KENT COUNTY NEWS. Royal British Legion, Kent County Office, Hermitage Court, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9NT

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1 KENT COUNTY NEWS Royal British Legion, Kent County Office, Hermitage Court, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9NT Registered Charity County Secretary Mobile twest@britishlegion.org.uk Welfare & Fundraising via Contact Centre BRANCH SECRETARIES: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ITEMS IN THIS MONTHLY CIRCULAR SHOULD FORM PART OF THE REPORT TO YOUR BRANCH COMMITTEE MOVE OF COUNTY OFFICE This is advance notification that County Office will be moving from its current location in Hermitage Court to an office in the Royal British Legion Village. No date has been set for the move but it is hoped that we will move sometime during September. I will inform Branch Secretaries of the details as soon as I am aware of them. COUNTY CHAIRMAN`S REMARKS General kent@britishlegion.org.uk County website: September 2014 Applications for Civil Awards (MBE, BEM etc.) are submitted to the County President by the President of the nominating Branch. The applications are then forwarded to the Lord Lieutenant of Kent. Applications for Royal British Legion Awards (Gold Badge, Life Membership and Certificate of Appreciation) should be completed by the Branch and sent to the County Secretary who will put it before the County Management Board. The application with the CMB s recommendation will be forwarded to the County Committee before being submitted to National for approval. The application will be returned to the Branch should it fall at any time. Forms for both Civil and Royal British Legion Awards are available from the County Secretary. I would like to thank all who attended the County Parade at Deal, and thank Downs Branch for hosting the event so well. It was a great afternoon enjoyed by all. The only down side was that the Margate ATC Band let us down and did not appear. I have asked their OC for an explanation. Despite this set-back the parade took place through the town without music and was well received. There are still tickets available for the Isle of Thanet Festival of Remembrance. They can be purchased from the Winter Gardens Box Office Standard Bearers requiring tickets should contact me on or austinwalker@live.co.uk Aussie Walker

2 IN MEMORIAM Donations have been gratefully received in memory of: 222 Mrs Alice Ranger 50 Mr Bob Foster Mrs Ethel Knight DONATIONS TO COUNTY FUNDS The following donations have been gratefully received: 200 Halstead Branch 25 Lenham, Harrietsham & District Branch BRANCH ACCOUNTS AUDIT DAYS Please ensure this information is passed to the Branch Treasurer This is a final reminder to Branches that their accounts as at 30th June 2014 must be submitted to the County Secretary by 30th September. Supporting bank statements and a letter of Authority to Disclose Information for each account must accompany a copy of the audited accounts. All Secretaries were sent a letter inviting their Treasurers to have their accounts audited and signed off at County Office. This was very successful last year and this year there is a team of four qualified Legion Independent Examiners plus one assistant. The final audit day will be on Wednesday 17th September commencing at am. It is important that you Richard Cast at richardcast@btinternet.com or phone him on to book your audit slot. It is expected that each audit will take approximately two hours (depending on branch income & expenditure) as long as all books and records are complete and presented. PLEASE NOTE the Team will not write up your account sheets they must have already been completed and signed by the Branch Officers. MEMBERSHIP FORMS - NEW MS4 Please ensure this information is passed to the Branch Membership Secretary A new version of the Membership Application Form (MS4/13) has been produced by the Membership Department and should now be available for branches to order from the Poppy Appeal at Aylesford. To order a maximum of 50 copies of the MS4 please contact poppymembership@britishlegion.org.uk or phone The current form, the MS4/12 in black and white A4 size, will still be accepted until the end of the calendar year. From 1st January 2015 we will only be accepting the new form and all stocks of the MS4/12 should be destroyed after that date. BRANCH AGMs September sees the end of the Legion year and 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. MS1s will be available shortly and please ensure yours is sent to the County Secretary as soon as possible after your AGM and certainly no later than the end of December.

