CHAIRMAN OF THE CITY OF ARMAGH BRANCH OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2013
2013 has been a very successful, busy and productive year for the City of Armagh Branch. In March we celebrated another successful year of collections for the Annual Poppy Appeal over the Remembrance period, and, as in previous years, rewarded our dedicated team of Poppy Sellers by inviting them to a Poppy Sellers’ Dance in our Function Room. Not all of our Poppy Sellers were able to attend, but those who did enjoyed a free evening of entertainment and a light supper. We would encourage more people to support this event in future years.
After many months of research, planning, preparation and commitment by a small team of volunteers, we launched our Memorial Record Book within our premises in June. The Deputy Lord Mayor, local Counsellors, clergy and other invited guests all attended the opening of this very important undertaking by our Branch. Work is on-going to complete the collation of every person’s name, rank, unit, address and date and place of burial who has lived in our Poppy Collection area, and has served in HM Forces since 1914. This is going to be a long-term process as we have identified so many who appear to fulfil this criteria, and this is one occasion where we will be very happy to be told if any of the information we have collated is inaccurate! We want this record to become a valuable aid in future years to ancestry research. If you have any relatives who have served in any branch of HM Forces since 1914, and who have lived at some time during their lives in the area in which our Branch carry out Poppy Collections, please get in touch with any Committee or Staff Member, and ensure that their details are included in this Record.
The Branch have made inroads throughout this past year to establish a closer relationship with the Cadet Attachment of ‘E’ Coy, 2nd (NI) Battalion based at the T.A. Centre in Armagh. The Cadets have attended a number of events hosted throughout the year by our Branch, and their appearances in uniform have formed a special connection to all of us who have served. They also took part in our Remembrance Concert, and in our Remembrance Sunday Parade. It is our hope that in the near future they will become youth members of our Branch, and work is in progress to have this achieved.
The 2013/14 Poppy Launch was held in our Branch in October. Due to a mix-up, neither the Lord Mayor or Deputy Lord Mayor of the City and District were available to attend the Launch. At very short notice Councillor Sylvia McRoberts attended as our guest of honour, and we are very grateful to her for doing so. Councillor McRoberts has been a very good friend to, and long-time supporter of our Branch. We are very lucky to have such support, and are extremely indebted to her for launching the 2013/14 Appeal. For the second year running, members of The Royal British Legion Motorcycle Branch (N.I.) supported the Launch, and displayed some of their motorcycles in the Function Room where it was warm and dry to appreciate them. We would like to thank them, and the Cadets who also attended, for their support.
On Friday 9th November the Branch held its Annual Remembrance Festival of Music in the Market Place Theatre. The Lord Mayor Councillor Robert Turner was our guest of honour. Nearly every seat was sold for this Concert, and everyone I have spoken to since has praised the performances of those who provided the entertainment. This Concert is the largest single event for fundraising towards our Annual Poppy Appeal, and I cannot thank enough everyone who supports us by attending. I would also like to thank all those who freely gave of their time and talents to put on such a professional performance which was evidence of the practice and rehearsal that had been going on “behind the scenes”. Our Branch is very lucky to have such generous support.
Our Parade on Remembrance Sunday was another outstanding success with the largest turnout on Parade that I can remember. Unfortunately the laws of nature were apparent, with the youth on parade far out-numbering the veterans. We were blessed with a beautiful morning, and also had as large a crowd of spectators gathered at the Cenotaph as I can recall. The Queen’s Representative, the Lord Lieutenant for Co. Armagh the Earl of Caledon laid the first wreath. A total of 59 wreaths were laid before the Parade moved off to worship in Armagh Methodist Church led by Rev. Denis Maguire, before returning to Dobbin Street for luncheon. We are very grateful to all who participated in the Parade, and to those who supported us.
David Hammerton
Branch Chairman
