Bishop's Stortford Branch Memorabilia on Display at the Christmas Community Countdown in Jackson Square
On Friday 8th December 2023, The Royal British Legion Bishop's Stortford Branch members took part in the Christmas Community Countdown in town and had displays of photos and items showing our history, as well as merchandise. Thank you to all who visited us.
Veterans’ Commemoration Service – War Poetry in Welwyn
On 13th September 2023, members of Bishop’s Stortford Branch Committee and our Standard Bearer, Mark Thornewill, attended a Veterans’ Commemoration at St Mary Magdalene Church. The poignant service included readings of eleven war poems from World War I through World War II, Korea, the Falklands and Afghanistan, interspersed with three hymns. The names on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstones were also read out.
John B Robinson, President of the RBL Bishop's Stortford Branch, Holds First Medal for Britain's Nuclear Test Veterans
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Article from The Mirror Newspaper online, on 23rd August 2023:
By Susie Boniface, Reporter
23 Aug 2023
One of the last surviving 'cloud flyers' holds first medal for Britain's nuclear test veterans.
John Robinson was at the medal factory in Birmingham to see the first medal roll off the production line after a five-year Mirror campaign to honour Britain's nuclear test veterans.
Former squadron leader John Robinson holding the medal he and his comrades have waited decades for.
John Robinson is a lucky man. Not only has he survived five nuclear bombs, he flew through two mushroom clouds on deadly sampling missions of which he is now believed to be the sole survivor.
He has now made history again - as the first nuclear veteran to hold the medal he and his comrades waited 70 years for.
Former squadron leader John, 89, said: "The big question is when I and my fellow veterans will get the finished product, and they told me they are hoping they can do it by the end of September, so they know the pressure is on. The medal means a lot to me, and I will be proud to accept it on behalf of my co-members of 76 Squadron, air crew and ground crew, who are sadly no longer with us to receive the acknowledgement themselves."
John was at the medal factory in Birmingham to see the first medal roll off the production line, following a five-year Mirror campaign to honour the 22,000 servicemen who took part in hundreds of radioactive UK bomb tests and toxic clean-ups in the Cold War. Only 7% survive, many reporting a legacy of cancers, miscarriages and birth defects.
Veteran John Robinson with Minister Johnny Mercer
So far 1,800 people, including survivors and next of kin, have been approved for the medal with another 500 who have applied. It is hoped they will now be delivered by Remembrance Sunday, which is just 80 days away. The veterans have asked for a ceremony hosted by King Charles, and sources have confirmed conversations are underway about it with the Palace.
The medal features an atomic symbol embraced by olive branches, while the ribbon's colours indicate the blue of the Pacific, the red of the Outback, and the black and yellow danger markers for radiation.
Last month the Mirror revealed John, of Bishop's Stortford, was one of dozens of veterans who had applied for their military medical records only to be told those covering his time at the tests were "missing".
Orders from Whitehall in the 1950s said everyone in John's elite bomber unit should have regular blood tests - but the MoD has admitted withholding some that show "gross irregularities" even today on the grounds of patient confidentiality.
It has led to claims of possible crimes by the state, as withholding, falsifying or destroying medical records is a criminal offence.
John's records show only that he received a dose equivalent to 576 chest x-rays in a single year after flying in Operations Buffalo, Antler and Grapple at Maralinga in South Australia and Christmas Island in the South Pacific in 1956 and 1957. He has suffered no ill health, but is concerned about the fate of his comrades.
"I cannot find anybody from my squadron who is alive, apart from one former navigator. I am the only pilot left," he said. "There were 85 of us involved, flying through those clouds, and if I'm all that's left there should be an independent study made of what killed the other 84."
It is believed some ex-veterans in the MoD medal office are also hunting for further veterans who have not come forward already to apply for their gong.
The medal came after veterans won a meeting with then-PM Boris Johnson, who ordered a review before he left office. A £250,000 oral history project has begun, with a further £200,000 for a project involving four secondary schools. Bids for a touring arts production, and larger-scale educational projects, were refused.
* To apply for the medal go to labrats.international/medal for advice. It is available to everyone who was under UK command in Australia, America and the South Pacific between 1952 and 1967, regardless of whether they witnessed a blast. Next of kin can also apply.
See the original article online here:
One of the last surviving 'cloud flyers' holds first medal for Britain's nuclear test veterans - Mirror Online
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Bishop's Stortford Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club Celebrate Bletchley Park Codebreaker's 97th Birthday
On Sunday 23rd July 2023, members of the RBL Bishop's Stortford Branch Committee were invited to join the Bishop’s Stortford Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club to celebrate Patrick’s 97th Birthday. Patrick was a codebreaker at Bletchley Park and it was an honour to meet him.
