county delegates – some 100 delegates fewer    than 2007.  Conference was chaired for the first time by Peter Cleminson, who      took over as National Chairman from John Hawthornthwaite last year.  The new Director General, Chris Simpkins, also made his first appearance at Conference and he reported that more than 40,000 people had been helped in the last year    and some £54 million had been spent on welfare services. 

The principal guest speaker was the Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne MP, who attended and addressed Conference on Saturday afternoon.  He applauded the Legion’s Honour the Covenant Campaign and stated that it was his job to make sure that service personnel and their families got the best possible support and that this was a priority in the Ministry of Defence. 

The venue for the 2012 Annual Conference was decided by delegates to be Scarborough after a very close vote – Scarborough      beat Torremolinos by an amazingly close 217 votes to 215.  Venues for the following years are:

2009  Eastbourne

2010  Isle of Man

2011  Telford

At the end of Conference Russell Thompson the Director of national Events and Fundraising announced the final total for the 2007 Poppy Appeal.  This was a record £29,733,317.65 and was some 15% higher than the previous record, 2006, which was just under £26 million.  Earlier, John Haggerty from JSSU(V) presented a cheque for £1,306.40 on behalf of the unit which went towards this   final total.

A full list of motions debated by delegates and what was decided follows.

Charter Motions

Charter Motion 1 – proposed by the Board of Trustees

Page 14, Rule 21, after “Life Members” insert “, as recorded on the national database at the date of receipt by the County/District of the application for delegate credentials,”.

Carried by 426 for, 17 against

Charter Motion 2 – proposed by the Board of Trustees

Page 3, Article 2, definition of National Officers, delete “Article 9 of the Charter” and insert “the Rules”.

Carried by 429 for, 7 against

Charter Motion 3 – proposed by the Board of Trustees

Page 9, Rule 1, after the definition of County or District insert a new definition; “Gender:  use of the male gender throughout the Rules and Governing Regulations includes the female gender.”

Page 18, Rule 48, first line, delete “or she”

Page 19, Governing Regulation 1, last line, delete “(or her)”

Page 21, Governing Regulation 9, third line, delete “(or she)”

Page 28, Governing Regulation 45, first line, delete “(or her)”

Page 28, Governing Regulation 46, first line, delete “(or she)”

Page 30, Governing Regulation 55, first line, delete “(or her)”

Page 33, Governing Regulation 78, second line, delete “(or she)”

Page 37, Governing Regulation 85(a), second line, delete “(or her)”, and “or she” in fourth and fifth lines.

Carried by 354 for, 75 against

Charter Motion 4 – proposed by the Board of Trustees

Page 17, Rule 41, delete in entirety and insert:

“41. The Board of Trustees pays, out of Legion funds, the expenses and salaries of Staff.”

Carried by 401 for, 26against

Charter Motion 5 – proposed by the Board of Trustees

Page 5, Article 4(g), delete in its entirety and insert:

 “(g) to give financial assistance to any charity or organisation in furtherance of the objects. Its use must be limited to those  objects;”.

Motion withdrawn

Charter Motion 6 - proposed by Greater Manchester County

1.  Rules of the RBL

Page 9: Rule 2(a) 

Following: “(iv) Youth Member”

Insert: “(v) Student Member”

Page 9: Rule 2(b)

Delete: “Rules 3 to 6”

Insert: “Rules 3 to 7”

Page 10, following Rule 6, insert:

“STUDENT MEMBERS

7. People eligible to be Student Members are aged over 18 but under 26, currently attending a full time educational course at a school,  college or university in the UK who accept and support the objects.”

Page 16, Rule 35, following “Youth Member” insert “and Student Member”.

Pages 10 to 18

Renumber “rules 7 to 51” to read “rules 8 to 52”

2. Governing Regulations.

Page 19: Governing Regulation 3(b)

Following: “Youth Member”

Insert: “or Student Member”

Page 28 Governing Regulation 45

Following: “Youth Member”

Insert: “and Student Member”.