3 WELFARE Please be informed that from September 2014 we will be stopping our presence at Thanet Gateway and setting up a new Pop In at Maurice House Care Home in Callis Court Road, Broadstairs CT10 3AH. The Pop In will run on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month between 10am and 3pm. Please encourage anyone who requires advice or information about The Legion to Pop In and see us at our new location. Please also see the attached poster which gives information on the other Pop In and outreach locations. COUNTY PARADE The County Service & Parade was held at St George s Church, Deal on Sunday 17th August. We were very pleased to welcome our VIPs; Major (Retd) Dennis Bradley BEM DL who represented the Lord Lieutenant in taking the salute, the High Sheriff of Kent, the Chairman of Dover District Council and the Mayor of Deal. About 120 people attended the service and a great number of these then joined the parade behind the 14 Legion Standards and six non- Legion Standards. The parade was followed by a wonderful reception held in the Town Hall with food and drink supplied by the Downs Branch, our hosts for the day. Thank you and well done to all those of the Branch who were involved with its organisation. ANNUAL COUNTY CONFERENCE 2015 Next year s County Conference will take place at Headcorn Village Hall on Saturday 17th January commencing at 1 pm. Branch Secretaries will shortly receive the papers branches will need. All paperwork concerning Conference will be printed on green paper to make it immediately identifiable. 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 be received at County Office by 30th September, your MS1 must be received by 31st December and your Annual Membership Fees must have been paid by 31st March. Remember, if your Branch Delegate does not attend your voice can not be heard. This is your chance to put your points of view over for discussion. Delegate applications must be received at County Office by no later than Friday 5th December. The guest speaker will be the Director of Operation, Sue Freeth. There will be time for a question and answer session and it is hoped that all branches will make an extra effort to attend so that they can put their questions to her. Any questions should be submitted to the County Secretary in advance, by no later than 2nd December please, to give the Director time to obtain answers she doesn t know everything.

4 There will also be a short presentation from Membership s Debbie Kimpton who will talk about changes to membership that will affect every branch and its members. Designated the Comradeship Services Project it means there is to be a big change to the way membership is managed. There is to be a new database, new payment methods and, significantly, anniversary membership is to be introduced. This is an important presentation, with time for questions afterwards, and therefore there should be at least one delegate or representative from each branch who can pass the information to their branch committee. SHOREHAM BRANCH There was a very successful WW1 exhibition in our church the first weekend of August. Also our 'Lights Out' ceremony on Monday 4th August was very well attended and was a very poignant, moving event. Shoreham RBL was proud to be part of a nationwide ceremony. SWANLEY, CROCKENHILL & HEXTABLE BRANCH After the parade, in which members of all three Cadet Forces were well represented, the Memorial was rededicated. The 109 names of those inscribed on the memorial that died in World War One were read out and a cross was laid for each of the fallen. This was followed by a service in St Mary s Church. Refreshments were then served in the Clocktower Pavilion, during which a picture painted by Mr Andrew Skipper, one of our Poppy Appeal collectors, was presented by Branch President Mrs Jennie Shea to Swanley Town Council to be placed on public display in a suitable location. Following the refurbishment earlier this year of the War Memorial in Swanley a rededication service was held on Sunday 3rd August. The parade and service was organised by Swanley Town Council in conjunction with the Branch Chairman, Secretary and Standard Bearer. The Mayor and Mayoress of Swanley were present, together with the Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council, the Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Lord Sackville (Deputy Lieutenant of Kent) and the Chairman of Hextable Parish Council, plus a large contingent from the Branch membership.

5 The Chairman, Jackie Best, writes You may be interested to know I was away with my Guides in Switzerland last week and on the 4th we held the silence at the top of the Jungfrau, a snow topped mountain. In the evening we put candles in all the chalet windows and went outside for the Exhortation and silence and a fine rendition of God Save The Queen was heard across the valley. I must say a large lump came to all our throats, and of all the places I might have thought about doing the Exhortation a Swiss mountain valley was not one. BEF POPPY WREATHS The Western Front Association (WFA) commemorated the Centenary of the BEF deploying to the Great War in 1914 by tracing the steps of the great journey carrying Poppy Wreaths to represent the 85 Regiments and Corps. The wreaths were initially carried in a WW1 Staff Car and Tender and Trailer on Sunday 10th August from London, through Kent to Dover. From there it would continue its journey across the Channel to Arras/Glisy in France. The day ended with a service at Dover War Memorial where, it s reported, the guys accompanying said there had been a brilliant turn out at all the service stations and wherever possible along the A2 so a big thank you from them to the Legion. Well done and thank you everyone. Regards to you all Tony West County Secretary twest@britishlegion.org.uk

6 LEST WE FORGET Notification has been received that the following members have passed on: Mr Peter Walker Birchington Mr Francis Perrisset Downs Mr Geoffrey Stevenson Mrs Doris Crowle Edenbridge Mr Richard Pratt Hawkhurst Mr Harold Clark Kent RBL Branch Mr Anthony Finch Mr Colin Shayler Margate Mr Howard Appleby Meopham, Cobham & Luddesdown Mr Michael King Mr Graham Bushell Minster & Monkton Mr Henry Davies New Romney Mr Peter Young Tonbridge Our deepest sympathies go to their families and friends