D-Day 80: Preparations for 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings, June 2024
22 July 2023
The Royal British Legion (RBL) are searching for D-Day veterans who want to take part in events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in June 2024. The RBL are calling on veterans, their families, and carers to register their interest to take part in the commemorative events for this historic milestone.
Further details and an interest registration form here: D-Day | Remembrance | Royal British Legion
Festival of Remembrance 2023 Tickets – Exclusive Member Sale
22 July 2023
The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance will be held in the Royal Albert Hall, London on Saturday 11 November 2023 with performances at 2pm and 7pm. Once again, members will be able to buy tickets on a first-come first-served basis, in an exclusive member sale, buying tickets directly from the ticket agent. Please note that tickets will only be available to buy online.
Ticketing Process:
Timeline:
- Tuesday 25 July - Evening tickets go on sale at 10am. All members of the Royal British Legion can purchase up to 2 tickets for the evening performance online.
- Tuesday 1 Aug - Afternoon tickets go on sale at 10am. All members of the Royal British Legion can purchase up to 4 tickets for the afternoon performance online.
Payment will be taken at the time of booking. As in previous years, the Metropolitan Police have asked for the following information for all guests that will be attending the Festival of Remembrance, both afternoon and evening performances:
Membership number (lead booker only); Full name (this must be exactly as it appears on your photo ID); Address (please include post code); Date of birth (please use the format DD/MM/YYYY); City of birth; Country of birth; Email address; Contact number.
This information will be allocated to seat numbers so all tickets must be individually named. You will be required to submit this information in order to purchase your tickets.
"Credit their Service" Campaign
22 July 2023
RBL have launched a new campaign, Credit their Service.
Armed Forces compensation (such as a War Pension) is often considered an income source when national and local benefit rates are calculated, whilst civil compensation is not. As a result, veterans and their families are often receiving less Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Discretionary Housing Payments, and Disabled Facilities Grants than they are entitled to.
We need your help to get the word out by asking your MP to support the "Credit their Service" campaign. You can do this by clicking here. Also, if you believe you or somebody you know has been disadvantaged by this problem, get in touch with us through this short survey, or email us at: [email protected].
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Force For Change programme
22 July 2023
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust will award grants of up to £15,000 for community projects that reduce isolation and promote integration in local Armed Forces communities.
If you would like to know more about the “Force for Change” programme, more information is provided on their website here: Force for Change programme.
Please do share this information with any community projects which may be eligible for support.
Farewell Assembly for Kathy Canavan at Thorn Grove School 19th July 2023
The Branch Committee were invited to a farewell assembly for a fabulous teacher, Kathy Canavan. The children told of their favourite memories of her and presented her with beautiful farewell cards. They finished the assembly with a rousing rendition of “Keep the Home Fires Burning” which had us all in tears!
We would like to acknowledge Kathy’s invaluable support of our Branch and the Poppy Appeal over the years and for bringing the meaning and importance of Remembrance to her pupils.
Visit to Fuller Court, Hockerill, Bishop’s Stortford on Thursday 13th July 2023
Thanks to Lisa Carr (Housing Manager) and the residents of Fuller Court for inviting me to join them to their coffee morning on 13th July. RBL Bishop’s Stortford Branch has a proud connection with Fuller Court as the Branch was instrumental in raising the funds to build the purpose-built retirement complex, and when it opened in June 1984 many local dignitaries and Standards from all across Hertfordshire attended the event.
Our past President, Standard Bearer and Poppy Appeal Organiser, David Bayford, recorded much of the history of RBL Bishop’s Stortford Branch in the huge scrapbook shown in the photo, and items about Fuller Court were of special interest to the residents.
Thank you for your hospitality and the chance to share your history.
Terrie Archer – Branch Secretary.
Hertfordshire Regiment Remembered, Hertford Museum 13th July 2023
Members of the Bishop’s Stortford Branch Committee attended the Hertford Museum for a hugely successful launch of a campaign to fund a new website telling the tales of the valiant Hertfordshire Regiment.
The new website, telling the story of Hertfordshire’s heroes, costs £1,000 a year to run and branch members turned out in force to kickstart the fundraiser with £760 raised from tickets, a RBL raffle and donations.
Over 900 men lost their lives from the regiment in WW1 and a further 135 in WW2. It is hoped the website will launch ready for November and will feature a collection of the museum’s regimental items from extraordinary photos to diary accounts, uniforms and other memorabilia.
Around 60 Royal British Legion Branch members from across Hertfordshire, as well as members of the public, attended the event joined by Deputy Lieutenant Emma Robarts and Hertfordshire County Council Vice Chairman Cllr Lesley Greensmyth.
Although the regiment disbanded in 1961, the event was fortunate to have a special visitor, Hertfordshire regiment veteran Colonel Keith Cockman OBE, in attendance.