Lost by 177 for, 253 against  – as this Charter Motion was lost, Motion 16, below, fell automatically.

Motions

Group “A” – Welfare (Internal)

Motion 1 – proposed by Bacton, Suffolk County

This Conference requests that the Board of Trustees takes action to provide a Poppy Break Centre in East Anglia.

Carried

Motion 2 – proposed by Cheam and Sutton, Surrey County

This Conference calls upon the Board of Trustees to negotiate the return of the Churchill Centre Aylesford for the treatment and rehabilitation of Service and ex-Service personnel and that accommodation at Aylesford village be made available in connection    with that service.

Carried

Group “B” – Welfare (External)

Motion 3 – proposed by Wombwell & District, South & West Yorkshire County

This Conference requests the Board of Trustees to make representation to HM Government to reduce the percentage rate from 40% to 20% when assessing applications for Lower Standard of Occupation (ALSO).

Carried

Motion 4 – proposed by Wombwell & District, South & West Yorkshire County

This Conference requests the Board of Trustees to make representation to HM Government to revert the percentage rate from 40%   to the 20% as it was, when assessing those in receipt of a War Pension for a Mobility Supplement.

Carried

Motion 5 – proposed by Lakenheath, Suffolk County

This Conference calls on the Board of Trustees to pressure HM Government to ensure that the Disabled Facilities Grant Scheme is adequately funded by local authorities and organised so as to allow veterans and their dependants to live independent lives in their own homes.

Carried

Motion 6 – proposed by Warwick County

This Conference requests the Legion to lobby Parliament to amend the ruling for travel and accommodation for families of injured personnel in hospital.

Carried

Motion 7 – proposed by Warwick County

This Conference views with concern any charitable need to be afforded to military patients at Selly Oak Hospital, whilst the Service man or woman is still serving in HM Forces.

Carried

Motion 8 – proposed by Paderborn, District Germany

This Conference urges the Board of Trustees to make representation to HM Government to request that full travel provision is     granted to Service personnel recruited from overseas when returning home on compassionate A & B status.

Carried

Motion 9 – proposed by Gloucester City, Gloucester County

This Conference deplores the actions of HM Government in discharging Service personnel who are suffering mental or physical incapacity brought about by military service.

Carried

Motion 10 – proposed by Gloucester City, Gloucester County

This Conference requests the Board of Trustees to ask HM Government to provide more resources for the rehabilitation of injured Service men and women and their families who warrant adequate care and support.

Carried

Motion 11 – proposed by Gloucester City, Gloucester County

This Conference considers that the terminology “Unfit for Service” is detrimental to the future career and aspirations of those discharged with mental or physical disability and asks that the MOD investigates the use of no-discriminatory terminology.

Carried

Group “C” – Remembrance, Fundraising and Publicity

Motion 12 – proposed by Finedon, Irthlingborough & District, Northants County

This Conference requests that the Board of Trustees asks HM Government to arrange that street closures for Remembrance Day Parades be granted in perpetuity and that local authorities ie Borough, District and County Councils under no circumstances be allowed to veto these parades.

Carried

Group “D” – General (Internal)

Motion 13 – proposed by Thatcham, Berkshire & Vale of White Horse County

This Conference urges the Board of Trustees to grant one year’s free membership of the Legion to all personnel from the day that they leave the Armed Services.

Lost

Motion 14 – proposed by High Ercall, Shropshire

This Conference requests that with effect from 1st October 2008 the affiliation fee for a new Member and a rejoining lapsed Member be raised to £15.00. If a new Member and rejoining lapsed Member pays by Direct Debit Subscription Payment, then a discounted fee of £11.00 would be payable.

Lost

Motion 15 – proposed by Dymchurch, Kent County; and Llay, North Wales District

This Conference urges the Board of Trustees to rescind permanently the instruction to Branches setting out the new Central Funding System.

Carried – as this motion was deemed by the Chair to be contentious it was decided by a card count rather than a show of ‘hands’.  It was passed by 296 votes for, 143 against.

