Since the Royal British Legion was founded in 1921, our members, staff, volunteers and partners have dedicated their time and effort to supporting the Armed Forces community and remembering their sacrifice.
To mark our 100th birthday, we launched the Reward and Recognition scheme where everyone across the RBL family was invited to nominate people who deserved to be recognised for their significant contributions to our work.
The awards recognise the outstanding actions of individuals in five categories; service, collaboration, passion, excellence and valuing our people.
From the moment we launched the scheme, the nominations came flooding in and after a robust check on the quality and standard of submissions, we were left with over 400 tales of inspiration and determination from groups and individuals across the organisation, all of whom are equally deserving of recognition in our Centenary year.
Here we celebrate the contributions of our amazing RBL People who have helped to make our organisation the fantastic place that it is. Search by name or use the filters below to explore the nominees.
Gail Davy
Gail Davy
Gail served in the Women’s Royal Army Corps, which drives her passion to support the Armed Forces community. An active and enthusiastic member of Grimsby Branch, she has been Poppy Appeal Organiser since 2011, during which time annual fundraising has increased fivefold. She works tirelessly for the RBL, giving school talks, providing Remembrance gardens, organising parades, liaising with local businesses and obtaining press coverage in order to maximise support and funds for the charity.
Derek Bunting
Derek Bunting
Derek has given 41 years of service to the Stafford Branch and has fulfilled multiple roles at Branch and County level, often holding three posts concurrently. As a Standard Bearer and Standard Bearer Trainer he has shone, acting as a Parade Marshal at the Royal Albert Hall and London Cenotaph during Remembrance season. He has done all this while still being an active Poppy Appeal Collector and Branch Welfare worker.
Graham Airey
Graham Airey
For 30 years, Graham has been the public face of the RBL at parades, civic events and funerals as one of only five Standard Bearers at the Sturminster Newton Branch, Dorset, since it was formed in 1921. He gives up a considerable amount of time sharing his enthusiasm for the Standard and what it means through talks at school assemblies and training at local Scouting organisations. This regular, positive publicity helps keep donations coming in.
Karen Lines
Karen Lines
Karen is the Housekeeping Supervisor for Galanos House. Since the beginning of the pandemic, she has worked tirelessly to pull her team together and maintain high standards. She has kept on top of new regulations, taken on ordering all the housekeeping supplies and ensured that PPE is distributed and worn correctly. She has also shown compassion and patience when staff have struggled during the pandemic, supporting them in their vital work.
Bob Barker
Bob Barker
Bob shares his knowledge of the First World War through talks at schools and Cadet units, and his annual lectures have helped boost recruitment and raise thousands for the Poppy Appeal. As Branch Secretary for Witham in Essex, he kept everyone informed with a newsletter throughout the pandemic, and is an Information Volunteer for the branch’s Touchpoint centre. He is currently working with councillors on a memorial plaque to Witham's unremembered War Dead.
Gordon Roach
Gordon Roach
Gordon took on the role of Essex County Youth Officer with a vision to increase collaboration between schools, cadet units and the RBL. He has made more than 100 school visits and massively increased youth engagement in the charity, Remembrance and the Poppy Appeal. A notable achievement is the Tabor Academy Festival of Remembrance, in which he works with the school, the Armed Forces, the local authority and dignitaries to create a successful annual event.
Grace Anderton
Grace Anderton
Grace is one of the youngest members of Aldridge Branch in the West Midlands, and was the first to attend a community support course. She's been a lifeline for members during Covid lockdowns, particularly those without access to social media. She has combined being a Telephone Buddy with training to be a mental-health nurse, has struck up amazing friendships with much older members and is skilled at obtaining additional support for anyone who is struggling.
David Bawler
David Bawler
David has been the Poppy Appeal Organiser for Hemyock in Devon for more than 20 years (and a collector for eight years prior to that), and his team usually collects door to door in this spread-out farming community. In 2020, to overcome Covid-19 restrictions, he set up an RBL publicity and collection stand outside the village post office, increasing the visibility of the charity. He also decorated the war memorial with a large poppy display, as well as organising the Remembrance service outside.
