The

Royal

British Legion

(Registered No. 219279 under the Charities Act 1960)

Garats HaY Branch

(BR 3502)

Branch Patron: Gen Sir Sam Cowan KCB CBE

Newsletter Number 17

September 2004

President:                 Colonel MK Hill

Chairman:                 Mr JA Clark          

Vice Chairperson:   Mrs JM Farrell

Secretary:                 Mr RJ White

Treasurer:                Mr JR Farrell

Web site: www.garatshay.org.uk

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

It does not seem like 5 minutes since I was asked to say a few words for this edition of our Newsletter.

Conference has come and gone once again.  As some of you may have seen on the website, Cathie and I attended as your delegates in Scarborough.  There will be a full report later on in this issue.  One notable event happened at the end of Conference – one of our Branch members, John Hawthornthwaite, was invested with the chains of National Chairman.  I have already sent him a letter of congratulations on your behalf. Next Conference will be held in Torquay, and because of the distance involved, Cathie and I will not be able to attend.  It is 1330 miles return!  So I am asking for volunteers for someone to go as our delegate(s).  It does not have to be a Committee member.  If you are able, please let me or the Secretary know.

Some of you may have heard rumours that we are to combine our Remembrance tide activities with that of the new Defence College Loughborough, situated at the old Garats Hay site.  I can assure you that Garats HaY Branch of The Royal British Legion will continue to hold our Service and Parade at St Mary’s in the Elms as long as they are able to accommodate us.  It may be that, in the future, we could hold a social event in conjunction with the College AFTER the parade, but that is something for the future.

Terry Whittles is to be congratulated for his sterling work with the National Branches.  For your information, a sixth National Branch, the All Arms Veterans Motorcycle Club, has just been formed.  We are in the throes of forming a District of National Branches, and Terry has been the leading light in this venture.  We shall be hearing more from him in the future.

Once again, an old chestnut – committee posts.  We are always on the lookout for new blood.  Last year we were fortunate in receiving two volunteers on the committee – Dave Street and Ted Roberts.  If anyone would like to fill one of the posts, just let the Secretary have your names.  It is not onerous work.  We have just had our first electronic committee meeting and it passed off successfully.  Please support us.

See you all at the AGM in November.

John Clark

SECRETARY’S CORNER

It did feel a little strange this year not to be organising a summer meeting, but life is such that we must adjust. Hopefully the attendance at our AGM and Remembrance Weekend will be a little higher, as it will now be the only chance for us to meet up together, formally and socially.

We still continue to increase in numbers, but unfortunately equally we continue to lose members. This is not by chosen resignation - a look at the “Last Post” will see our latest colleagues who have passed on to the Branch in the sky. Our thoughts are as always with their families and friends.

For those who keep an interest in Garats Hay and the old site adjacent to Beaumanor Hall, the building work continues at a pace. The new Sixth Form Defence College, Loughborough (as it will be known) is taking shape, and the build appears to be massively bigger than the old camp. This should be up and functioning by September 2005. It is hoped that some form of social get-together will take place, once everything is completed and the College is functioning. It has been mentioned that perhaps we could meet up together after our respective Remembrance Service. Theirs on the College Campus, and ours at St. Mary’s-in-the-Elms at Woodhouse. Maybe a Curry Lunch – who knows!!

Talking of Remembrance Weekend. This is now arranged for 13/14 November 2004. The timetable and locations is the same as for last year. Saturday 13^th will be at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel on High Street, Loughborough. Whilst the Committee will meet in the morning, your Annual General Meeting will commence at 1400 hrs in the Boardroom. This will be followed by our Annual Dinner in the evening, 1930 hrs for 2000 hrs. Sunday 14^th will see us move to St. Mary’s-in-the-Elms for our Remembrance Service, and I suggest we aim to arrive for around 1030 hrs.

It is my aim to organise a Sunday Lunch at the Quality Hotel, Ashby Road, Loughborough, 1230 hrs for 1300 hrs. These arrangements appeared to be very successful last year, so hopefully this year will be the same. Please complete the return slip at the end of the Newsletter and return to me by Monday 1^st November 2004.  

Members will be required to pay for the Annual Dinner and Sunday Lunch at the time. The cost of the Dinner has again been “pegged” back for us at £17.00 per person. Sunday Lunch will be between £8.00 to £10.00 for three courses.  A number of Rooms at the Ramada Jarvis have been reserved for us at a cost of £29.00 Bed and Full English Breakfast per person. These need to be booked early. Please quote “Garats Hay TRBL” when booking.

I do hope you will take the time to support your Branch and make this year’s AGM one to remember. Equally, should you wish, there are still vacancies on the Committee, and also a Branch Delegate(s) is required to attend TRBL National Conference at Torquay next year!!

So - take care and look after yourselves. Enjoy what is left of the summer, and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible over Remembrance Tide. God Bless.

Bob White

REPORT ON THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2004

HELD AT THE SPA COMPLEX, SOUTH BAY, SCARBOROUGH, 29 - 31 May 2004

 Our Delegates were John Clark (Chairman), Cathie Clark (Committee Member)   

  At the opening of Conference, 135 Standards were paraded. 

