KENT COUNTY NEWS. November 2013

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1 KENT COUNTY NEWS Royal British Legion, Kent County Office, Hermitage Court, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9NT Telephone: General County Secretary County website: November 2013 BRANCH SECRETARIES: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ITEMS IN THIS MONTHLY CIRCULAR SHOULD FORM PART OF THE REPORT TO YOUR BRANCH COMMITTEE CONTACTING COUNTY OFFICE Please be aware that all the phone numbers in County Office have now been closed down including my Calls to those old numbers are being re-directed to the Contact Centre in Cardiff which will then the appropriate staff member with any requests etc. The Contact Centre has taken over the old Legion Line number of Could you please encourage beneficiaries/general enquirers using the Contact Centre to use the Call Back facility if they are unable to get through? This is a very good system which allows them to leave their details and message and a member of the Contact Centre then returns their call as soon as possible. This removes the need for individuals to be constantly ringing the Contact Centre. Tony West COUNTY CHAIRMAN S REMARKS I trust you all have good AGMs this year and are able to get all your Officers and Committees in place for the coming year. This will be a special year as we commemorate the start of the War. I thank the Chairmen who have replied to my questionnaire with reference attendance at County and National Conferences. I will respond to your comments in the December newsletter, a bit of light reading for you over the festive period. This is a very busy time of year for you all with Poppy Appeal and I trust you all have a successful one. It is amazing how each year you all do so well especially in these hard times. Well done and thank you all who assist your Branch PAOs. I was honoured to be invited to a tea party on honour of 90 year old Rose Watson who has been collecting for the Poppy Appeal for 60 years in the Folkestone/Cheriton area. She s a great lady. I was pleased to hear the County Poppy Launch went off very well as did the Poppy Lunch at Brompton Barracks. Well done to all concerned. I am please to also report that the Isle of Thanet Festival of Remembrance was very successful with a good turn out. The National Vice Chairman, Terry Whittles, was impressed. I was surprised and honoured that the National Standard was on Parade as well and we thank the National Chairman for allowing this. Aussie Walker

2 DONATIONS TO COUNTY FUNDS The following donations have been gratefully received: 200 Maidstone Branch 10 Mrs M Philbrook 10 Mrs L M Stokes 50 Church of St Mary & St Radigund, Postling POPPY APPEAL As we embark upon this year s Poppy Appeal I can reveal that the total for the Poppy Appeal in Kent for the last year was 1,225,897.87p. Unfortunately this shows a decrease of 9% on the previous year s total but this ties in with the national figure of 36,216,630.61, a decrease of 8%. Despite this, it is an amazing achievement by our Poppy Co-ordinator Anne Hill and her fantastic team of PAO s and their many volunteers that go out in all weathers. Well done to you all. BRANCH ACCOUNTS Please ensure this information is passed to the Branch Treasurer I regret that, despite all the publicity, there were a number of Branches that failed to correctly submit their Branch Accounts by the 30th September. Thank you to all those that got theirs in well in time and thank you to those that just squeezed in just in time. Unfortunately there are still four branches that have submitted no accounts at all: Cowden, Hartfield & District Edenbridge Folkestone Sandwich Please get them to the County Secretary without delay. MEMBERSHIP Please ensure this information is passed to the Branch Membership Secretary Membership forms should now be ordered from Mrs Phyl Summers at the Poppy Appeal on or at poppymembership@britishlegion.org.uk. Nicola Wren has now left the organisation. COUNTY CONFERENCE 2014 Next year s County Conference will take place at Headcorn Village Hall, Church Lane, Headcorn TN27 9NR on Saturday 18th January. Please remember, if you wish to send a delegate to County Conference or to Annual Conference in May, your R&P / Branch Accounts form must have been received at County Office by 30th September and your MS1 must be received at by 31st December. Could those Branches that successfully attained an award at the 2013 County Conference please return the award to County Office by 6th December. As per last year awards must be returned to the County Office and not produced at Conference on the day. The reason for this is that County have taken on the responsibility for both cleaning, and engraving. Thank you for your cooperation. Steve Woolford Conference Secretary

