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THE  ROYAL  BRITISH  LEGION

(KILMINGTON  BRANCH)

 

The British Legion was founded by Earl Haig in 1921 after the people in Britain and within the Empire learned of the horror that was World War I.  The poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor serving in Ypres, stimulated its formation and the adoption of the poppy as a symbol of hope   

and reassurance.  Under the guidance of Major George Howson MC, a small group of disabled ex-Servicemen started to make artificial poppies which were first sold in 1921 to help those who survived the fighting, some terribly mutilated in mind and body.

 

The Kilmington Branch (see more detailed history here) was formed on 6 March 1925 to join many others which were being founded throughout the country under the Charter which was promulgated on 21 April 1925 by authority of His Majesty King George V.  The Charter was amended on 10 September 1971, by authority of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, granting the title “The Royal British Legion”.

 

The Poppy Appeal, as we know it, spread from small beginnings into the powerful and successful movement that it is today.  Volunteers from this Village each year collect for the Appeal and last year, for example, over £1,758 was raised.  With nearly 127 British Legion members in this small village under Chairman Group Captain Brian Lavender OBE AFC RAF (Ret’d), other fund raising events were held throughout the year which brought the total up to £5,000

Spring and Autumn Coffee Mornings are held to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal, and the “Admiral’s Jug”, presented by a past President Admiral Roberts, is available at other events eg the Annual Lecture, for donations.  Non-fund raising events include an annual outing (last year to Bristol to see Brunels's floating harbour and the SS Great Britain) and an annual BBQ.  With no club house, monthly “Get Togethers” are held alternatively in the Old or New Inn for an hour on the first Friday in the month.  A Rememberance Sunday lunch is helf after the Morning Services in St Giles' Church and at the War Memorial.  The Branch is actively seeking new members, and applicants can contact the Chairman on 01297 34922 or the Secretary on 01297 35873.  

 

The names of the Kilmington residents killed in the World Wars are:

 

THE  GREAT  WAR

ELI WOODMAN

REGINALD WOOD

JOHN  WOODMAN    

RICHARD  POUND

LISLE  LOVERIDGE      

ROLAND  BRIDGES

WILLIAM  SANSOM

COURTENAY CHOWN

EDWARD  BOTWOOD

GILBERT  WRIGHT

FREDERICK WOODMAN

 

SECOND  WORLD  WAR

 

ARTHUR  TROTT

NORMAN  LOCKWOOD

RICHARD  WILKINSON

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WE NEED YOUR HELP

 

Although our membership in the Kilmington Branch has increased to 127, we need to recruit more to provide the support that our Armed Forces personnel, their dependants and veterans need.

The £11.00 annual subscription fee pays all the administrative and production costs of the Poppy Appeal including the employment of numerous disabled Service personnel.  Please sign up for membership now.  You do not need to be ex-Service yourself

 

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning

We will remember them”

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HISTORY OF ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, KILMINGTON BRANCH

 

This history was written by Michael O’Flaherty.  

 

 

 

MISSION STATEMENT

 

To safeguard the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or who have served in the Armed Forces

 

OBJECTIVES

 

1   To define, fund, and deliver a quality and flexible response to welfare needs.

 

2   To foster and engage a strong base of members, donors, volunteers and staff

 

3   To maximise income generation from a comprehensive integrated programme.

 

4   To ensure our culture, structure and processes enable strong leadership, timely decision making and effective use of assets.

 

5   To facilitate closer co-operation between organisations sharing the same objectives.

 

6   To create, maintain and expand public awareness and support for the Legion’s work and the Nation’s special covenant with its service people, past and present.

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NEWS AND EVENTS 2011

 

 

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION (KILMINGTON BRANCH)

 

The Autumn coffee morning on 19 November was well supported and £817 was raised for the Poppy Appeal. The Chairman, Roger Lovegrove, welcomed everybody and thanked Gordon Dendle who had just retired as President as well as Merrie Acton for her support over many years on the Committee.  He presented a certificate of appreciation to Caroline Lavender to give to Brian, the retiring Chairman who was unable to be present.

