Minutes of the Toddington Branch of The Royal British Legion

Committee Meeting 8 p.m. on

Tuesday 17^th October 2023

1. Present

 Kelly Grumoli, Pippa Brazier, Debbie Gibbons, Graeme Kelly, John Wood, Shaun Prior, Bill Levinson, Melanie Parker, Glen Gadsden, Lee Stone, Shaun Prior

2. Apologies

Nigel Washington, Linda Washington

3.Silent Tribute.

4. Exhortation 

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.

5. Previous Meeting – Committee Meeting 19^th September 2023

The minutes were read and agreed to be a true report of the last full committee meeting.  Pippa did mention that there was a typo on the below, which should read.

17^th September 2023   Battle of Britain Service @ Chingford

Proposed – Bill Levinson

Seconded – Melanie Parker

6. Chairman’s Report.

 Memorial Bench.

We have had the final invoice from the Parish Council for the new memorial bench, the final costs came to £1712.09

Dedication of the New Union Flag

Our new union flag was Dedicated during the Sunday Service at St Georges on 15^th of October, Reverend Linda Washington conducted the service, with many Toddington Royal British Legion members in attendance.  In Memory of our Late President Mr John Bryant & Donated by Mrs Lynda Bryant.

New Remembrance Service Booklets.

The new service booklets have been sent off to the printer, we are now waiting for the proof copy to come back to us.

Coffee Morning.

Our annual Coffee Morning is fast approaching on Saturday 28^th October.

We hope to see many of you there on the day.

Remembrance 2023

Final preparations are ongoing for Remembrance weekend, The Poppy Appeal collection boxes will soon be appearing in the local shops and Pubs, we will also be doing our house-to-house collections again this year.

7. Reports

• Branch Community Support

Lee is continuing to support one of our members that resides in the village, to ensure that all is well after a short stay in hospital.

• Treasurer – Debbie Gibbons

• Poppy Appeal Report – Melanie Parker

2022 Poppy Appeal

There was no change to the below as of the 17^th October 2023.

The 2022 Poppy Appeal will close at the end of September, recent changes to the appeal total are as follows:

• Collecting pot from Johnson Court – £8.20
• Childs Bakers pot - £40.38

This gives us final totals as:

• Local Amount - £21,398.73
• Luton Schools – £18,911.89
• Overall Final Total – £40,310.62

County - Michael has lost the PAO for Bedford and is trying to find someone to take up the role. He is also looking for volunteers for Houghton Regis and Morrissons as high-income areas it is quite a potential loss.

For the totals:

Bedfordshire 2021/2022 £333,199.40

Bedfordshire 2022/2023 £341,529.37

National: 2020/2021 £37,854,284.51

National 2022/2023 £37,872,697.66

• Membership Secretaries Report – Bil Levinson

From the membership list on the 11^th October 2023, we have 60 members. 

The website is up to date as far as I can tell.  I have also loaded the September 2023 newsletter and updated future events.  I have also modified the header to now include a colour RBL badge on the right hand side.

• Standard Bearer – Pippa Brazier

Our Standard Bearer, Pippa Brazier, continues to go to various Funerals, events, and parades that she is requested to attend, the most recent of these since the last meeting are set out below.

We would just like to say a huge Thanks to Pippa for her dedication to her Standard Bearer role.

20^th September 2023   Funeral of Mr Mark Castle @ The Vale, Luton

21^st September 2023   Memorial Service of Mr Joe MacDonald @ Stotfold

22^nd September 2023  Funeral of Mr David Tracy @ Bedford St Mary’s

28^th September 2023   Funeral of Mrs Mary Ruane @ The Vale, Luton

29^th September 2023   Funeral of Mr David Gadsden @ Toddington St George’s

06^th October 2023       Funeral of Mr Arthur Rodney Taylor @ St Mary’s, Henlow

12^th October 2023       Funeral of Mr Don Woodcroft @ The Vale, Luton

15^th October 2023       Union Flag Dedication Service @ Toddington St George’s

8. Correspondence

All items of correspondence are now sent out via email to the committee members prior to the meeting taking place, so that they can be read beforehand and discussed as necessary during the meeting. If any member would like a copy of any correspondence item, please contact John Wood or Kelly Grumoli (details at the top of these minutes) and we will get copies to you.

9. Future Events – Memorable Dates

Toddington RBL Coffee Morning,

09:30 – 11:30pm Saturday, 28^th October 2023

Armistice Day 11^th November 2023

Armistice Day Service 11am Toddington Village Green

Remembrance Service and Parade 12^th November 2023

From 10:30am Toddington Village Green

From 14.00pm Chalgrave Church

From 15.00pm Tebworth & Wingfield Village Hall

10. Any Other Business.

Gazebo Hire.

Kelly has looked over and finalised the loan agreement.

11. Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at 19:30 on Tuesday 7^th November 2023 and will be in the top bar of the Social & Services Club, High Street Toddington.

If any member would like to attend a committee meeting, please contact John Wood or Kelly Grumoli and we can send you the details.

The meeting was closed at 20.57 pm