News & events

Porto Visit 22 March 2012

On 22 March, members of the Portugal Branch of the Royal British Legion held their committee meeting at the Yeatman Hotel, Porto, as guests of the local RBL Group Representative, Mr Adrian Bridge.

On completion of the meeting, the Branch Chairman Mr Desmond Briggs BEM, together with his wife Barbara, who is also the Branch Recruiting Coordinator and Membership Secretary, gave a thirty minute RBL presentation to over 40 expats, in the presence of the Branch President, HM Ambassador Jillian Gallard.  This was followed by a fund raising lunch, where Branch certificates were presented by HMA to Mrs Patricia Rowett and Mr Stewart Austin MBE, in recognition of their voluntary work over many years for the benefit of the RBL in general, the Portugal Branch and its members.  The two recipients were also presented with a specially labeled bottle of 20 year old port, kindly donated by Taylor's.  A branch certificate was also presented by the Branch President to the Fladgate Partnership in appreciation of all the support they have given to the Portugal Branch over many, many years.

Back L to R.  Adrian Bridge (Porto Rep); Alan Hyde (Corporate & Development); Mark Hanmer ( Training & Lisbon Rep); Des Briggs (Chairman); Stewart Austin (V. Chair & Treasurer); Peter Wilkinson (Welfare);

Front L to R. Nick Martin (Madeira Rep); Linda Hyde (PRO); HMA Jillian Gallard (Branch President); Barbara Briggs (Membership & Recruiting); Jacquie Collins (Branch Secretary); Sandra Wilkinson (Poppy Appeal Coordinator )

Better Living in Portugal exhibition October 2011

The Chairman and his wife open the RBL stand for annual BLiP exhibition.

19 October 2011 - Algarve Group remember the 1805 Battle of Trafalger at their monthly lunch.

All hands on deck to toast the Immortal Memory of Admiral Lord Nelson and all who fell with him. Celebrating the famous victory at Trafalgar on 21st October 1805.  Up spirits (Tot of rum) was followed by Nelson's prayer, a traditional lunch, signal readings from the battle itself and the reading of an eye witness account.

15 June ALGARVE GROUP CELEBRATES 90 Glorious Years of The Royal British Legion (1921- 2011) and we need your support more than ever!

The Royal British Legion celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2011 and as we remember a fine history of commitment and service to our armed forces, and their dependents, we are also trying to lay the groundwork for the next 90 years. We are probably best-known for our role as the nation's custodian of Remembrance and for the Poppy Appeal. But the Legion is not just about poppies in November, but caring for people all year round.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with all who serve, we need to be as relevant to our Armed Forces community in the future as we were in 1921, so in this 90^th year we are attempting to raise £90 million worldwide, mainly from small, individual donations.  We are also going to celebrate and groups within the Portugal Branch, from Madeira to Porto, are joining in the celebrations. The Algarve Group are holding a 90^th Anniversary Bar-B-Q at the Holiday Inn, Armação de Pêra on Wednesday 15^th June at 12.30. The ticket price, which includes wine and coffee, is €20. Everyone is welcome to join in with us and know that you are helping the RBL support those whose service for their country means that their own lives have changed forever.

Please telephone 919055959 for tickets to the Bar-B-Q.

To make a small donation to the Royal British Legion in the 90^th year please CLICK on "Poppy Appeal" for further details on how to do this.

Thank you for your support

2 June HMS PORTLAND Visits Lisbon

Branch members L-R Jo Allen, Robert Patten, Mark Hanmer, Pamela Patten in front of the ship´s Lynx helicopter

Six members of the Lisbon Group had the opportunity to visit HMS Portland during the ship´s brief informal visit in June.  HMS PORTLAND is a Type 23 Frigate which was launched in 1999.  She is the penultimate in the class of 15 ships.  Her complement is about 140 men and women, she is primarily an anti submarine frigate and armed with Tomohawk  anti ship missiles, sea wolf self defence missiles, and a Lynx anti submarine helicopter.  HMS PORTLAND was on her way back from a busy operational programme to her home base in Plymouth for a short stand down.

29 April 2011 - Algarve hold Royal Wedding Ball on behalf of the Poppy Appeal

Just a few hours after the Royal Couple tied the knot, the Royal British
Legion Portugal Branch (Algarve Group) celebrated the Royal Wedding in style
with a dinner dance at the Holiday in Algarve, Armacoa de Pera.  The British
Consul to the Algarve Mr Clive Jewell and the Vice Consul Mrs Angela
Morado, photographed below, together with nearly 90 members and guests were entertained by Ian and Karen Carfrae of "Nostalgia".  The Branch Chairman Mr Des Briggs BEM gave a speech and toasted the Royal Couple and Clive Jewell responded on behalf of HM Government and toasted her Majesty the Queen, the Patron of the Royal British
Legion. Various fund raising side shows took place and over €650 was raised for
this years Poppy Appeal and new members were recruited.

New Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Poppy Coordinator elected at Branch AGM.

On 24 November 2010 the Portugal Branch Annual General Meeting took place at the Holiday Inn Algarve.  The meeting was chaired for the last time by Cdr Ronald Goddard AFC RN (Ret'd) prior to the election of officers. Ron handed over to Mr Desmond Briggs BEM who stepped up from the position of Vice Chairman to Chairman. Also standing down was the Hon. Secretary Mr Paul Wigram who handed over this position to Mrs Jacquie Collins.  The position of Vice Chairman was filled by Lt Cdr Stewart Austin RN (Ret'd).  Also elected to the position of Portugal Branch Poppy Coordinator was Mrs Sandra Wilkinson.

Certificates of appreciation signed by Mr Eddie Hefferman, the overseas representative on the board of trustees, were presented to the two outgoing committee members.

Pictured from left to right; Mrs Jacquie Collins, Mr Paul Wigram, Cdr Ron Goddard and Mr Des Briggs.  The pair of legs underneath the Branch Standard belong to our Branch Standard Bearer, Mr Eddie de Bie.