 

The power point presentation by Lance Corporal Rob Hill in the Village Hall on 2 December was attended by over 80 people and the Chairman started proceedings by leading the Exhortation in memory of the seven Royal Marines from 42 Commando killed while Rob was serving in Helmund Province.  Rob gave a first class briefing vividly showing what it’s like to patrol the paths and buildings in that area knowing that IEDs are present and Taliban snipers hiding close by.  Without a note, Rob talked for an hour to a fascinated audience and after refreshments answered a large number of questions succinctly.  £282 was raised for the Poppy Appeal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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At a Branch Committee meeting held on 5 December, Brian Lavender was elected President of Kilmington Branch in succession to Gordon Dendle; he thanked the Committee for the honour.  Peter Huscroft was co-opted onto the Committee to serve as Treasurer in succession to Roger Lovegrove.  After various reports it was decided to donate £1200 to the Poppy Appeal and £400 to the Devon County Welfare Fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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KILMINGTON IN SIERRA LEONE ROYAL CELEBRATIONS

 

Commander Stafford Seward OBE RN and his wife Diane helped to host HRH The Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence during their visit to Sierra Leone to mark the 50th Anniversary of its Independence.  A member of the Kilmington Branch of the Royal British Legion, Commander Seward is currently serving as the British Defence Advisor in Freetown and he has responsibilities in nearby African countries.   During her three day visit, Princess Anne laid a wreath at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in King Tom and visited hospitals, schools, deprived areas and the International Military Training and Advisory Team (IMATT) with which Stafford served in 2000 – 2002.  Commander Seward and Diane were present at a reception and dinner hosted by the British High Commissioner, Mr Ian Hughes when they were both introduced to the Royal couple.   During the course of Diane’s stay in Freetown, they hosted a Trafalgar Night dinner in true Royal Navy tradition at which they entertained the High Commissioner and his wife, the head of DFID Sierra Leone, Mr Phil Evans, Commander IMATT, Col & Mrs Jamie Martin and 17 other members of the diplomatic mission in Sierra Leone.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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REMEMBRANCE IN KILMINGTON

 

Nearly 60 people, including the Vicar and Baptist Minister, were present on the playing field to observe the Two Minutes Silence on the anniversary of Armistice Day, Friday 11th November 2011. The Kilmington Primary School, staff and children observed the silence in their playground where the bangs of the rockets were particularly loud this year. Refreshments were served in the pavilion afterwards.

 

The Ecumenical Remembrance Sunday Service in St Giles’ Church was led by the Rev’d Kate Woolven and the Lessons were read by the new Chairman of the RBL Kilmington Branch, Roger Lovegrove and by Cadet Flt Sgt Lauren Kerslake who is also a Branch member. The Branch Honorary Chaplain, Pastor Darrell Holmes, gave an inspiring Address and Cadet Alex Kerslake played the Last Post and Reveille confidently and very well. The collection of £418 was donated to the Poppy Appeal. The short Service at the War Memorial was well attended and wreaths were laid after the Reveille. Refreshments provided by the Baptist Church were enjoyed afterwards in the Village Hall. This year’s Poppy Appeal in Kilmington raised £1652 from house to house collections and £362 from static boxes and donations which, with the Church collection, totalled £2431. This is a brilliant start for this financial year thanks to everyone that supported the Appeal and to the Collectors.

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OPERATIONS IN HELMUND PROVINCE

 

Lance Corporal Rob Hill, a member of the Kilmington Branch of the Royal British Legion, recently returned from an operational tour in Afghanistan with 42 Commando.  He will give an illustrated talk in the Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Friday 2nd December about his experiences in Helmand Province where seven of his colleagues were killed and a number injured, some seriously.  Those that attended the lecture given by Colonel Robbie Hall, Commander of the Tri-Service Bomb Disposal Training organisation, were given warning of the dangers faced by our Armed Forces in that theatre.  Rob will tell us what it is like patrolling on the paths and searching buildings which could be mined and how he and his fellow Marines coped with the situation.  Entry is free so please come along and support him bringing a donation to the Poppy Appeal to help the families of those killed and the rehabilitation of those injured.  Refreshments will be served in the interval.