7 KENT COUNTY DIARY OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER Sun 7th Standard Bearer Training - Capel Morris Centre (10 am) Mon 15th - 26th County Secretary on Annual Leave Wed 17th Branch Audit Day Sat 20th - 21st Salute to the 40s - Chatham Historic Dockyard * Tue 30th Last day for submission of Branch Accounts to County Office OCTOBER Sun 5th County Standard Bearer Competition - Ditton Wed 22nd County Civic Poppy Launch - County Hall Thu 23rd National Poppy Launch Fri 24th Thanet Festival of Remembrance - Winter Gardens, Margate Sat 25th County Poppy Lunch - Brompton Barracks Sun 26th County Public Poppy Launch - Bluewater Shopping Centre NOVEMBER Sat 1st Women s Section County Conference - Headcorn Village Hall Sat 8th Festival of Remembrance - Royal Albert Hall Sat 9th Remembrance Sunday DECEMBER Sat 13th Carol Service - Capel Morris Centre (3 pm) Wed 31st Last day for submission of MS1s to County Office JANUARY 2015 Sat 17th County Conference - Headcorn (1 pm) * County Recruiting Stall Updated: 26th August 2014

8 WW1 CENTENARY EVENTS Date Branch Location Event Contact Update 31 Jul 2014 S E P T E M B E R 20th - 21st - Dover Castle War and the Horse customers@english-heritage.org.uk 22nd - Historic Dockyard Chatham The loss of the Cruisers Hogue, Cressy and Aboukir - 22 Sep th Staple Staple Village Hall The Lost Sons Of Staple: Poetry, song & humour O C T O B E R info@chdt.org.uk Michael Muncer michael.muncer172@btinternet.com 24th - Winter Gardens Margate N O V E M B E R Thanet Festival of Remembrance Austin Walker austinwalker@live.co.uk 9th National - Remembrance Sunday 11th National - Armistice Day 16th - Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks D E C E M B E R All Quiet on the Western Front enquiries@stagsevenoaks.co.uk 5th Swanley, Crockenhill & Hextable Orchard Academy, Swanley Carol Concert Harry Chapman kath.harry@ntlworld.com O T H E R S Various - Kent War Walks Geoff Ettridge geoff.rambler@me.com

9 Gravesham Gateway 1 st and 3 rd Fridays of the Month (10am 1pm) Windmill Street, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1AU Dover Gateway 1 st and 3 rd Tuesdays of the Month (10am 1pm) 71 Castle Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1PD Two Worlds Drop In (Multi Agency) 1 st Thursday of the Month (3pm 6pm) The Angel Centre, Angel Lane, Tonbridge, TN9 1SF Lampard Centre 1 st (10am 1pm) and 3 rd (1pm 4pm) Thursdays of the Month Sally Port, Brompton, Kent, ME7 5BU Maidstone Gateway 2 nd and 4 th Tuesdays of the Month (10am 1pm) King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JQ Bluewater Safety Shop 2 nd (1pm 4pm) and 4 th (10am 1pm) Wednesdays of the Month Bluewater Shopping Centre, Greenhithe, Kent, DA9 9ST Aylesford Pop In (Multi Agency) 3 rd Wednesday of the Month (1pm 6pm) Capel Morris Centre, RBL Village, Hall Road, Aylesford, ME20 7NL Tunbridge Wells Gateway 4 th Friday of the Month (10am 1pm) 8 Grosvenor Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2AB

10 ABF THE SOLDIERS CHARITY MUSICAL CONCERT THE NYE HALL THE DUKE OF YORK S ROYAL MILITARY SCHOOL, DOVER FRIDAY 10th OCTOBER pm -9.30pm On Friday 10 th October 2014 we will be holding our 8 th annual band concert at the Duke of York s Royal Military School, Dover in aid of ABF The Soldiers Charity. We very much hope that you will be able to join us for what we expect to be a highly entertaining musical event and fundraiser. We are delighted to welcome the Band of The Corps of Royal Engineers. KENT The cost of per ticket includes light refreshments to be served during the interval. Would you please return the section below indicating whether you would like to attend, and how many tickets you wish to purchase we need to raise 120,000 in Kent in 2014 so please spread the word and bring your friends. ABF THE SOLDIERS CHARITY MUSICAL CONCERT THE DUKE OF YORK S ROYAL MILITARY SCHOOL, DOVER Friday 10th October 2014 To: Nick Corck, Room 25, Somerset House, Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe, Kent CT20 3RF Name: Address:... Postcode E Mail Address:.. Phone No: 1. Please book me... tickets at each. I enclose a cheque for...made payable to the ABF The Soldiers Charity. 2. I am unable to attend, but would like to make a donation to the ABF The Soldiers Charity and enclose a cheque for Gift Aid Declaration to be completed only by UK taxpayers. I would like ABF The Soldiers Charity to reclaim the tax I have paid on all donations I make today, have made in the last four years prior to this year, and any donations I make in the future from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise. I am a UK taxpayer. I have paid or will pay as much in Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax each year as the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Sports Clubs (CASCs). That I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year (6 April to 5 April). I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not apply. I understand that ABF The Soldiers Charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every 1 that I give. Signed Date.