Branch Christmas Coffee & Mince Pie Morning - Touchpoint, 77 Meadow Street, WsM
Pictured - WsM Mayor, Cllr John Crockford-Hawley & Army Veteran, Colin (92 years young), Andy McCarthy (Branch Committee), Rev. Peter Ashman (Branch Padre), Steve Broadhead (Treasurer), Veterans - Nick Abdy, Tony Jago & Annette Murray (Veterans Welfare Service).
Special Mention to: Sue Packham (Branch Secretary) for hosting the day and taking the photos.
10th November 2024 - Remembrance Service, Grove Park, WsM
Pictured: Rob Bywaters (Chairman) & Rev. Peter Ashman (Branch Padre)
6th November 2024 - Visit to St Georges' Nursing Home, WsM
The Branch were invited to attend St Georges Nursing Home to give a short presentation about Remembrance and also to have some tea & cake with their Residents and our BCC (Branch Community Coordinator), Robin Potter took up the opportunity and got to do what he does best.
Pictured: Robin Potter (BCC) with some of the happy residents.
29th September 2024 - Double Hills Memorial, Milton Cemetery, WsM
On Sunday 29th September the Annual, and 80th Anniversary of the Double Hills Memorial Service took place at the Cross of Sacrifice and at the War Graves section in Milton Cemetery Weston-Super-Mare.
The
Service commemorates the loss of 23 personnel when Glider RJ113, en-route from Keevil to Arnhem, crashed in a field called ‘Double Hills’ near the village of Paulton in Somerset. 21 men of 9th Field Company Airborne Royal Engineers and 2 pilots of the Glider Pilot Regiment, were the first casualties of Operation Market Garden, a plan to land an Allied Airborne force behind German lines and bring World War II to a close. They are all buried in the War Graves section of Milton Cemetery.
Wreaths were laid by Deputy Lieutenant Lt Colonel Mike Motum (Somerset), Deputy Lieutenant Stephen Parsons (Bristol), Lt Colonel Mike Allison (Bristol Royal Engineers Association), Robert McDonald (Somerset County RBL), Lt Wren (9 Para Squadron RE), Ian Parry (Arnhem Memorial Paulton), Rob Bywaters (Weston-Super-Mare RBL), Mrs Sharon Wilson (HMS Tamar HK Flotilla Association).
Mrs Valery Austin laid a wreath at the grave of her father, Sapper Fernyhough and Sergeant (Retd) Martin Allison laid a wreath at the grave of his Great Uncle, Sapper Davis.
Cadets of the Worle Detachment ACF and 290 Squadron ATC placed poppy crosses on each grave. Buglers from the Silver Bugles Band, Somerset Army Cadets sounded the Last Post and Reveille.
The Mayor of Weston-Super-Mare, Councillor John Crockford-Hawley attended the Service which was led by Reverend Peter Ashman the Weston-Super-Mare Branch RBL Chaplain.
22nd June 2024 - Armed Forces & Emergency Services Day, WsM
Veterans March, Promenade, WsM Sea Front
Pictured: Rob Bywaters (Chairman - Red Beret) & Andy Hendry (Member - behind Rob)
WsM RBL Poppy Appeal & Fundraising Team
80th Anniversary - D-Day Landings Concert, Blakehay Theatre, WsM
Pictured - Robin Potter (BCS) & Blitz Time Sally
9th June 2024 - Weston Blitz Graves Memorial - Milton Cemetery
At 15:30 at Milton Cemetery, Members of the Branch attended a solemn memorial in memory of those whose died in Weston as a result of Nazi Air Raids in WW2.
Pic 1 - Mass Graves
Pic 2 - Attending the Memorial service in 2024
Pictured: Rob Bywaters (Chairman & Acting Standard Bearer), Robin Potter (BCS) & Peter Ashman (Branch Padre) - (Not pictured - Sue Packham, Secretary)
6th June 2024 - 80th Anniversary of D-Day Landings
In memory of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day (Operation Overlord) on 6th June 1944, the Branch Chairman, Mayor and other members of the Veteran community, stood for a minutes silence after the D-Day memorial flag was raised outside the Mayors parlour, Grove House, Weston-s-Mare
11th February 2024 - Somerset County Conference
Robin & Lyn receiving a surprising award for the Branch we where won the the 'Recruiting Challenge Cup' and also Dennis Flamson receiving his County Certificate of Appreciation for his role as Standard Bearer for both the Weston and Clevedon Branches of the RBL.