 

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ROYAL BRITISH LEGION (KILMINGTON BRANCH)

 

Pastor Darrell Holmes, Branch Chaplain, led the Exhortation in memory of those members that had died since the last AGM and Brian Lavender, the retiring Chairman, welcomed everybody to the meeting.  He briefed members that the Poppy Appeal for the financial year(FY) ending 30 September 2011 had raised £36.6M.  The Kilmington Branch had contributed £9,460 to that total plus £700 to the Devon Country Welfare Fund, thanks to the generosity of Kilmington residents.  These were record totals in the 90th Anniversary year and reflected the growing awareness of the welfare needs of our Armed Forces personnel, veterans and dependent families.  He emphasised that we should not rest on our laurels because the Legion had spent £72M in the last FY providing assistance to over 160,000 welfare cases equating to £200K per day.  After various reports, Roger Lovegrove was elected the new Chairman and Michael O’Flaherty retained the appointments of Vice Chairman and Secretary.  Ron Foster, John Watts and Brian Lavender were elected to join Gerry Hurford, Claire Dainton, Peter Easton and Susan Moore on the Committee as members.  Tributes were paid to Gordon Dendle and Merrie Acton who retired from the Committee after many years of support.  

 

Many members joined Anthony and Father Samuel Double and a large number of Kilmington residents in St Giles’ Church on 10 October for the funeral of Joyce Double.  A well known and much loved Kilmington resident, she and her husband Derek served on the Branch Committee for many years, and Joyce was an Honorary Life Vice President.  The Rev’d Alastair McCollum led the Service with the Rev’d Anne Mills while the Rev’d Kate Woolven gave the Address.

 

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ROYAL BRITISH LEGION AUTUMN COFFEE MORNING

 

The Kilmington Branch Autumn Coffee Morning will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday 19th November starting at 10.30 am.  There will be cake, plant, book and gift stalls as well as a raffle and refreshments.  Contributions to any of these would be most welcome and all proceeds will go to the Poppy Appeal.  Your support would be most appreciated.

 

 

REMEMBRANCETIDE ARRANGEMENTS IN KILMINGTON

 

Poppy Appeal collectors will be calling around the Village in the period Saturday 29th October to the 12th November with poppies and collection tins; please give generously in support of our Armed Forces and Veterans.  On Armistice Day, Friday 11th November, maroons will mark the Two Minutes Silence from 11.00 am on the Playing Field and everyone is invited to refreshments in the Hitchcock Pavilion afterwards.  The Remembrance Sunday Service will be in St Giles’ Church at 9.45 am on 13th November and the Address will be given by the Rev’d Darrel Holmes, the Branch Honorary Chaplain;  the collection will be donated to the Poppy Appeal.  The Act of Remembrance during a short Service at the War Memorial will start at 10.55 am, conducted by the Honorary Chaplain, during which wreaths will be laid.  Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Village Hall.  A coach will depart the Village Hall at 11.50 am for Branch members and guests who have booked lunch at the Wheelwright Inn.

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BOMB DISPOSAL AND FAITH

 

Colonel Robbie Hall, Commander of the UK’s Tri-Service Bomb Disposal Training Organisation gave a very interesting and informative power point presentation in the Village Hall on Friday 30th September.  It was an open event and members from a number of Royal British Legion Branches as well as the general public were present to hear him cover developments in bomb disposal techniques in response to the severe challengers in recent times.  The dangers faced by our Armed Forces personnel in Afghanistan and other parts of the world were made very clear which opened up some searching questions.  It was interesting to hear what an important part his Christian faith had played in his long experience of bomb disposal including the occasion when he defused a large unexploded World War II bomb in darkness under oily waters in a refinery gas tank, for which he was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.  The extraordinary bravery of many bomb disposal Service personnel became apparent but some regrettably lost their lives in the service of their country.  £360 was raised for the Poppy Appeal during the course of the evening.

 

EXETER CATHEDRAL CONCERT

 

A Royal British Legion 90th Anniversary Commemoration Concert will be held in Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 17th September at 7.30 pm.  The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Plymouth, and Mezzo Soprano Louise Innes are among the artistes who will perform.  Those that have not purchased their tickets through the Kilmington Branch can get them from the Northcott Theatre box office, telephone 01392 493493.   There might be some seats available on a coach hired by the Branch so please contact Roger Lovegrove, Branch Treasurer on 01297 631091 if interested.

