Warwickshire County Newsletter
Branch Annual Returns
You will also see on the letter issued to Treasurer’s that Branches need not wait for their AGM to be held before submitting copies of their accounts to Head Office and County secretary. Once the accounts have been approved by the Branch Committee and either audited or examined by an appropriate person, copies should be forwarded as soon as possible to Head Office and County Secretary.
Any Branch who is unable to meet the above deadline is to contact the County Secretary.
The County Secretary is a Legion Trained Independent Examiners and is more than happy to assist Branches by carrying out the examination. The Branch Treasurer should contact the County Secretary as soon as possible when the accounts are ready for examination in order to agree a date. The examination will be completed within 2 days.
Branch Annual Returns
The Branch Information Form must be completed as soon as possible following the Branch AGM and sent to the County Secretary by no later than 31st December. Late submissions of MS1 and Accounts will result in the Branch not being able to send a delegate to either the Annual Meeting of County Conference or the National Annual Conference.
Please note the following changes:
County Parade Marshall Mrs L Richardson: 02476 732010
All Branches are reminded that Standard Bearer instruction is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the Drill Hall in Canley. All Standard Bearers are most welcome to come along and received guidance from the County Parade Marshall and County Standard Bearer.
Articles for Newsletter
Please remember this Newsletter is primarily for letting Branches know what is going on within our County. It would be very nice to receive articles from Branches for inclusion.
The 84th Annual meeting of County Conference will be held on Saturday 9th January 2010 at Warwick Shire Hall commencing at 2pm. Special Circulars 1 and 2 have already been distributed to all Branch Secretaries.
We have over the recent years increased the number of Branch delegates to around 50% of our total Branches however it would be nice to increase this further so please ensure you are represented. It is only for two and half hours once a year!!
British Legion Memorabilia Collectors Club
www.legion-memorabilia.org.uk Expressions of interest for those interested in joining the B.L.M.C.C should be sent to the Secretary Bob Rankin, 36 Albert Street, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 1JR. Tel: 01782 444246.
Annual County Standard Bearer Competition 2009
This year’s competition took place on Saturday 10th October 2009 at Hatton Village Hall. The results were:
Winner: Ms B Slade
Second: Mr F Guy and County Standard Bearer for 2010
Third: Mr G Riley and Deputy County Standard Bearer for 2010.
Winner Novice Competition: Ms G Reynolds
A very good competition with Mr Guy (Arley) and Mr Riley (Coventry No4) having equal points however after a count back on the “Carry from the Slope” Mr Guy had scored 1 point more. It was also nice to see 2 new entrants in the Novice Competition.
Festival of Remembrance 2009
The Cunty received 48 tickets allocated based upon its County Membership Total. A total of 34 tickets were applied for by Branches
I would like to introduce myself as the newly appointed County Manager for Warwickshire. I am a retired Administrative Secretarial Officer in the Royal Air Force having served on a short service commission as the Station Adjutant, RAF Uxbridge, Deputy Chief of Support of a NATO establishment in Germany and as Officer Commanding Accounts Flight, RAF Lyneham. Following a short service commission in the Royal Air Force, I joined the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) as the Regional events manager supporting some 8500 members locally.
My experience in the services and consequent transition to life outside the armed forces has given me the opportunity to understand the needs of our serving and ex serving community. I hope to widen the appeal of the Royal British Legion during my time here, reaching out to as many potential beneficiaries as possible and generating an interest in the work of the RBL particularly amongst the younger community whist still being receptive to the views of our longer serving members.
I feel fortunate to be joining such an active county, in terms of the provision of welfare, membership and fundraising. This is not achieved without the support of the branches, the clubs and all our members and volunteers, so thank you. I hope we can work together in the coming months and years to ensure that all the
fantastic work being done in the county can continue and indeed develop. No doubt there will be challenges ahead, but if we all work as one, I’m sure these hurdles can be overcome. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during my time as the County Manager for Warwickshire.
Annual Parade
The Branch Secretary on behalf of the Branch would like to thank everyone who attended the County Parade held on the 5th July at Old Arley and all those who made the day special assisting with the preparations. A special thanks goes to Mr David Lewis for his cleaning of the war memorial and members of the Coleshill and District Round Table who tidied the surrounding area and painted the bollards.
Warwick RBL Branch
On the 9th July one of our members Mr Martin Parker who is nearly blind volunteered for a parachute jump which was recorded on Internet. He raised over £2500 for his favourite charities. Last autumn his father also a member donated one of his kidneys to Martin.