3 BRANCH AGMs Branches are reminded that, in accordance with Governing Regulation 35 of the Royal Charter, all branches are to hold their AGMs between 1st October and 30th November. Please ensure your MS1 is sent to the County Secretary as soon as possible after your AGM and certainly no later than the end of December. Should you need a blank MS1 please contact County Office. COUNTY STANDARD BEARER COMPETITION The results of the competition, held at the Capel Morris Centre on Sunday 6th October, were as follows: Royal British Legion 1 Geoff Lees Swanley, Crockenhill & Hextable Branch 2 Richard Bunyan Sevenoaks Branch 3 Julian De-Zille Downs Branch Royal British Legion Woman s Section 1 Linda Fletcher Stoke & District Branch Many congratulations to the winners and well done to all who took part. Thank you to all those who turned up on the day to make it run so well and thanks for your patience after the venue problems. STANDARD BEARERS With Remembrancetide almost upon us branches are reminded that, in accordance with the Ceremonial Handbook, it is essential that Standard Bearers should be physically strong and well able to handle the Standard under all conditions. Standards often get soaked and become very heavy - something that is felt when recovering the Standard. Branches should be mindful of the insurance restrictions and whether age, infirmity or disability would have any implications. This is particularly important bearing in mind that the pole and finial can become a lethal weapon if a Standard Bearer should stumble. If the Branch is aware of any medical or other problems and someone gets hurt the Legion insurance company could refuse any payment.

4 When on parade, Standard Bearers must be properly dressed in accordance with the Ceremonial Handbook. The beret should be black or dark navy, matching the colour of the suit, with the Legion badge - not a service/regimental beret and badge. A neatly pressed plain black or dark navy suit should be worn with a clean white shirt and a Legion multi-motif tie. An Official Legion badge denoting the membership status should be worn and a Veterans Badge may be worn by those Standard Bearers who qualify. It should be worn just below and slightly left of the Membership Badge, as you look at it on the Jacket. No other badges should be worn. BRABOURNE & SMEETH BRANCH Following a presentation on the Legion and Remembrance with our local Guides Company, our team retired to the Plough Inn at Brabourne Lees. The pub has made us their Charity focus to the point that Gabbie, the eldest daughter, has set up a production line of beautiful Poppy Cup cakes to sell to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal. Below is a photo of Gabbie with Branch member Paul Hardisty and some of the cakes. Note the poster behind. THE CHRISTMAS DAY TRUCE To mark the one hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of World War I, the Tunbridge Wells Twinning and Friendship Association will commemorate the legendary occasion, when Christmas and an impromptu football match prevailed for a few hours over war. An illustrated talk by Ernie Brennan will recall that historic Christmas Day Truce and introduce its legacy today, The Flanders Peace Field Project, of which Ernie is Chairman of the Working Group. The Project is being organised by the International Children s Football Alliance (ICFA) where young footballers and athletes of other sports will be encouraged to study and play at a complex to be built at Messines in Belgium, near the site of the Truce. The talk will be given at the King Charles Church Hall, Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TA on Monday, 18th November starting at 7.30pm. Admission is 4. Please see the attached flyer for further information. FOLKESTONE YOUTH FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE This year s Festival, on behalf of the Poppy Appeal, takes place at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone on Saturday 9th November commencing at 6 pm. The Festival features cadet marching bands, local school choirs and big band and dance displays. Back by popular demand is the Blue Falcons Gymnastics Display Team and this year there is a special performance from the Military Wives Choir of Shorncliffe. Tickets cost just 7.50 and are available from the Box Office on or

