Shepton Mallet Branch RBL Newsletter Winter 2019 Following a very busy Poppy Appeal in 2018 which marked the Centenary of the end of WW1, Shepton Mallet really did itself proud and a huge Thank You to everyone who helped. Armistice 100 Day saw the Wincanton Poppy of Honour in Collett Park. A tree was planted in honour of the fallen and a Commemorative Bench was donated by our Branch to the town and placed in Collett Park. November 11 th was dry and bright, and a good crowd gathered at the Cenotaph. The Bishop of Bath and Wells led the service. At least three members of SMRBL paraded at the Cenotaph at Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday. Thank you for representing SMRBL.
Transcript
Shepton Mallet Branch RBL
Newsletter
Winter 2019 Following a very busy Poppy Appeal in 2018 which marked the Centenary of the end of WW1, Shepton Mallet really did itself proud and a huge Thank You to everyone who helped. Armistice 100 Day saw the Wincanton Poppy of Honour in Collett Park. A tree was planted in honour of the fallen and a Commemorative Bench was donated by our Branch to the town and placed in Collett Park.
November 11th was dry and bright, and a good crowd gathered at the Cenotaph. The Bishop of Bath and Wells led the service.
At least three members of SMRBL paraded at the Cenotaph at Whitehall on Remembrance
Sunday. Thank you for representing SMRBL.
To let our hair down and have fun we had our Shepton Mallet Branch, Royal British Legion, Mess Dinner. This was a wonderful night, very well attended. As a Branch, we were honoured that our National Chairman, Mr Terry Whittles with his wife Sue, joined us as our Guests of Honour.
National Chairman giving his after-dinner speech.
88members and guests attended our Mess Dinner. Legionnaires from neighbouring Branches joined us, true comradeship between the branches.
Several people were awarded Certificates to show the Branch’s appreciation of their efforts during the last year.
Auction Master, Mr James Morris
£210 was raised from the raffle to be split evenly between the 1182RAF Air Cadet Squadron, Shepton Mallet…..these young people are unfailing in their support of our branch. They are our future.
The rest was donated to Dunkirk Memorial House at Bishops Lydeard, Somerset to support the resident’s welfare fund.
Shepton Mallet RBL were honoured, as part of Armistice 100, in having the opportunity to have our Christmas Tree as the centre piece of the town’s Christmas Tree Festival. Our fallen are not forgotten, they are with us. We will remember them.
£105 was raised for the 1182 Squadron, Shepton mallet RAF Air Cadets by the branch at the Mess Dinner. Cadet Sgt Knight from the Squadron is seen here receiving the cheque from Andy Ransom, Chairman of Shepton Mallet RBL branch.
Our Branch Standard Bearer Alun Stewart at the funeral of Stewart Kingdom proudly representing our Branch and town at a fallen brother’s farewell.
A big Thank you to Al for all his hard work on our behalf during the last year.
The County Conference was held this January at Taunton Golf Club.
We put forward our Motion for National Conference, supported by our friends from Frome Branch. This was accepted and we will be presenting that at the National Conference in May.
Shepton Mallet Branch of The Royal British Legion Motion for Conference
“That the Board of Trustees engage with the Ministry of Defence in devising a simple and effective way of informing and enabling all personnel leaving Her Majesty's services, of the means of communicating with the
Working together to ensure that all Citizens Advice Bureaux are instructed to distribute this number to clients who are ex-service personnel. It has come to light that CAB offices rarely ask attendees whether they are ex-forces. This must be remedied.” This might be achieved by issuing a simple wallet-sized leaflet, which included a card, the size of a credit card, with the Veterans Gateway number and web address on it and RBL membership contact details. Or, the information may be placed on the wage slips of service personnel.
Guess what? We won the Mitford Cup again. Here it is being presented to Jan Crewe, Honorary Branch Secretary, by County President Bob Mansbergh.
Veterans Gateway 24hr helpline – “The first point of contact for Veterans Seeking Support” 0808 802 1212 Support.veteransgateway.org.uk
County Conference 2019 The County President presented the following trophies, certificates and awards:
Mitford Slade Cup (for most Recruitment) - Shepton Mallet Branch - BR 2530
Highly Commended Certificate - Shepton Mallet Branch - BR2530 & Street Branch - BR2536 Colin MacKenzie Cup - East & West Coker Branch - BR2488 The County Standard Bearer - Mr. John Gallop - Wrington Branch Most Improved Standard Bearer - Mr Darren Squires – ChardBranch County Certificates of Appreciation - Mr Hugh Harding - Bishopsworth Branch Volunteer of the Year 2018 - Mrs Alice Samuel - Branch Secretary, Crewkerne
Election of County Chairman & County Vice-Chairman.