 

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ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL TALK

 

The Kilmington Branch Annual Lecture entitled “The Hidden Peril” is an “Open” event on Friday 30th September at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall when Colonel Robbie Hall QMG, a bomb disposal expert, will provide a topical and fascinating account of the dangers currently faced by our Armed Forces personnel in Afghanistan and in other places throughout the world.  The Colonel currently commands the Tri-Service Bomb Disposal Training Organisation and has had extensive experience in Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, the Balkans, and has provided advice out in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He supports a number of military Christian organisations and is an Elder at his local Baptist church.  As it is the 90th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion, an entrance charge of £5 will be made for the Poppy Appeal which will include a glass of wine, tea or coffee.  Everyone is welcome and you can be sure of an extremely interesting evening.

 

ANOTHER VETERAN LOST TO THE RBL (KILMINGTON BRANCH)

 

David Pattinson, a strong supporter of the Kilmington Branch of the Royal British Legion in spite of living in All Saints, sadly passed away on Sunday 10th July after a short illness. He thoroughly enjoyed the Annual Outing on the Grand Western Canal on 17 June but did say later that he did not feel up to speaking about his wartime experiences at the Revue Night. David was waiting at Fareham on 6 June 1944 with his Army Signals unit but they only embarked on a tank landing craft 5 days later (fortified with Navy rum) to Normandy. On arrival they drove their jeeps into the sea and on to Juno Beach. Subsequently he served throughout Europe providing communication for RAF squadrons operating from makeshift airfields. In 2009 he travelled to Normandy to relive some of his experiences visiting Pegasus Bridge, the Ranville Commonwealth Cemetery the Merville gun battery and the beaches of Sword, Juno and Gold. He had a day at Arrowmanches where he received a commemorative medal from a French General as a tribute to his actions in 1944. A number of Branch members will join his family at the funeral on 18 July at which a Poppy wreath will be laid in his honour.

 

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LEGION BRANCH CELEBRATES 90th

 

The Kilmington Branch of the Royal British Legion held three events in close succession recently to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal in the 90th Anniversary year of the foundation of the RBL.  Over 50 members ravelled to Tiverton on 17 June to take a horse-drawn barge trip along the Grand Western Canal enjoying a very nice lunch on board in the quiet countryside.  What a peaceful way to travel, and many members thoughts turned to our Service personnel on duty in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya during a Two Minutes Silence.  Shopping and afternoon tea at Bickleigh Mill completed a very relaxed day out.  Some 65 members attended a Branch BBQ in the New Inn on 24th June and although the weather kept everyone inside the Pub, it proved to be a very enjoyable evening with a delicious supper provided by Brian and Denise Jenkins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Branch staged a Wartime Revue Night on 2nd July in the Village Hall at which 130 members were welcomed by compere and Chairman of the Branch Brian Lavender who led the Exhortation in memory of all Armed Forces personnel who gave their lives in two World Wars and in the subsequent ones.  Following the National anthem, the Grace was given by the Branch Honorary Chaplain, the Rev’d Darrell Holmes.  A wartime supper of corned beef, spam, jacket potato and salad featured on the menu with sliced tinned peaches and evaporated milk to follow.  Asked where the peaches came from in the 2nd World War, Brian explained that they were in food parcels from Australia!  After coffee and a raffle, an air raid warning sounded during a black-out with search lights blazing and the sound of low flying aircraft and bombs dropping which proved to be very realistic.  The Chairman recalled how his family survived in an air raid shelter while their house was destroyed on 17th August 1940 in Croydon which is why the family arrived in Kilmington a few days later.  Ron Foster described his experiences as an evacuee which were not too enjoyable.  Introducing the Dad’s Army sketch entitled “The Deadly Attachment”, Brian gave details of the Home Guard Platoon in Kilmington whose members took turns to observe every night during the war from the top of St Giles’ Church and carry out patrols around the Village; one of them, Corporal  Stanley Quick is still patrolling the Village now!.  The stage performance was co-produced by Anna Cope and Louise Quincey and all but one of the cast were members of the Branch, three over 80 years old!   It was hilarious and was obviously much appreciated by the audience.

 

While the stage set was being changed, a few veterans gave interesting accounts of their wartime experiences which surprised many who had known them for years.  Then a team of well known characters from Dalwood joined by a few Branch members gave a performance from ‘Allo ‘Allo in Rene’s café in occupied France.   Produced by Caroline Nunns, it was highly amusing and warmly applauded by everyone present.  The evening concluded with community singing of the well known wartime songs, led by Brian Lavender and Caroline Nunns with the talented Tina Mackenney on the piano.   The challenge to every RBL Branch in Devon to raise an extra £1000 for the Poppy Appeal in this special Anniversary year was well and truly met by the Kilmington Branch, and the Chairman thanked and congratulated them all, particuarly Robert Penzer who did such a wonderful job with the sound, lighting and special effects.