Sara Taylor, Hertford Museum Curator, who gave a talk at the launch event, said, “We are absolutely delighted by the success of the event and so grateful for the support of the RBL, which has enabled us to get the word out to a significantly wider audience. Funds raised this evening have covered nearly a year of hosting and maintenance costs for the website, which is absolutely invaluable. We are so looking forward to the website launch in November.”
Hertfordshire County Committee Chair Andrew Huggins said, “The Hertfordshire Regiment disbanded 62 years ago, and the Regiment Association has also folded so it is very important we back this campaign to remember them. The Royal British Legion honours those who served and so here, in the county, it is important we back this campaign to remember the bravery and sacrifice of the Hertfordshire Regiment”.
Standard bearers Paul Harding and Tony Cousins outside Hertford Museum with Deputy Lieutenant Emma Robarts and Herts County Chair Andrew Huggins
RBL members from Herts branches meet up before attending the Hertfordshire Regiment launch event. Branches represented in photo include Watford, Rickmansworth, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Bishop’s Stortford and Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire regiment veteran Colonel Keith Cockman OBE, with Deputy Lieutenant Emma Robarts
Hertford Museum Curator, Sara Taylor, gives a presentation
Hertfordshire Regimental Jacket and Embroidery
Following on from our previous news article about remembering the bravery and sacrifice of the Hertfordshire Regiment, an item of special interest is a Hertfordshire Regimental Jacket formerly belonging to the late Sgt. Arthur Marshall of the Sawbridgeworth troop of the Hertfordshire Imperial Yeomanry. The jacket was donated to The Royal British Legion Bishop's Stortford in 1992.
An informative article from the Herts and Essex Observer from 18th May 1992 is printed below, alongside a photo from the jacket unveiling event. The second photo in the collage shows a piece of Hertfordshire Regiment embroidery.
A larger print version of the Herts and Essex Observer article from 1992 can be found by clicking here.
Below is a larger scale image of the embroidery which is now on display at The Royal British Legion Bishop's Stortford Branch's headquarters.
Hertfordshire Regiment Remembered
Please support the creation of a new website to ensure that the courage and sacrifice of the Hertfordshire Regiment is not forgotten.
Hertford Museum, in conjunction with Hertfordshire Royal British Legion, is launching a campaign to fund a new website telling the tales of the valiant Hertfordshire Regiment, a volunteer force which disbanded in 1961. A former website established to tell the story of the Hertfordshire heroes in the First World War attracted hits from over 200 countries. Unfortunately, funding expired and now donations are required to create a new website dedicated to the full history of the regiment, and share the stories of the ordinary people and their extraordinary endeavours.
The 1st Battalion was amongst the first in Europe in 1914, where nearly 900 officers and men lost their lives. Members of the 1st Battalion were awarded two VCs and more than 300 decorations and Mentions in Despatches. During the Second World War, the 1st Battalion endured five months hard fighting in Italy in 1944, whilst the 2nd Battalion landed in Normandy with No. 9 Beach Group Day that same year. Some 135 men of all ranks lost their lives.
Sara Taylor, curator at Hertford Museum, said: “We were overwhelmed with interest in the old website from family and military historians, as well as academics from around the world. As a registered charity, it is difficult for us to manage annual running costs of £1100 per year, so sponsorship is absolutely vital in ensuring the courage and sacrifice of the Hertfordshire Regiment is not forgotten.”
Andrew Huggins, Royal British Legion Hertfordshire County Chairman, said: ‘The Hertfordshire Regiment disbanded 62 years ago and the Regiment Association has also folded. The Royal British Legion honours those who served and so here, in the county, it is important we back this campaign to remember the bravery and sacrifice of the Hertfordshire Regiment.”
If you would like to support the campaign or if you have questions or links to the Hertfordshire Regiment, please email: [email protected] or ring 01992 582686.
Royal British Legion at Coronation Day Celebration, Sworder’s Field 6th May 2023
Despite the awful weather, we enjoyed the day showing off our new gazebo and hope to do more events like this in the future.
Our Town Council put in a huge amount of work organising the event and they made sure we, and our Bishop’s Stortford Veteran’s Breakfast Club neighbours, had a good pitch. All we need next time is more sunshine!!!
Thanks to the BSVBC members who helped put up our gazebo, the organisers, and RBL Committee members Paul Vile, Kathy Stanes, Clive Kitchener, Heidi Barden and Terrie Archer who manned the stall for the day.
Poppy Appeal Tea Party 2nd April 2023
On Sunday 2nd April, an afternoon tea party was held by the Bishop's Stortford Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) to thank all those individuals who had helped with the Poppy Appeal last November. This year we moved to a new venue and were pleasantly surprised with the impressive facilities at the St Michael's Mead Community Hall. About 80 people were able to attend including Bishop's Stortford Mayor Cllr Dave Anderson, RBL Hertfordshire County Chairman Andrew Huggins and some members of the Bishop's Stortford Detachment Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force and 1096 (Bishop's Stortford) Squadron Air Training Corps.
