2014 Archived Notices

Update: The Christmas draw took place at our December meeting. The first prize of bed and breakfast for 2 nights for 2 people was won by Sue and Doug Goode, who were delighted with it. All prizes have either been claimed or the prize winners who were not there have been contacted. Thank you to everyone who donated prizes. 

CHRISTMAS DRAW PRIZES 2014 - below is a list of the prizes we have so far for the Christmas draw.  This will take place at the branch meeting on the 2nd December.  

• 1. 2 NIGHT BREAK via WONDERBOX.
• 2. £100 BRITTANY FERRIES VOUCHER.
• 3. LD LINES CROSSING.
• 4. 12 MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION TO CONNECTION.
• 5. 12 MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION TO CONNECTION.
• 6. 12 MONTH SUBSCRIPTION TO CENTRAL BRITTANY JOURNAL.
• 7. CHRISTMAS HAMPER INCLUDING CHAMPAGNE.
• 8. CHRISTMAS HAMPER INCLUDING CHAMPAGNE.
• 9. CHRISTMAS HAMPER INCLUDING CHAMPAGNE.
• 10. KNEE TRAY.
• 11. HANDBAG.
• 12. LINEN BAG.
• 13. WALL CLOCK.
• 14. WATCH.
• 15. LAVENDER BAGS.
• 16. DISNEY WINE BOTTLE STOPPER.
• 17, SMALL HAMPER INCLUDING CIDER.
• 18. TIN BISCUITS.
• 19. FREESAT BOX.
• 20. QUILTED BAG.
• 21. BOX TOM SMITH CRACKERS.
• 22. CRATE EXOTIC BELGIUM BEER.
• 23. HOME SECURITY PACK.
• 24. AXA HOME SECURITY PACK.

Newsletter October 2014 - Please click here

Christmas Dinner 2014: We have now booked the Christmas meal at the Relais de L'Oust for Thursday December 11th. Please contact Dorothy Norcross for the menu and booking (details below). Prices are €20.80 for members and €25.80 for non members. 

Tickets are now also on sale for the Christmas draw, top prizes include 2 night break in a hotel in St Malo, food hampers, ferry crossings, and many other prizes.

Contact details:
Dorothy Norcross
events@rblbrittany.fr
Tel: 02 96 24 28 05

* Names and money for the meal are required by 26th Nov please.

Tea Party: Kate and Rodney Curtis, our Poppy Appeal Organiser and Chairman, are holding a tea-party at their house starting at 3 pm on October the 9th.

La Lande de Boloré,
56480,
Saint-Aignan.
Tel 02 97 39 60 69
email: poppyappeal@rblbrittany.fr

They will have greetings cards for sale and to order, as well as the usual Poppy goods and a welfare table. Booking would be appreciated. It is a sort of alternative coffee morning in the afternoon!!!!!!!

Poppy Appeal: The important time of year approaches again!! So if you would like a wreath or any poppy items (we also have bleuets), please contact Kate Curtis by emailingpoppyappeal@rblbrittany.fr, or telephone 02 97 39 60 69. Also, if you would like to take a box of poppies, either for yourself or to place in a business, then please ask, and we may be able to meet, or to arrange for a box to be delivered or posted to you.

As you know all the money raised helps ex servicemen and women in need as well their families. It is not just to help people who served the the World Wars, but everyone of all ages, who have served. Your help is so special and so necessary.

Update from Kate Curtis:  Thanks to everyone who made an offer for the silk embroidered picture. It eventually raised 40 euros for the Poppy Appeal Fund.

On the 3rd August the branch Chairman and Standard will be attending the ceremony at Porl le Gal, Moreac 10.30hrs to commemorate the liberation of Locmine in 1944,  all are welcome.

On the 4th August the Chairman and Standard will attend the ceremony Plateau De La Garenne, Vannes 10.30hrs  this ceremony is to remember the combatants of the 2nd World War, all are welcome.

100/70th celebratory and commemorative tea-party in aid of the Poppy Appeal on August the 20th at La Lande de Bolore, 56480, Saint Aignan, starting at 3 pm. To book (before August the  14th) ,or with offers of cakes or sandwiches to sell and to eat, please contactkissmekate@alicealsl.fr, poppyappeal@rblbrittany.fr, or telephone 02 97 39 60 69.

Message from Dorothy Norcross our Events Organiser; I will be in the Somme and Belgium next week and if anyone would like a poppy or a cross laying we will be going to Ypres, Menin Gate of course, Thietval Memorial and Vimmy Ridge. I can find time possibly to go to any that are within easy reach of Lille, and all points inbetween. We will be there for 4 days.

WAR LETTERS VOL 1 - For all members who have an interest in The First World War this new ebook has be launched and should appeal to you.