The following were elected for a 3-year term: County Chairman – Robert McDonald County Vice-Chairman – Martin Heale
Branch Chairman trying out the Commemorative bench in Collett Park.
A picture taken in better weather; the second bench donated by our Branch, placed in the Church Yard of St Peters and St Pauls Parish Church. Thanks to the Church Wardens and the Rev Jonathan Hunter-Dunn. The Reverend Jonathan Hunter-Dunn has kindly agreed to be our Branch Chaplin.
One of his first official duties on our behalf will be the laying down of the Womens Standard. Date TBA.
Shepton Mallet Armed Forces and Veterans’ Breakfast Club at The Brasserie in Shepton Mallet, organised by Ray Smith, is held the first Wednesday of the Month. The next Breakfast Club is on Wednesday 3rd April, usual place, usual time(9.30am). Please spread the word to all local serving and retired armed forces personnel.
Our new National Chairman, confirmed following a meeting of the Board of Trustees, is Lieutenant General James Bashall CB CBE who will take up his appointment upon completion of the Annual Conference, on Sunday 19th May 2019.
Maj Robert McDonald, County Chairman watching our Chairman, Andy Ransom presenting a cheque to Anne Lewin, Manager of Dunkirk Memorial House. This was money raised in December following a raffle at the Mess Dinner. It is being donated to the resident’s amenity fund.
This February saw, an always well attended event, a Fish & Chip Supper held at Whitstone’s restaurant. 30 members and their families all sat down to a gorgeous meal. Lots of networking going on, especially amongst the Community Support Officers. Members from Frome and Wells Branch’s joined us for a lovely evening.
Up and coming social events include a Skittle Night, and a Scapa 100 presentation and a Quiz Night. Dates TBC.With Collett Park Day coming up shortly, don’t forget we will be wanting Tombola prizes for all age groups. Letters have already gone out to various supporters and businesses. Thank you, Ken Manship, for your hard work in doing all the deliveries. This years Poppy Appeal is continuing to surprise us. All the effort has and is paying off. At the last count we have reached £24,000. For a town of Shepton Mallet’s size it is wonderful.
A special “Thank You” was disseminated to the local papers and has already been printed in the Shepton Journal.
Dates for your Diaries
April 1st Meeting at the Club 7.30pm
April 3rd Shepton Breakfast @ the Brassiere 9.30am
April 27th Wells Breakfast @ the Venue 10am
May 8th Shepton Breakfast @ the Brassiere 9.30am
May 12th Festival of Dogs in Collett Park
May 13th Meeting at the Club 7.30pm
May 17th-19th National Conference in Bournemouth
May 25th Wells Breakfast @ the Venue 10am
May 29th – 1st June Bath and West Show
June 3rd Meeting at the Club 7.30pm
June 5th Shepton Breakfast @ the Brasserie 9.30am
June 8th Collett Park Day
It’s a Knockout, South Bristol Sports Centre (Sunday 23 June ’19)
50% off team entry fee signup by 7 April. For further info & to book: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/its-a-knockout/
June 29th Wells Breakfast @ the Venue 10am
July 1st Meeting at the Club 7.30pm
Canonteign 220ft Waterfall Abseil (Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July ’19)
Abseil down England’s highest waterfall in Devon. https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/canonteignwaterfalls-220ft-abseil/
August 18th Mid-Somerset Show
Cranmore Tower 148ft Abseil – Shepton Mallet (Sunday 8 September ’19) Abseil down this historic tower, which was used as a lookout tower by the Home Guard and Corps of Signals during WWII . https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/castaway-survivalchallenge/
September 2nd AGM at the Club 7.30pm
COUNTY CASEWORKERS NEEDED County Welfare Caseworkers urgently needed in the Mendip and South Somerset council areas. Full training will be provided. Please call the Contact Centre on 0808 802 8080 for a full information pack. If you need any further information what is involved in the role, please contact Dennis Cruze (CCSC Chairman) at: [email protected] or Tel: 01934 823340
SAVE THE DATE! Anyone who holds the Northern Ireland General Service Medal will be invited to a commemoration at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) on 14th August 2019 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the start of Operation Banner. More details will follow nearer the time from RBL HQ. Kate Hurley, MSO Somerset
Sunday 7th April - Poppy Appeal Somerset Awards Night
Thursday 6th June – D Day 75
22/23 June – Weston-Super-Mare Armed Forces Day and Air Day
Tuesday 3rd September – 80th Anniversary of start of WW2