5 BOWLS The finals of the Kent County Bowls Competition took place on Saturday 14th September at Chatham Bowls Club. All winners will now go forward to the South-East Region competition in Results are as follows: Singles Trevor Skinner (Rochester & Strood) Declared Winner Chris Mew (Westerham) Conceded due to illness Pairs Robert Jolley & Trevor Skinner (Rochester & Strood) 20 Winners John Tutt & Derek Edwards (Westerham) 11 Mixed Pairs Karen Attwood & Robert Couchman (Rochester & Strood) 24 Winners Anne & Stewart Farley (Westerham) 14 Rinks Robert Jolley, Cliff Reynolds, Fran Hammel 27 Winners & Roly Wibrew (Rochester & Strood) Jenny Wisbey, Ivor Moseley, John Tutt 10 & Derek Edwards (Westerham) Congratulations to all winners and well done everyone who took part in the various competitions. Roly Wibrew Regards to you all Tony West County Secretary

6 LEST WE FORGET Notification has been received that the following members have passed on: Mr Alan Brooke-Turner CMG Cowden, Hartfield & District Mrs May Underwood Dymchurch & District Mr Kenneth Bronwin Goudhurst Mr Joseph Donkin Kent Branch Mr Raymond Gilden Mr Leslie Hogben Littlebourne & District Mr Leslie Codgbrook Rolvenden Mr Cyril Hunt Mr Albert Kennard Rochester & Strood Mrs Jane Stoddart Royal British Legion Village Mr Williams Roff Royal Tunbridge Wells Mr Frank Bowler Swanley, Crockenhill & Hextable Our deepest sympathies go to their families and friends

7 KENT COUNTY DIARY OF EVENTS NOVEMBER Sat 9th Festival of Remembrance - Royal Albert Hall Sun 10th Remembrance Sunday Sat 16th Women's Section County Conference - Headcorn Village Hall DECEMBER Sat 14th Carol Service - Capel Morris Centre (3 pm) KENT COUNTY DIARY OF EVENTS JANUARY Sat 18th County Conference - Headcorn Village Hall (1 pm) FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL Sat 19th - 20th Medway Steam & Transport Rally - Chatham Historic Dockyard * MAY Sun 11th Poppy Walk - Whitstable Castle (10 am) Sat 17th - 18th Annual Conference - Torquay JUNE Sat 21st - 22nd Hellfire Corner - Dover * Sat 28th Armed Forces Day * JULY Wed 16th - 20th War & Peace Revival - Folkestone Racecourse, Westenhanger * Sat 26th - 27th Thanet at War - Ramsgate * * County Recruiting Stall Updated: 23rd September 2013

8 WWI when Christmas and football prevailed over war An illustrated talk by Ernie Brennan on the historic Christmas Day Truce and its legacy today, The Flanders Peace Field Project Monday, 18th November at 7.30pm. King Charles Church Hall, 3 Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells (near the Brew House Hotel) Admission: 3 (TWTFA members) 4 (non-members) includes light refreshments. Pay at the door. Visitors welcome. In his illustrated talk The 1914 Christmas Truce and the Flanders Peace Field Project, Ernie Brennan reports on that celebrated Christmas Day, when the infantrymen of Great Britain and Germany ceased hostilities to spread some festive joy and celebrated with an informal football match. One hundred years later plans are well advanced to commemorate this memorable occasion with The Flanders Peace Field Project, organised by the International Children s Football Alliance (ICFA), where young footballers and athletes of other sports will be encouraged to study and play at a complex to be built at Messines in Belgium, near the site of the Truce. The National Children s Football Alliance (NCFA) is organizing The Football & Peace Project, when young footballers, of all abilities, from Kent, will play matches in the spirit of the Christmas Truce at Maidstone United s Gallagher Stadium on Friday 25th April Both projects will emphasise Reconciliation and Peace linked to Sport. Ernie Brennan, an award-winning children s football coach, is Chairman of the Flanders Peace Field Working Group and the founder and a Director of the NCFA. Tunbridge Wells Twinning & Friendship Association Chairman: Michael Holman, 2 Mayfield Rd., Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8ES. Tel: michaeldekholman@gmail.com