www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/colston-bassett         

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

COLSTON BASSETT, OWTHORPE AND COTGRAVE BRANCH

Chairman, Trowel Stud, Owthorpe Road, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3PU.    0115 9899094

SPRING 2011 UPDATE

Dear Member,

A rather rapidly put together update to keep you in touch and to remind you of future events.

‘Gatherings’      The first of our CBOC Gatherings took place at the Cotgrave Welfare on 27 Jan. 20 members attended and 8 badges were presented to new members. The next Gathering in Cotgrave will be on 28 Apr when we will have a quiz. Before that, on Thur 31 Mar, we will have the first of the Gatherings at the Martins Arms in Colston Bassett, starting at 7.30pm. I hope to see you there.

Spring Dinner.  49 members and their guests attended a most enjoyable dinner on 23 Feb at the Nottinghamshire Golf Club. Our guest speaker, Captain Will Pope of the Queens Royal Lancers, gave us an excellent insight into our local Armoured Corps Regiment and their recent trip to Afghanistan. At the spring dinner next year I will try to get a guest speaker from our local Infantry Regiment, The MERCIANS.

Visit to the Reserve Forces Mobilisation and Training Centre.         On 10 May we have been offered a few places on a full day visit to the Reserve Forces Mobilisation and Training Centre in Chilwell. This is a rare opportunity to see how every Reservist going to an operational theatre is prepared and what steps are taken to return them to civilian life after their deployment. I need to get our bid for places in by 11 Apr so if you want to go please ring or e mail me.

Poppy Party.     The Branch main event this year will be the Poppy Party on 11 Jun starting at 6pm at the Cotgrave Welfare. The date has been chosen to coincide with the national RBL Poppy Party weekend and the location has been chosen to recruit as many new members as possible. The Cotgrave Welfare staff are being tremendously helpful and we have already booked our Swing Band for the evening. With your help we will attract our target of 400 to what promises to be a great evening based around a bbq, music and activities. Assistance will be required to sell tickets, set up and cook and the committee will be on the look out for volunteers. Please rally as much support as you can.

Calendar of Events.    I have put a calendar of events for 2011 on the next page where you can see what other activities are being planned by the Branch this year.

Membership.     We now have 80 members which is superb. We have recruited 13 new members this year against our target of 20 new members by 31 Dec 2011. I urge you to find others to join what is a most worthwhile organisation. Incidentally I am happy to go and talk to any individual or group about the RBL and the Branch. You set it up and, dates being available, I will be there.

Best Wishes

John Ludlam

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION COLSTON BASSETT, OWTHORPE AND COTGRAVE BRANCH

EVENTS 2011

Transport.        Sharing transport with other members is a good way to save. Anyone wishing to do so please telephone the Chairman 0115 9899094 and he will give you contact details of other members in the area.