Various certificates and awards of appreciation were presented by Branch President John Robinson. Of particular note were the medals given to John Windus for 30 years, Arthur King for 35 years and Bob Cornell for 40 years of collecting for the Poppy Appeal.
A County Certificate for services to the RBL as Branch President and previously Branch Chairman and Poppy Appeal Organiser was presented to John Robinson. Branch Certificates were given to Arthur King for his service as Branch Standard Bearer (now retired) and Poppy Appeal Collector, James Wyatt, for his service as Treasurer to the Branch (retiring this year) and also to the Poppy Appeal Organiser, Denise Hudson, for her service as Branch Chairman (retired) and for 7 years as Poppy Appeal Organiser (to stand down this year). Finally a framed photo and bouquet of flowers were presented to teacher, Kathy Canavan, for her outstanding dedication and support in bringing an understanding of Remembrance to her pupils at Thorn Grove Primary School over many years.
There was a quiz about our new King Charles III, and the Poppy Appeal Organiser gave an update on the 2022 Poppy Appeal. The local total now stands at £49,152.43 and the national total is close to the 50 million target. An enjoyable afternoon was had by all and thanks must go to local solicitors, Lever & Co, who supplied the funds to finance this event.
Tea Party Photo Gallery
Please click here to view all photos from the event in the Poppy Appeal Tea Party 2023 Photo Gallery.
Bishop's Stortford Branch Open Day 25th March 2023
On Saturday 25th March we opened our doors to visitors at our base in the Apton Centre in Bishop’s Stortford. We are always looking for ways to promote the Royal British Legion and recruit new Branch Members and an open day seemed an ideal opportunity to do both.
Like many others, our branch has a rich history and much of this is recorded in a huge scrapbook (housed in its own mahogany case) which was kept up to date over many decades by our past President, Poppy Appeal Organiser and Standard Bearer David Bayford. When David passed away during Covid 19, his son gifted the scrapbook to us, and it formed the centrepiece of our open day display along with items dating back to the 1930's through to poems of remembrance composed by our local schoolchildren in recent years.
Visitors were able to chat to our Branch Committee Members and President over a cup of tea, and several came from Fuller Court, a local 56-bedroom retirement complex which was funded entirely by Bishop’s Stortford Branch and opened in 1984. Eager to learn its history, they and their Manager were able to look at photos taken at the grand opening which was attended by local dignitaries and many RBL Standards.
More events are planned in the coming months.
Photos from the event:
Photo above, left to right: Heidi Barden - Deputy Poppy Appeal Organiser, Denise Hudson - Poppy Appeal Organiser, Paul Vile - Branch Chair, Kathy Stanes - Vice Chair, Clive Kitchener - Committee Member, Jim Wyatt - Branch Treasurer
Photo above, left to right: Terrie Archer - Branch Secretary, Denise Hudson - Poppy Appeal Organiser, Paul Vile - Branch Chair, Kathy Stanes - Vice Chair, Clive Kitchener - Committee Member, Jim Wyatt - Branch Treasurer
Photo above, left to right: Denise Hudson - Poppy Appeal Organiser, Kathy Stanes - Vice Chair, John B Robinson - Branch President, Paul Vile - Branch Chair
Urgent appeal for help from The Royal British Legion Bishop's Stortford Branch
25 January 2023
Last April we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of our branch but as we face 2023 we find ourselves in a very worrying situation.
Our Branch Treasurer, who has put off his retirement from the role for the past couple of years, has given notice that he will have to stand down in October 2023 and if we are not able to fill the vacant Treasurer role, we will be forced to face the possibility of closing down the branch as we cannot operate as a charity without this position being filled. Three branches of the Royal British Legion in Hertfordshire are at present facing the prospect of closure as they have failed to form a committee and it would be awful if this happened to our branch with its fine history.
The work of our Branch Treasurer is not onerous and does not require involvement with our Poppy Appeal, just our branch accounts. We are a small branch with little movement on the accounts from month to month and we urgently need someone who would be good enough to take up this role.
Our Branch Committee meetings are held monthly on the second Wednesday of the month at the Apton Centre, Apton Road, Bishop’s Stortford from 7.30pm, and our Treasurer is only too willing to talk through the role with anyone interested in finding out about it. I cannot emphasise enough how very thankful we would be if you, or someone you know, could find a way to help us out at this very anxious time.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.
Terrie Archer
Branch Secretary
The Royal British Legion – Bishop’s Stortford Branch
Email: [email protected] or telephone 07804 778036