FREE OFFER - It is available on a special free offer at Amazon next week from Monday 16 June to Friday 20 June inclusive.  For more details UK: click here France: click here
War Letters 1914–1918, Vol. 1 is based on the letters of Wilbert Spencer, a 17 year-old British officer who enlists in August 1914 and dies in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915. Engaging, emotional and full of character, it is hard to imagine anyone not being moved by Wilbert’s letters. www.warletters.net

Occupation of the forest d’Araize ‘Slide Show’ on Sunday the 11th May at Martigné-Ferchaud presented by Carolyn Greig.  It about the German occupation and subsequent liberation of the area surrounding La Guerche de Bretagne, Martigne Ferchaud during World War 2 - All memebers are welcome and admission is free.  For the flyer please click here

On Wednesday 23rd April there will be a ceremony commencing at 12h00 at the Bretonne Resistance Monument, La Nouette, St Marcel. The branch Standard and chairman will be in attendance. 

On Sunday 27th April, the old Branch Standard will be laid up in the Anglican Church in Dinard, St Bartholomew's. The service commences at 10h30. 

At the Pointe Saint Mathieu, Finistere, on Tuesday 29th April there is a ceremony to remember the crew of the Canadian destroyer, HMCS Athabaskan, which was sunk on 29th April 1944. 

All are welcome at any of these ceremonies above.  Further details please from branch chairman, Rodney Curtis, at: chairman@rblbrittany.fr or tel. 02 97 39 60 69

Members' Meeting, Tuesday 1st April, Relais de l'Oust, Josselin - Don't forget to come along to our regular monthly meeting at the Relais TOMORROW, Tuesday 1st April - free Quiz and Raffle from our Event Organiser, Dorothy Norcross, as well as the usual Book and Welfare Tables. Food and drink is available and provided by the Relais

Troc and Puces, Sunday 6th April at the Salle Polyvalente, Le Sourn (near Pontivy) - Entrance is only 1€ (free for under-12s) and there will be loads of tables with plenty of bargains. Refreshments will be served (including our famous "Bacon Butties").  Doors are open at 10h00 until 14h00 sharp

Donations of wool for the Poppy Appeal - Would anyone like to donate two balls of bright red double knit wool? This would be made into approximately 25 crochet poppies which, when sold, would generate 50 euros for the Poppy Appeal. Last year we sold over 1000 of these poppies and hope to do the same this year. By donating wool you would be helping in this venture. So, please give the wool to committee members Pamela Bashford, Dorothy Norcross or Kate Curtis, your help will be much appreciated.

The following is a list of upcoming Ceremonial Events - Anyone wishing to attend any of the ceremonies (or for further details) please contact Rodney Curtis, branch chairman by emailing chairman@rblbrittany.fr or telephone on 02 97 39 60 69

Friday 28th March, 11h00 at Saint Nazaire - Operation Chariot - 72nd anniversary of the raid on the dry dock gates in the port (Standard and chairman will be in attendance)

Friday 4th April, 11h00 at Moelan-sur-Mer - Ceremony at the port where the body of RAFVR Sgt Arthur Radbourne was carried in by French fisherman from his crashed Wellington bomber in 1943

Sunday 27th April 10h30 at the Anglican church of Saint Bartholomew's Dinard -  Laying up of the old Standard of The Royal British Legion Central Brittany

"We will remember them"

WW1 Heroes - With the new website up and running, and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of WW1, we are remembering those who served during the Great War. In the "Past Glories" section of our site we now have a special area for our WW1 Heroes. What we’d like is for all our members who had family or someone special who served during that time to share that information and let everyone know they are not forgotten. We’d love anything you have, even if it’s just their name and regiment. Also, if you have any photos and stories about them during that time that would be great. If you have a little time to do this, please email Andy Jackson at webmaster@rblbrittany.fr with as much information as you have. A quick guide to what you can submit is as follows (don’t worry if you don’t have everything it’s just to give you some ideas)

Number; Rank; Name; Regiment/s; Medals; Age/date of birth; Marital status – children; Civilian occupation; Any stories you have about them or things they did during the war + one or two photos (in uniform if possible)

Donations of wool for the Poppy Appeal - Pams Poppies - Would anyone like to donate two balls of bright red double knit wool? This would be made into approximately 25 crochet poppies which, when sold, would generate 50 euros for the Poppy Appeal. Last year we sold over 1000 of these poppies and hope to do the same this year. By donating wool you would be helping in this venture. So, please give the wool to committee members Pamela Bashford, Dorothy Norcross or Kate Curtis, your help will be much appreciated.