Motion 16 – proposed by Manchester County

This Conference agrees that the affiliation fee for Student Members shall be set at the same rate as that of the Youth Members affiliation fee.

This motion fell automatically as a result of the loss of Charter Motion 6, above

Motion 17 – proposed by Northrop & District, North Wales District

This Conference agrees in principle that a new class of membership be introduced in the form of “Family Membership” to embrace families with children under the age of 16 years.

Lost

Motion 18 – proposed by Wiltshire

This Conference urges the Board of Trustees to consider changing the Legion’s financial year from 1st October until the 30th September, to 1st April until the 31st March.

Lost

Motion 19 – proposed by Clayton & Keymer, Sussex County

This Conference submits for consideration that the proposals set out in the LegionLetter Special Edition, October 2007, headed “Branch Funds - a letter from the National Chairman”, shall only become mandatory for Branches when agreed by delegates at    Annual Conference.

This motion fell automatically as a result of the carrying of Motion 15, above

Motion 20 – proposed by Northampton, Northampton County; and Wiltshire

This Conference requests that the Board of Trustees gives urgent consideration to the launching of a national recruitment campaign   in an effort to reverse the decline in membership.

Carried

Group “E” – General (External)

Motion 21 – proposed by Stowmarket & District, Suffolk County; and Ysceifiog, Nannerch & District, North Wales District

This Conference asks the Board of Trustees to approach H.M.  Government to grant a separate campaign medal, or a clasp to the Operational Service Medal of 1999, ‘Helmand’ or ‘South Afghanistan’, to all British Armed Forces who have served in these areas.

Lost

Motion 22 – proposed by Croydon, South East County

This Conference asks the Board of Trustees to approach HM Government to make November 11th Armed Forces Day and a Public Holiday.

Lost

(Many thanks to our Delegates, Martin and Linda Foster, for this comprehensive report on the proceedings – Ed)

MEMBERSHIP

Branch membership stands at 438.

We welcome the following new members :-

                                    Geoffrey Compton

                                    Darrell Middleton

                                    Lloyd and Jean Richards

Members - don’t forget to send changes of address etc to our Secretary – not other Departments of TRBL

                         REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND  8 / 9 NOVEMBER 2008

 The Annual General Meeting this year has reverted to the Ramada Hotel in the centre of Loughborough.  The Ramada hotel has recently undergone a million pound refurbishment, is looking absolutely fantastic and is now one of the top hotels in Loughborough.

Timetable of Events

Location

 The RAMADA Loughborough Hotel

22 High Street

Loughborough

Leicestershire

LE11 2QL

 Tel:      01509 233 222

Fax:    01509 264 664

Email: info@ramadaloughboroughhotel.com

Web:   www.ramadaloughboroughhotel.com

Rooms

 Double           - £75.00

Single             - £50.00

 20 rooms have been reserved (15 Doubles, 5 Singles).  If you wish to stay at the Ramada please book direct at the address above   by Saturday 11 October 08 quoting “WATT1”.

Committee Meeting

 The Committee meeting will commence at 1100hours, followed by Lunch between 1300 – 1400 hours.

 AGM

 The AGM is scheduled between 1400 – 1600 hours.  We will then need to vacate the room so that it can be made ready for our Annual Dinner.

 Annual Dinner

 The Annual Dinner will be held in a private room in the Ramada Hotel.  The Dinner will consist of a 3 course meal costing £25.00     per person.  

 Cheques for the Dinner will be required prior to the date, and should be made payable to Mr N WATTON.   Cheques along with the completed menu selection (See end of article for this - webmaster) should be returned to the following by Fri 10 Oct 08:

 Mr N Watton

14 Ordnance Road

Vauxhall Barracks

Didcot

OXON

OX11 7EE

 Raffle

 During the Dinner last year there was a small Raffle and Dutch Auction of Champagnes and Wines.  Not only did this prove to be a very entertaining and fun part of the evening (Thank you John Neal) it also had the added benefit of raising just under £150 for the Poppy Appeal.  There will be another Raffle this year so please bring along your loose change and let us try and beat last years total.