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RBL REVUE NIGHT

 

Tickets are now on sale at £12.50 for the Wartime Revue Night at 7.00 pm on Saturday 2nd July.  To add to the atmosphere, please wear something appropriate to the 1940’s era if you can and enjoy a complimentary glass of scrumpy or apple juice on arrival.  A simple wartime country supper will be served for which you can bring your own drinks, glasses supplied.  Seating will be on three long tables, so please fill up the places, leaving no gaps as there will not be a seating plan.  The row directly in front of the stage will be reserved for the performers in the Revue as this table will have to be removed immediately after supper.  Among the many entertaining items in the programme will be a “Dad’s Army” sketch based on “The Deadly Attachment”, jointly produced by Anna Cope & Louise Quincey and you will recognise many of the faces that appear on the stage.  A sketch from “Allo Allo” featuring Rene’s famous café, produced by Caroline Nunns, will also be included in the programme.  Community singing accompanied on the piano by Tina MacKenney for which a song sheet will be provided will round off the evening.  You are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.  All profits will go to the Poppy Appeal on the 90th Anniversary year of the Royal British Legion.

 

Brian Lavender

 

 

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

 

It was sad to learn recently that the Stockland Branch of the RBL disbanded in the 90th Anniversary year of the foundation of the Royal British Legion.   The Kilmington Branch would welcome any members of that Branch or anyone in the local villages that do not have a Branch, to join ours and take part in our activities. With over 130 members, obviously the main object is to raise funds in support of the members of our Armed Forces, the veterans and their dependant families.   We hold two fund raising coffee mornings a year, make a special effort to collect for the Poppy Appeal in the two weeks before Remembrance Sunday, have an Annual lecture, barbeque and outing, observe Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday and lunch out afterwards, hold monthly “Get Togethers” alternating between the Old and New Inns on the first Friday of the month and we publish a comprehensive Newsletter regularly every other month.  Please contact the Chairman Brian Lavender on 01297 34922 or Secretary Michael O’Flaherty on 01297 32751 for further details.   You can be sure of a warm welcome if you decide to join us.  

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ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL BARBECUE

 

The Kilmington Branch of the Royal British Legion will hold its annual BBQ by kind permission of Brian and Denise Jenkins at the New Inn on Friday 24th June at 6.00 pm.  Tickets at £6 are on sale from “shepherds” and Committee members.                                    

Brian Lavender,   Chairman

 

CLERGY SUPPORT FOR LEGION

Three Ministers attended the Royal British Legion (Kilmington Branch) Spring Coffee morning on Saturday 16th April to help raise funds for the Poppy Appeal in the 90th Anniversary year of the Legion's foundation: the Rev'd Darrell Holmes, the Baptist Minister, who is Branch Chaplain, the Rev'd Lincoln Jones who was Branch Chaplain for 20 years, and the Rev'd Alastair McCollum, Vicar to the Five Alive Mission Community who is a Branch member and also a member of the RBL Bikers Branch. Nearly 100 were present at a great social occasion where the stalls were kept very busy. Branch Chairman Brian Lavender emphasised that the Legion cares for old and young Service personnel and veterans pointing out that several members attended the funeral the previous day of 89 year old Branch member George Green, a wartime Fleet Air Arm pilot who flew off aircraft carriers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans as well as in the Mediterranean in Fairey Swordfish and Barracuda aircraft, surviving attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz in April 1944. Several members also attended the marriage of 27year old Lance Corporal Rob Hill, Royal Marines (one of our serving Branch members), in St Giles' Church on 19th March and Brian asked those present to keep him in their thoughts and prayers as he was now on active service with 42 Commando in Afghanistan. £690 was raised for the Poppy Appeal and it is hoped to raise over £1000 at a Wartime Review Night in the Village Hall on Saturday 2nd July..