Elections

The following had been elected to National Council by their regions:

Note:  the venues for the following years are:

2005        Torquay
2006        Blackpool
2007        Bournemouth2008        Southport 

National President,  Lt Gen Sir Roderick Cordy-Simpson KBE, CB

The President gave details of the message that he had sent to H.M. The Queen on behalf of the Legion, and also the reply from Buckingham Palace.

Sir Roderick spoke about his disappointment in the decline in membership numbers and stated that we must stop this decline.  He did praise the work of the Associate members..  He also spoke of Gift Aid and the advantages to the legion.

He leaves us with two challenges:

The President received a Standing Ovation.

The Chairman started with instructions to delegates when he said that sometimes delegates represented Branches without these Branches being aware of the fact.  Measures had been taken to stop this.  It also appeared that County or other formations had told some delegates how to vote on Motions or Charter Motions.  This was contrary to democratic process and the only organisation to tell a delegate how to vote is the nominating Branch.  Should the delegate not follow these instructions and vote with his or her conscience, the delegate should explain later to the Branch. 

Mr Cannell had travelled extensively during the last year to places as far-flung as Burma and Libya.  He praised the volunteers for their sterling work.

Since 1997 the Legion has been involved in the National Curriculum in schools, and this should ensure that the youngsters of today were aware of the works of the Legion..  He gave a report on the current standing of the national Memorial Arboretum.

When talking about the future of HQ at Pall Mall, he said that there were two options - 1) Refurbish and move back from temporary premises or 2) Sell the present HQ and move into a new HQ.  The latter was the preferred option.

Because of it's importance, the Chairman stated his intention of proposing Charter Motion 4 himself.

The Bucket collection on behalf of the Poppy Appeal at last year's Conference realised the magnificent sum of £2289 including Gift Aid enhancements.

Peter Cleminson was elected as the new Vice Chairman.

Both gentlemen thanked conference for their support. 

 Secretary General - I G Townsend

The Secretary general presented the Corporate Plan and stated that the turnover for 2003 was £65.3 million, and that this figure places us in the top 25 of 180,000 charities.  At present there are 4328 Branches, including Women's Sections and Overseas Branches. 

General Treasurer - Mr J A Tedder

The Treasurer explained the 2003 Accounts, and one interesting fact came to light - 7½% of the net Poppy Appeal monies are paid to the Officers' Association under an agreement drawn up in 1921. 

National Chairman, Women's Section.

An address was made by Mrs Barbara Frankland, the newly appointed Chairman.

National Chairman, Royal British Legion (Scotland)

Mr Eric Munro, the newly appointed Nation Chairman of TRBL (Scotland) addressed Conference, shortly after having been elected National Chairman in Perth.

Dominion President, Royal Canadian Legion.

An address was given by Alan Parks from Prince Edward Island who had risen through the ranks to become the Dominion President on the death of his predecessor in 2002.    Mr Park is not an ex-Serviceman, and is the equivalent of our Associate Member.  The Royal Canadian Legion has approximately 400,000 Members.

CHARTER MOTIONS

(Charter Motions are worded to show all changes to all appropriate paragraphs in the Charter – most of these have been removed to save space)

1.   This Conference agrees that a new class of Membership be introduced for Ordinary and Associate Members to be known as "Members" and that the Rules be altered as set out in Addendum 1, notwithstanding that the Beneficiaries of the Legion shall remain the same as defined by Article 2 of the Royal Charter        

 3.      Page 13, Rule 44, delete “Chief Accountant” substitute “Director of Finance”.

             For 488; against 34   Carried

 4.   This Conference approves the proposed changes to the Royal Charter and Rules, arising from the Future Structure Group’s report dated        1^st February 2003, as set out in Addendum 2 to this Agenda.     

      For 422; against 101   ⅔ majority is 350   Carried 

5.     This Conference agrees that a new class of Membership be introduced to replace ‘Ordinary Members’ with a new class of member to be called a ‘Full Member’ and therefore approves the necessary changes to the Rules in the First Schedule to the Royal Charter:

MOTIONS

GROUP "A" - PENSIONS AND DISABLEMENT

The subject matter of motions marked * is already Legion policy

GROUP "B" - REMEMBRANCE, FUNDRAISING AND PUBLICITY

GROUP "C" - WELFARE AND RESETTLEMENT

GROUP "D" - GENERAL (INTERNAL)

GROUP "E" - GENERAL (EXTERNAL)

The Bucket Collection in aid of the Poppy Appeal this year amounted to £1915.79, being £1773.07 in cash and £509.70 to be received through Gift Aid donations. 

Cups and Awards were presented by the national President.  The winner of the Jellicoe Cup this year was Newton Stewart, Northern Ireland District. (Members should be aware that we were considered for this Cup this year).

The National Standard and National Junior Standard were presented to their new recipients.

Three cyclists arrived at Conference, having cycled from Bielefeld in Germany, and raising in excess of £3000.

Another cyclist, Jim Cottier, cycled from the Isle of Man to Conference, raising £1500.

Another stalwart of the Fundraising scene, Colin Northridge roller bladed from York to Scarborough, and raised £3000.

Ivan Glendinning, Chairman of Fundraising, gave details of the Poppy Appeal for 2003 as follows:

The National Vice Chairman gave thanks to all those who assisted Conference and said goodbye to various members, including our National President.