Don't forget to come to our Troc and Puces on Sunday 6th April at the Salle Polyvalente, Le Sourn (near Pontivy). Entrance is only 1€ (free for under-12s) and there will be loads of tables with plenty of bargains. Refreshments will be served (including our famous "Bacon Butties") and doors are open at 10h00 until 14h00 sharp. If you can supply cakes for sale on our refreshments stand (to raise money for the branch) please email Dorothy at: events@rblbrittany.fr - A message from our events organiser, Dorothy Norcross: "Pleaseclick here for a copy of our event Poster. If you can find somewhere to post this notice, please print one off and use it. Thank you"

Members' Meeting, Tuesday 4th March, Relais de l'Oust, Josselin - Don't forget to come along to our regular monthly meeting at the Relais next Tuesday 4th March - free Quiz and Raffle from our Event Organiser, Dorothy Norcross, as well as the usual Book and Welfare Tables. Food and drink is available and provided by the Relais

A Message from the Welfare Team - Fund Raising - Thank you to everyone that brought CDs / DVDs and items for sale to the Members'Meeting.  Please keep sorting out these items for the Welfare stall they are much appreciated and sell well. We will be selling second hand clothing again at the Troc in April so if anyone is sorting out their wardrobe saleable items will be gratefully received and can be brought along to the March Members' Meeting on Tuesday

70th anniversary of the 1944 Liberation of Roncey - Dr Claude Halbecq, Mayor of Roncey, President of the Association of the Mayors of the Manche and Vice President du Conseil General de la Manche is inviting members of the British and other ex-pat Communities living in the Manche or neighbouring departments to take part in the 70th anniversary of the 1944 Liberation of Roncey.  If anyone would like to attend please contact Rodney Curtis by emailing chairman@rblbrittany.fr  The deadline date for those wishing to attend is 1/6/14.  For further information please click here

Call for D-Day veterans visiting Normandy for 70th anniversary in June - To find out moreclick here

Members' Meeting, Tuesday 4th February, Relais de l'Oust, Josselin - Don't forget to come along to our regular monthly meeting at the Relais next Tuesday 4th February - free Quiz and Raffle from our Event Organiser, Dorothy Norcross, as well as the usual Book and Welfare Tables. Food and drink is available and provided by the Relais

WANTED by the Welfare Team - CDs and DVDs to sell for the Welfare fund - These items are selling particularly well at the branch monthly Meetings; if you have any unwanted items they will be gratefully received. Please bring along to the Meeting on Tuesday 

POPPY APPEAL - The Branch sent a fantastic 11,500 euros to the Poppy Appeal as its 2013 contribution!! Congratulations to Poppy Appeal Organiser, Kate Curtis, and a special thank you to Pam Bashford, who raised over 2,200 euros with her knitted Poppies

Poppy Orders - In the meantime, if you would like to order a cross, wreath or other items, please let Poppy Appeal Organiser, Kate Curtis, know very quickly, she MAY be able to obtain these free of postage costs. During the year, Kate travels around for ceremonies so, for delivery of Poppy Goods, Kate may be able to meet you nearer to where you live.

Poppy Appeal Lunch, Thursday 27th February, Saint-Mayeux - Would you like to join us for either fish and chips or chicken and chips followed by a pudding, with a glass of wine or cider and a small coffee to finish, at 12,50 euros each, on Thursday 27th February at the Café du Centre, Le Bourg, Saint-Mayeux. There will be a raffle in aid of the Poppy Appeal.  For further information, and TO BOOK, please contact Kate Curtis, by phone on: 02 97 39 60 69 or email at: poppyappeal@rblbrittany.fr

Troc et Puces, Sunday 6th April, le Sourn (near Pontivy) - Events Organiser, Dorothy Norcross, is now taking bookings for tables at the April Troc & Puces which will be held at the Salle Polyvalente at le Sourn, near Pontivy. Tables are 6 euros each; names to Dorothy please, asap, stating how many tables you require.  To contact Dorothy, please email at: events@rblbrittany.fr 

Chinese New Year Lunch, Thursday 6 February, Pontivy - PLEASE NOTE, AMENDMENT: Cost for Lunch, excluding drinks, is 11,00 euros a person.  Events Organiser, Dorothy Norcross, has booked a Chinese buffet at the Lantern Rouge, rue Joseph Quilliou, 56300 Pontivy on Thursday 6th February at lunchtime for members to celebrate Chinese New Year (year of the Horse). Lunch is 11,00 euros a person, plus drinks; everyone is expected to pay for themselves on the day. However, Dorothy needs names before the end of January, so that the restaurant can set an area aside for us. Please contact Dorothy by emailing events@rblbrittany.fr  Further information can be seen on the restaurant website at: Lanterne Rouge