 

 

 

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RBL (KILMINGTON BRANCH)

 

There was a first in the Branch on 19th March 2011 when one of our serving members, Lance Corporal Rob Hill, Royal Marines, married Gemma in St Giles’ Church.  The Service was taken by the Rev’d Alastair McCollum and several Branch members joined the family and friends.  Even the family dog was involved, and at the appropriate moment in the Service, Dylan bounded down the aisle to greet Rob and Gemma as they exchanged rings.  Rob has already left with his Royal Marine colleagues for Afghanistan to fight the Taleban and we wish him good luck and a safe return.

 

The Branch sadly lost a member on 8th April when George Green died aged 86.  George volunteered for the Royal Navy in 1940 and joined the Fleet Air Arm, training as a pilot on Tiger Moths in UK and on Harvards in Canada.  He served on various aircraft carriers during the war flying the Fairey Barracuda, the first British carrier based monoplane torpedo bomber of all metal construction.  He took part in several important operations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans as well as in the Mediterranean, the attack on the German battleship Tirpitz in April 1944 perhaps being the most dramatic.  The Exhortation in his memory was led by the Chairman at the Branch Committee meeting on 12 April and several members joined Eileen and other family members at a Humanist Cremation Service in Ottery St Mary on 15th April.

 

The Annual Outing will take place on Friday 17th June when a coach will take us to Tiverton for a 2.5 hour trip on a horse-drawn barge on the Grand Western Canal.  The barge can take up to 70 people for our exclusive use so friends and guests can be invited.  The coach will call at Bickleigh Mill for shopping and site-seeing on the return journey.  Places can be booked through the Treasurer, Roger Lovegrove on 01297 631091 at a cost of £18 per head.  Other dates for the diary are:

 

Friday 24 June at 6.00 pm - Annual BBQ in the New Inn

Saturday 2 July at 7.00 pm - Wartime Revue Night in the Village Hall with Supper

Friday 30 September at 7.30 pm - Annual Lecture in the Village Hall by Col Robbie Hall, a bomb disposal                                                     expert.

 

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

 

It was sad to hear that the Stockland Branch of the Royal British Legion disbanded in the 90th Anniversary year of the foundation of the RBL.  The Kilmington Branch would welcome any members of that Branch or anyone in the local villages that do not have a Branch, to join us in our activities.  We hold two fund raising coffee mornings per year, have monthly “Get Togethers” alternating between the Old and New Inns, hold an Annual BBQ, Outing and Lecture, and observe Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday with a lunch after the Service. Please contact Chairman Brian Lavender on 01297 34922 or the Secretary Michael O’Flaherty 01297 32751 for further details.

 

 

RBL (KILMINGTON BRANCH) COFFEE MORNING

 

The Royal British Legion Spring Coffee Morning in support of the Poppy Appeal will be held in the Kilmington Village Hall on Saturday 16th April, doors open at 10.30 am.  There will be cake, plant, gift and book stalls and contributions to those and the raffle would be much appreciated.  Please make a special effort to support the occasion in the 90th Anniversary year of the foundation of the British Legion when we are attempting to achieve record breaking funds in support of the Service community and particularly those injured as a result of action in Afghanistan.

 

Brian Lavender

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RBL (KILMINGTON BRANCH)

 

Two staunch supporters of the Branch sadly died in January.   A Funeral Mass for Lt Col Ronnie Dowden JP DL KCSG was held in a packed St Mary’s Catholic Church in Axminster on 5 February at which a number of members were present.  A Poppy Wreath from the Branch was sent in remembrance of him and those present heard tributes about his distinguished career in the British Army and afterwards in important appointments in civilian life.  Many members were present at the Funeral Service for Sheila Watts in St Giles’ Church on 2 February, conducted by the Rev’d Alastair McCollum.  Sheila and her husband John were active supporters of the Legion, and her death at the age of only 61 years was sudden and unexpected.  Ronnie and Sheila were remembered during the Exhortation at the Branch Committee Meeting on 31 January.

Brian Lavender

 

 

RBL (KILMINGTON BRANCH)

 

At the Committee meeting held on 6th December 2010, it was decided to send £900 to the Poppy Appeal and £300 to the Devon County Welfare Fund as a result of funds raised at events and donations received recently.  The Royal British Legion is doing a tremendous job in supporting those Service personnel killed and injured as a result of action in Afghanistan and other veterans and their families.  Please contact the undersigned to show your support and join the Legion in the Kilmington Branch.  You will be warmly welcomed.

 

Brian Lavender

Chairman – 01297 34922

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