 Remembrance Service

On the Sunday the Branch Remembrance Service and Parade will be held at St Mary’s –in-the-Elms, Woodhouse, Leicestershire. Please be seated in the Church by 1030 hours.

(Slight amendment to the printed Newsletter.  The Parish Council has offered us the use of the new Church Hall at Woodhouse Eaves for coffee after the Service, at a small cost.  Our thanks to them for this - Webmaster)

Following the Service, Sunday Lunch has again been booked at The Quality Hotel commencing at 1230 hours. The three course Lunch costing £9.95 per person, payable on the day (£4.50 per child – there is a children’s menu if they do not wish the Carvery).

 Please come along and make the weekend a success.  If you have any questions or comments reference the Weekend please do   not hesitate to contact me on:

 01235 513688 Work

01235 51 Home

nigeclaire@hotmail.com

 Many thanks and I look forward to seeing you all. 

 NIGE WATTON

LMS 45504 “Royal Signals”

This 80 ton 4-6-0 locomotive was one of 52 “Patriot” Class engines.

She was built at Crewe in 1932, and taken out of service and scrapped in 1962.

BRANCH SUMMER MEETING

Our meeting took place at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, on Saturday 26^th July. Your Committee and the grand total of four* members turned up. It was a blazing hot day, and after the Committee Meeting we enjoyed lunch and a pleasant day visiting the various memorials.

*(When the possibility of a Summer meeting at this wonderful place was mooted at the last AGM, a veritable forest of hands went up to indicate a considerable level of interest! Where did you all get to?  – Ed)

Tom and Helen Neal at the “Y” Memorial

LANGELEBEN REUNION

Their Committee has now agreed with the local German Authorities for a memorial to be placed close to the old Campsite. The Committee have appealed to their members for donations.

The stone will bear bronze plaques with the following in English and German – “Dedicated to the British soldiers stationed at the Langeleben camp between 1951 and 1992 and the people of Konigslutter am Elm marking the enduring friendship between them.”

Carved in the stone, again in both languages, will be the words “We came as youths in an uncertain world and left older and wiser in peace and friendship in a world full of hope”

It will be dedicated during their 2009 reunion, which will take place in Konigslutter from 10^th – 17^th June.

JSSU (V) at RAF DIGBY

The unit raised £1306.40 for the Poppy Appeal. A cheque for this amount was handed over at the Annual Conference

Well done all.

Tel (S) 1942 – 45 Association

One of a pair of silver candlesticks which adorn the Chapel altar at the NMA, donated by the Association.

MEMORY LANE

Josephine May sent me this picture of The Mount, Barrow-on-Soar, where she was billeted during her Beaumanor service in WW2

She revisited the place during her 2004 reunion, and was actually invited in for a guided tour!

The owner provided tea & biscuits, and said she had no idea about the wartime “occupation” – she was delighted Jo had rung the bell.

                            Jo with Hazel, Grace and Marge at the Jarvis, 2004.

TP Ops at

Beaumanor 1943

(Awaiting Visit of Princess Royal)

Branch Member Ruth Martin, as you can see from these pics, spent three months slogging from one end of Britain to the other to raise funds for Kidney Wales Foundation.

The 90 days took in various Long Distance Footpaths – SW Coastal Path, Severn Way, Staffordshire Way, The Limestone Trail, the whole Pennine Way, Southern Upland Way, West Highland Way, and the Great Glen Way in full.

Ruth has raised over £3000 so far, but her target is £5000! So if you haven’t yet donated, it’s not too late - just go to her website for more information :

www.Ruthswalk.co.uk

Congratulations, Ruth, on such a fantastic achievement.

ROYAL SIGNALS ASSOCIATION

RSA have erected this Memorial, in the form of a full size “Jimmy” on a plinth, at the National Memorial Arboretum.

FROM THE EDITOR

This is my last Newsletter. I’ve enjoyed my time as editor, and would like to thank all who have contributed and helped me in so many ways. I’ll be staying in touch with the many friends I have made through the Newsletter.

