Registered Charity Number 219279
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THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
COLSTON BASSETT, OWTHORPE AND COTGRAVE BRANCH
www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/colston-bassett
Chairman, Trowell Stud, Owthorpe Road, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3PU. 0115 9899094
11 July 2013
Dear Member,
I last wrote to you in January telling you what the Branch had been up to in the latter part of 2012 and what we hoped to do in 2013. This letter tells you what we have done so far in 2013 and what we will be doing. Your committee has, as always, been working hard organising everything and I owe them a great deal of thanks. Throughout the six months they have been supported by a host of different members and it is great to see so many getting involved. That’s what we are here for.
Past. A quick summary of our activity so far is:
24 Jan – Gathering and Quiz at Cotgrave with 25 people attending. Music in a quiz!? Something new thanks to Chris and Adele.
7 Feb – 8 members visited the Reinforcement Training and Mobilisation Centre to see for themselves how well prepared our troops are before they move out to Afghanistan.
20 Feb – We manned a Branch stand at the Cotgrave Community event. We spread the word about the Legion and attracted a lot of interest.
2 Mar – 65 members and their friends sat down to a splendid supper at the Cotgrave Golf and Country Club. Afterwards we listened to an excellent presentation by Captain Rory McCulloch, an officer in the Royal Tank Regiment and the son of one of our members.
31 Mar – A number of members took part in the Easter (raw) Egg Rolling (throwing) competition at the Martins Arms in Colston Bassett. Gordon Gray and Bert Wragg both won prizes! Mike Morrison the organiser of the event presented the Branch with £344 which went directly to the Poppy Appeal. Fantastic and great fun. A must for next year.
15 Apr – I set off on the final leg (sic) of the Coast to Coast walk. The overall amount raised by sponsors was just over £2400. Unfortunately I did have to miss the next event because of it.
24 Apr – Our major fundraising event of the year in Colston Bassett village hall listening to the exploits of Roger and Sandra Downton as they paddled in the Wake of the Cockleshell Heroes. An outstanding evening with many helpers raising £1124.
30 May – A sell out for the Fish and Chips at the Lime Kiln with a quiz courtesy of Russ Hamer.
15 Jun – Many members helped run the Cotgrave Festival which included CBOC Wellie Wanging and a Branch Tombola stand. The Tombola made £140 which matched that of 2012.
29 Jun - And almost finally a small (6) but beautifully turned out Branch contingent marched through Nottingham with the veterans to mark Armed Forces Day. I hope that you all took the opportunity to visit the parade and display on the Embankment which was quite remarkable.
29 Jun – And finally June Odell held a magnificent charity Cream Tea on a lovely afternoon and presented the Branch with a £30 donation. An event for your diaries next year. PTO
Future. There remains much to come in 2013 and we will be asking for all hands to the pumps to raise money over the Remembrance Period. But before that we have a trip to Loughborough lined up, a Fish and Chip AGM and the Poppy Ball.
Sunday 8 September - Visit to the Carillon in Loughborough. The Carillon is a 151 ft high Tower in Queen’s Park Loughborough built in 1923 as a memorial to the 480 men of Loughborough who gave their lives in WW1. The outside walls of the tower contain inscriptions to these men and also to the Loughborough losses in WW2, Korea etc. The tower contains a museum on the first 3 floors and on the 4th floor a clavier room the keyboard of which allows the 47 bell Carillon to be played. A more detailed Call In notice is at the bottom of the page.
Thursday 10 Oct – AGM with Fish and Chips at the Lime Kiln. Every year the Branch must hold an AGM. Last year we combined it with a Fish and Chip supper which was very popular and we intend to follow the same procedure this year. You will receive a separate Call In notice for this event which will start at 7pm.
Saturday 2 Nov (New date) - Poppy Ball at the Britannia Hotel. This is the third Poppy Ball of its kind and each one seems to get better and better. We have managed to make up a CBOC table at each and hope to do so again this year. You will receive a separate Call In notice for this event.
Remembrance. The Poppy launch will be held on Sat 26 Oct. The location is yet to be decided by the County RBL and the City Council. Throughout the period we will be collecting but our main effort will be on the weekends of 26/27 Oct and 2/3 Nov. Sheila Gray and Bryan Tansley will be asking for lots of helpers so please be ready to answer the call.
Remembrance Sunday. We will be supporting all 3 communities on Sunday 10 Nov when we march through Cotgrave and attend the services in St John the Divine Colston Bassett, St Margaret’s Owthorpe and All Saints Cotgrave. Afterwards we will be going to the Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club for another slap up lunch. You will receive a separate Call In notice for Remembrance Sunday.
Thursday 19 Dec – Quiz. We will round off the year by holding a Christmas Quiz in the Cotgrave Welfare. I hope to see you there mince pies in hand.
Best Wishes
John Ludlam
VISIT to the CARILLON – LOUGHBOROUGH – 8 SEPTEMBER
Visit. Due to the construction of the Carillon (131 narrow steps to 5 floors) those with limited mobility will be restricted to the ground floor. Attendance limited to 30, first come first served.
Program
- 1.45 pm - Arrive Loughborough. Park in car parks close to Carillon. Own transport shared where possible.
- 2 – 2.30 pm – Meet and Tea and Cakes in the Queens Park Café. Individuals purchase Tea and Cakes.
- 2.30 – 3.30 pm - Guided tour of Carillon. Spilt into 2 groups as space is limited.
- 3.30 to 4.30 pm - Listen to Carillon recital from Queens Park where the sound is better.
- 4.30 pm – Depart as with arrival.
Booking Ring John Ludlam on 0115 9899094
