Branch Events
Totton and Eling Armistice Day and
Remembrance
Following a contact with Eling Infants School the Totton and Eling
Branch invited year 2 (6-7 year olds) to attend our Armistice Day
Service at the War Memorial. The Branch Standard Bearer spoke
to all the children and explained what the various parts of the
Standard represented and the Branch President spoke about the
reasons for Armistice Day and the role of the Royal British
Legion. The Teachers were given some booklets which contain a
potted history of both the RBL and the origins of the Poppy
Appeal. Also included in the booklet are various poems about
poppies and the poppy appeal and the poem "Helmand" written by
Ex-RAF Squadron Leader John Hawkmead drawing a distinction
between poppies for Remembrance and poppies for opium.
The children wrote some very nice letters to the Branch which are
currently displayed in the Hall and will make their way into the
Archives of the Branch.
Remembrance
Day saw the biggest crowd both lining the route of the march and at
the War Memorial that has ever been seen. A member of the
public estimated that, altogether, as many 2,000 people were
present. In the evening a number of Branch members, including the
Standard and Union Flag bearers, attended and participated in a
concert and Service of Remembrance held in the Community Centre,
Lyndhurst, organised by Mrs Sally Arnold who has since presented
the Branch with cheques totalling £290.90p for this year's Poppy
Appeal. A Certificate of Appreciation was presented by the
Branch Standard Bearer, acting for the Branch President, to Mrs
Sally Arnold during the concert for the fantastic donation of
£2,900 made to the Branch following the Ashurst Village Fete.
The members of Totton and
Eling can thoroughly recommend the Lyndhurst Remembrance Concert
which next year will be held on Sunday 11th November and
once again the music will be provided by "OceanBrass".
Tickets will be available from September 2012.
Cream Tea
Lady Jane Dalton of Lovedean and Horndean Branch had a Great
Poppy Party Cream Tea on Sunday 12th June, in spite of the rain and
terrible weather, raising an amazing £564
Hartley Wintney Village Festival 11th June 2011
Hartley Wintney Branch had a very successful Pimms stall at
the village festival, raising £1174 for the Poppy Appeal.
100 Years of Collecting
Waterlooville Collectors, Eileen Stoat and Barbara Watkinson,
who jointly have collected for the Poppy Appeal for more than 100
years, enjoy a sit down after their Poppy Appeal Awards had been
presented.