Also on the 9th July there was a Homecoming March Past for the Queen’s Hussars and The Royal Irish Regiment. The Lord Lieutenant took the salute when the soldiers marched round the town accompanied by a Military Band. Thousands lined the streets and the event was on Midland News that evening. After the march, the soldier’s were entertained at a reception organised by the Town Council and co-hosted by the Warwick RBL Branch. All particularly remarked upon the high calibre and fitness of the soldier’s. They will return to Afghanistan in only 9 months
Coleshill RBL Branch
As we approach Remembrance Time it’s timely to remind ourselves that the Legion provides financial, social and emotional support to Service people, both past and present, and their dependants. We do this because we believe a career in the Armed Forces differs from any other. Service people agree to sacrifice certain civil liberties to follow orders and to place themselves in harm’s way in the defence of others. In return, our nation promises to help and support them and their families when they need it most – when it doesn’t do this, the Legion steps in. As the Nation gears itself for the next General Election the Legion launched TRBL General Election Manifesto in September of this year. The manifesto sets out very clearly what the Legion wants the next Government to do. For the whole Armed Forces Family - see www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk
We will be writing to all MPs and local papers reminding them of the Legion’s expectations in the build up to Remembrance.
This year’s County Poppy Launch will take place on The Upper Mall of the
Royal Priors Shopping Precinct, Leamington Spa at 10.30 a.m. on Friday the 23rd October – all are welcome to attend.
We have a new County Manager Seb Hargreaves who joined us in October, likewise a Community Fund Raiser Gail Collins from September of this year. We welcome them to the Warwickshire Team and arrangements are in hand for them to be introduced to the Branches within the County. May I remind you that we are all part of the Warwickshire team, Branches, Clubs and Groups. The team includes volunteers who for what ever reason have decided not to join the Legion and these include some of our PAO’s and Caseworkers. Our parish exceeds 1.2 million people and so it is incumbent upon us all to reach out and spread the word of as to the true reasons for the Legion’s existence namely: Poppy. Welfare and Membership.
The past three months have continued to be an extremely busy time for many of us within the Team, both at County and Branch level. It is good to see the strength of commitment and support for our Armed Forces in welcoming them home and also in their hour of need. Life is precious and those who have lost their lives in keeping the fragile peace will not be forgotten.
The County held a Branch Management Course on the 7 July and a Branch Treasurer’s Course on 5 Sept, run in conjunction with the Legion’s Training Team. Don’t miss out on these useful workshops for those attending confirmed they had learnt a great deal.
The Branch Chairmen’s meeting held on the 19 September proved to be an excellent meeting - there was hardly an empty chair in the room. All attending agreed it had been a very constructive dialogue which enabled me to take views forward into the National Chairmen’s Meeting with all County Chairmen on the 25/26 September.
The topics for discussion at that Meeting being: The Legion’s Manifesto, Update on New Legion Clubs, The Membership Review, Branch Funds Initiative, An Open Forum followed by the Legion’s 90th Anniversary. There was also a presentation from the 2/lC First Rifles in Afghanistan. Whether we like it or not the public continues to have some very differing perceptions as to what the Royal British Legion does. It is a recognized fact the membership side of the organisation continues to reduce. At last others are actually asking whether it is important to have a large membership many of whom are in Clubs and take little part in Legion Branch activity. Which is more preferable a small strong active Legion membership or a large membership?
Warwickshire has many good Legion Branches with actively supportive members but unless there is a continued push to recruit additional members then the losses will continue to exceed the new gains.
The Midland’s County Chairmen next meet on the 22 October after which it is my intention to convene a further meeting of Branch Chairmen in early December.
I draw to your attention TRBL Shipston Book Project. Their book ‘Shipston Remembers’ by Mike Wells was launched on the 16 September. The book provides a fascinating insight into the men whose names are recorded on the three war memorials in Shipston. For a copy contact the TRBL Shipston Branch Chairman Richard Adams - £12 minimum donation plus £1.20 post and packing.
Since July of this year I have attended two meetings of TRBL Membership Council in London – the next is in November – so if you have concerns about membership issues please contact me.
I have been invited to contribute a short chapter on a book which is to be published next year on ‘Remembrance’.
Within this context I attended the third NMA Remembrance Seminar as a guest speaker on the 17 September at Legion Head Office. The subject of my PowerPoint talk ‘Reflections – The Spirit of Remembrance’ see:
www.remembrancereseminars.org.uk
‘Remembrance takes many forms, its personal; we are all part of the continuum of history. Monuments and memorials provide a tangible link with the past – a place of pilgrimage; including those at the National Memorial Arboretum, the home of the Armed Forces Memorial dedicated in October 2007 for the generations post 1945 to which the pilgrims flock.’
The National Memorial Arboretum is rapidly becoming a focal point for all year round remembrance and is well worth visiting see:
This County Newsletter will be published in the County Website.
www.warwickshire.britishlegion.org.uk
Finally may I say thank you to all our active Legion members within Warwickshire, including our many supporters and to those closely involved with this year’s Poppy Appeal every success. Your work is much appreciated.