Lin Simpson
Lin Simpson
Linda is a dedicated member and Poppy Appeal Organiser of Stockton and Yarm Branch in Northumbria. She is also a Volunteer Caseworker and has helped in complex cases of people in need from many different backgrounds. She is able to develop a good rapport with those she works with, building trust, exploring areas of need with them and explaining the support the RBL is able to provide, ensuring the process is as smooth as possible.
John Good
John Good
John is an ex-serviceman who has been helped by the RBL with financial, alcohol-dependence and anger issues. Wanting to give back to the charity, he is now a well-known Poppy Appeal Collector in Derby, regularly appearing on regional TV news and giving community talks as an ambassador for the RBL, highlighting its work. Despite recent ill health, he still manages to go out during the Appeal and collects a record amount.
Alan Purdie
Alan Purdie
Before retiring as National Events Co-ordinator, Alan worked tirelessly to help deliver high-profile events and was the crucial point of contact for a myriad of issues surrounding the Annual Conference, Festival of Remembrance and Cenotaph Parades. Always generous with his time and willing to assist others, he has made an immeasurable contribution to the RBL. Alan is a member of his local branch and continues to help at the Central Band’s concerts and rehearsals.
Noah Owen
Noah Owen
In 2020, seven-year-old Noah decided to learn 102 popular songs (one for every year since the end of the First World War) and sing them with his dad on his YouTube channel to cheer up the residents of RBL care home Mais House, Bexhill, who were shielding during the pandemic. Noah’s sponsorship raised more than £8,000 for the home, and £5,000 for the Poppy Appeal, and his feat was given a lot of media coverage.
Nicholas Chatwin
Nicholas Chatwin
Cmdr (Retd) Chatwin was a Naval Liaison Officer who was the point of contact between the Royal Navy and the RBL for London Poppy Day. Since 2013, he has been an invaluable champion for the charity, advocating for its cause across the Royal Navy and recruiting and allocating service personnel for LPD. Moreover, he has been instrumental in promoting the RBL across Defence, establishing strategically beneficial relationships and including the charity at high-profile events.
Rebecca Pride
Rebecca Pride
As Special Events Manager from 1998 to 2020, Rebecca raised the standard of events to its highest level, while maintaining excellent relationships with donors and supporters. She was responsible for achieving significant fundraising income, while her careful nurturing of supporters bought them closer to the RBL, gave them a greater understanding of its work and ensured their ongoing support.
Neville Davies
Neville Davies
Neville is part of the Poppy Appeal team in Lymm, West Cheshire, an area that includes the important Lymm Services, which is popular with truck drivers, many of whom are ex-service personnel. When the pandemic meant face-to-face collection was unlikely to go ahead, Neville made a wood and Perspex ‘Covid-19 secure’ poppy stall ‘just in case’. As rules relaxed, ‘Nev’s booth’, plus a contactless unit, helped the team to safely collect more than £5,000.
Tristan Nicholls
Tristan Nicholls
An outstanding ambassador for the RBL, Tristan became a Press Officer in 2015. His kindness and friendliness to everyone he met was coupled with an exceptional ability to unearth many wonderful tales. These not only created excellent press coverage but ensured that the efforts of the charity’s supporters were acknowledged and celebrated. Tristan died in 2018; his dedication and hard work remain an inspiration and he is much missed by his colleagues.
Martin Isaacs
Martin Isaacs
Martin is Learning & Organisational Development Partner and a veteran. During a project initiated by the Admiral Nurse service, he selflessly volunteered to share his experiences to aid understanding into the effects of trauma on the brain of veterans, who may then go on to develop dementia. His personal and detailed insights have helped inform best practice within the Admiral Nurse service and the project is being considered for further research to help improve the lives of veterans in the future.
Barbara Watson
Barbara Watson
Barbara has been a member of the RBL since 2007; she was a hardworking Poppy Appeal Organiser until last year and became Branch Chairman for Backbarrow with Crake Valley, Cumbria, in 2016. Despite a predominantly elderly membership, the branch continues to fulfil its purpose thanks to Barbara’s enthusiasm – she encourages younger volunteers; arranges fundraising events, including running a popular indoor bowling tournament; and keeps the RBL’s name prominent and respected in the local community.