Hope you will continue to support the new Editor, who takes over from me in November.

 Skip

(I should like to add my own thanks, and, on your behalf, yours, to Skip for all his patience and skill in producing our Newsletters over the last few years.  I know exactly some of the problems he had in trying to extract articles and information from everyone, including myself.  Our thanks must also go to Pat, his wife, who worked effortlessly in the background, helping Skip.  Many thanks to you both.

John Clark, Chairman)

 BOOK CHOICE

A lovely little book that will strike a few chords with many of you…………

Basic Training at Vimy and Baghdad Lines at Catterick, Jankers, Posting to Gloucester, demob, TA etc etc

I found the book on ebay, but you can buy it direct from the author (with a free dedication) –

Mr L Samuels

20 Richmond Close

Whitefield,

MANCHESTER M45 7PW

Price £9.99 plus P&p £1.80

Military Intelligence Museum

Donations

Many thanks to Peggy Johnson, of Fleggburgh, Gt Yarmouth, for her kind donation towards our expenses.

LETTERS

Joan Nicholls has passed on to me a letter from her friend Kay Wingate, who recently visited the Arboretum:-

            “Just recently I had the opportunity to visit the Arboretum, where about 9 years ago I was one of many to plant a Yew tree on   the Y Plot. Considering it was just a wide open field when we planted it, it didn’t take me too long to find the spot. What a beautiful place the Arboretum is now. It was a lovely sunny day and everywhere looked sparkling – especially the memorial which the Queen had recently opened.

            Our particular plot looked a bit sad, I thought, especially the “Y” which was a little overgrown with weeds. The Yew trees looked to be growing very well and bushy and the Lime tree was certainly looking very healthy. The four bench seats were still in place, but    the edging round the base of the plaque was crumbling.

            You would be very pleased to know that the driver of the  little train that goes around the area (worth every penny of the £2 fare) gave a very good commentary when he came to our plot, explaining how “Y” outstations intercepted German messages   and passed them on to Bletchley for decoding. It was very informative and thought you would like to know that I had been. I must congratulate you, Joan, on your forethought in 1996 at being one of the first organisations to plant a tree and also organise our dedication. It really is a beautiful place and seems to be very well cared for overall. Went to the service in the chapel too at 11am, very moving”

(Glad to report that when we visited in July the paths had been treated with weedkiller and topped up with material. The grass had been mown, and all was looking good apart from a few blemishes which are being dealt with - Ed)

THE ARMED FORCES MEMORIAL

Dedicated by Her Majesty the Queen

In October last year, this new memorial at the NMA commemorates the 16,000 service personnel killed serving their country since the end of WW2.

Costing £7 million, it was designed by architect Liam O’Connor. The bronze sculptures were made by Ian Rank-Broadley. The     names of the dead, which include members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Merchant Navy killed in conflict zones while in direct support of the Armed Forces, are carved in chronological order on the Portland stone walls.

The carefully placed slit in the south wall allows a beam of sunlight to shine across the central plaque at exactly 11am on November 11th

Each year, more names will be carved into the stone walls.

LAST POST         We are sad to have learned of the death of Vic Outen.            Our thoughts are with his family

HELP FOR HEROES

The charity Help for Heroes was founded to provide practical and direct support to the men and women of our armed forces wounded in the service of our country. A former police inspector, Ian Patterson, and his son John, a former member of the Armed Forces are selling two books to raise funds for the charity. The books, The   Thick Blue Line and The Thick Red Line recount humerous police and army stories, and are being sold on website www.forcesgonemad.co.uk  They can also be contacted by mail at 3 Pool Rd, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4BG

The books are priced at £8.99, and for each copy sold £3 is donated to the charity.

 Production has started on similar books about the RAF, Navy, School Teachers, Driving Instructors, The Church, Australia and Fishermen. They will be pleased to receive any contributions.

Harry Fensom with Colossus at Bletchley Park. Harry was involved in building the original machine, and in the rebuild. In between he was part of the team which created  “Ernie”              

(Photo courtesy of Josephine May)

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