12th January 2024 - Branch Coffee Morning in conjunction with 'Jo Cox Foundation' to combat isolation and loneliness. Thanks to Lyn & Sue for running the morning and the Mayor, Mayoress, The Local Help4 Heroes team (Janine, Kathryn and Larry) and our Branch members for making the event a great one.
16th December 2023 - Certificate of Appreciation presented to Dennis Flamson alongside photo of his last duty on Remembrance Day 2023 at Grove Park whom has been a Standard Bearer for both Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon Branch's over the past 15 years who stands down after being an exemplary example to the Royal British Legion of "Service, not self"
Poppy Appeal Opening - 28th October 2023 - Sovereign Centre, WsM
Opened by Deputy Mayor - John Crockford-Hawley. Special thanks to 'Nitter & Natter' group for the 2600 hand-crafted Poppies and 290 Sqn RAF Cadets that helped to attach the Poppies to the drapes that hang in the Sovereign Centre, WsM - Fantastic work by all.
Double Hills Memorial, Milton Cemetery, WsM - Sunday 24th Sep 202
Wreaths were laid by Lt Colonel Barry Angus (Army Air Corps), Malcolm Robinson (Bristol Royal Engineers Association), Rob Bywaters (Weston-super-Mare RBL), Peter Yeates (Double Hills Arnhem Commemoration), Ian Parry (Backwell and Flax Bourton RBL) and Sharon Parry (on behalf of Mrs Valerie Austin – daughter of Sapper John Ferneyhough a RJ113 casualty).
Cadets of the Worle Detachment ACF and 290 Squadron ATC placed poppy crosses on each grave. Buglers from the Silver Bugles Band, Somerset Army Cadets sounded the Last Post and Reveille.
The Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Councillor Ciaran Cronnelly with his wife Katherine the Mayoress. atttended the Service which was led by Reverend Ian Girling the Weston-super-Mare Branch RBL Chaplain.
Double Hills Arnhem Memorial, Paulton - Sunday 3rd Sep 2023
Attendee's - Rob Bywaters (Chairman), Sue Packham (Secretary) & Jerry Sandford Standard Bearer)
Armed Forces Day - 10th June 2023
Thanks to all our amazing Veterans, Volunteers and the Royal Marines to making to day possible and we raised £524 for the Poppy Appeal.
Dennis F (Standard Bearer), Jerry S, (Member), Andy H (Member), Robin P (BCS), Lyn Lovell, Vice Chairman / PAO), Sue P (Secretary), Jane (Volunteer)
The King's Coronation Concert - Sunday 7th May 2023 at Windsor Castle
Attended - Rob Bywaters (Branch Chairman) and Michelle Bywaters
1st & 2nd April 2023 - World At War Event @Weston Helicopter Museum -
Fundraising for the Poppy Appeal raising a brilliant £480.00 over 2 days
Pictured: Robin (BCS), Deidre, Lyn (Vice Chairman & PAO) Ian G (Branch Padre) and Sue P, Branch Secretary, Blue (Piper) and Dennis F (Standard Bearer)
18th February 2023 - Our very own Sue Packham (Branch Secretary) being presented by Rob Bywaters (Chairman) a well deserved Somerset County, Certificate of Appreciation for her outstanding work for the RBL and Branch Touchpoint in WsM.
Supporting Weston Brass Christmas Concert at The Winter Gardens
Sunday 4th December 2022
Poppy Appeal 2022
Some of our staunch supporters and Volunteers
A massive 'Thank You' for your time -
All together you managed to raise an amazing £67,015.63.
We couldn't have done it without you.
Weston-super-Mare Football Club Memorial Match
Saturday 5th November at 15:00 vs. Salisbury Town
Pictured - Standard Bearer, Jerry Sandford, Branch Chairman, Rob Bywaters
Credit pic: Ade Threasher - WsM FC Photographer
Relaunch of the Touchpoint, 77 Meadow Street, WsM on 24th August 2022 at 10:30am
Left to Right: Steve Broadhead (Treasurer), Jerry Sandford (Standard Bearer), Lyn Lovell (Vice Chairman), Cllr Sonia Russe (Town Mayor), Rob Bywaters (Chairman),
Robin Potter (Branch Community Support) & Sue Packham (Secretary)
Left to Right: Garry Mills (RBL Trustee), Phil Davies (RBL Membership Town Council, Rob Bywaters (Branch Chairman)
Credit for photos: Archant
Remembrance Cake - Credit to Julie Greatbanks
The Branch at Armed Forces Weekend 2022
Pictured (L to R): Lynda Atkins (National Vice-Chairman), Lyn Lovell (Branch Vice Chairman), Rob Bywaters (Branch Chairman) & Sue Packham (Branch Secretary)
Pictured L to R - Rob Bywaters (Branch Chairman), Robin Potter (Branch Community Support)
& Cdr Andy Gibbs (RN)
Sue Packham (Branch Secretary) in full fundraising mode.
Our Distinguished member - Reg Charles (Legion D'Honneur) being
appreciated for his service in WW2 by Cdr Andy Gibbs (RN)
The famous 'Red Arrows' flying directly over our Branch stall.
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Branch Officers and our distinguished Branch Member and Normandy Veteran, Reg Charles who opening the new toning centre on Alexandra Parade, Weston Town Centre on Wed 25th May 2022.
Pictured L to R - Steve Broadhead (Branch Treasurer), Sue France (Member), Sue Packham (Secretary),
Reg Charles (Member), Lyn Lovell (Vice Chairman / PAO) & Owner Rana Graham
The Branch at the World at War Weekend, Helicopter Museum, WsM - 2nd & 3rd April 2022
The Branches very own Reg Charles (Normandy Veteran & Branch Member) and daughter Sheila, spending time with WsM Mayor, Cllr James Clayton
Reg was presented with a framed photograph of himself laying a wreath and paying his respects at the Grove Park War memorial on Remembrance Day 2021.
Remembrance Parade and Service - Sun 14th November 2021
L to R- Rob Bywaters (Chairman), Reg Charles (Normandy Veteran) & Lyn Lovell (Vice Chair and PAO)
Supporting Priory School, WsM - Planting Maple trees and fundraising for the Poppy Appeal - Sat 13th November 2021
Pictured - Andy Hendry - Branch Member planting a Cross of Remembrance
Armistice Day - Veterans March, 11:00 am, High Street, WsM
Supporting Reg Charles (D-Day) Veteran at WsM Train Station Giving wreath from
Veterans Charity on 07:53 to London Paddington
100 Years of the RBL - Sovereign Centre - Fri 5th November 2021
Left to right - Rob Bywaters (Chairman), Mayor- Cllr James Clayton, Sue Packham (Secretary), John Penrose MP,
Jerry Sandford (Branch Standard Bearer)
Branch Standard and 100 Year Pennant
Double Hills Memorial - Milton Cemetery, WsM - Sep 26th 2021
Visit of Mike Homer (PAO Fareham Branch) to W-s-Mare carrying out visits to 100 visits to Branch towns - 3rd July 2021
Pictured: Steve Broadhead (Treasurer), Sue Packham (Secretary), Mike Homer, Rob Bywaters (Chairman)
Choral Evensong at Wells Cathedral celebrating the Centenary of the Royal British Legion in Somerset - 6th June 2021
(Pictured: Sue Packham (Secretary), Rob Bywaters Chairman), Dennis Flamson (RBL Standard Bearer)
Commemoration of the 100 years foundation of the Royal British Legion - Grove Park, WsM 15th May 2021
Today, the WsM Branch Officers and special guest gathered to Commemorate the 100 Year Anniversary and foundation of the Royal British Legion founded this day in 1921. The Commemoration took place around the newly located Legion House Poppy Memorial now located in Grove Park at 09:00 am this morning. Here's to the next 100 years.
In attendance (Left to Right) Chairman & Acting Standard Bearer - Rob Bywaters, Vice Chairman - Lyn Lovell, Deputy Mayor - Counsellor Roger Bailey, Branch Padre - Ian Girling, Branch Secretary - Sue Packham, Branch Community Support - Robin Potter.
Photo: Michelle Bywaters
Thank you to all who put 'Service, not Self' to help all of local beneficiaries, here's to the next 100 years.
Remembering "The Fallen 418" from Weston in WW1 - Italian Gardens, WsM Aug 2018
Pictured Left to Right - Rob, Sue and Lyn
Some of our WW2 Legends in Weston
Weston-Super-Mare Bike Night - Beach Lawns, WsM
World at War Weekend (WsM Helicopter Museum)
Lyn & Robin
Steve (Treasurer), Sue (Secretary)
& Robin (Branch Community Support)
Lyn Lovell (Poppy Appeal Organiser and Branch Vice Chairman)
