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

29 July 2015

Dear Member,

I last wrote to you in January this year telling you what the Branch would be getting up to in 2015. This letter tells you what we have done so far and what we will be doing. Your committee has, as always, been working hard organising everything and we them a great deal of thanks. Throughout the seven 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:

21 Feb  – 58 members and their friends sat down to a splendid supper at the Cotgrave Golf and Country Club. Afterwards we listened to an interesting presentation by Elaine Hopkins, The County (record) fundraiser. To 1 Sep the County had raised (and we had helped them)  almost £800,000!

26 Feb – 12 members visited Bletchley Park on a rather wet day. Bletchley is a must for anyone interested in Codes but for the future I would recommend visiting in the summer and reading the book ‘The Secret Life of Bletchley’ before going.

14 Mar – About 100 people attended a magnificent evening of entertainment by the BELVOIR WASSAILORS. We are most grateful to one of our members, Jon Carlton, and his wife for organising the whole event and to others who helped sell tickets and on the night. £445 was raised for Branch Welfare during the evening and the same amount went to All Saints Church Cotgrave.

5 Apr – A larger turn out from Branch members than usual for the Easter Sunday Egg Throwing at the Martins Arms in Colston Bassett. No prizes this year but an excellent donation from the organisers which went directly to the Poppy Appeal. Great fun and a must for next year.

11 Apr – 12 members let their hair down at the County Poppy Ball. A good evening which might have been a little better had the taxi arrived to take us all home. Unfortunately it had been involved in an accident alternative arrangements had to be made.

23 Apr – Our first Gathering of the year with supper at the Lime Kiln and a quiz. 60 attended leaving little room for any additions in the future. A good meal but a long wait for some. The answer is to have a good tea before coming to the pub. £60 raised for Branch Welfare.

28 May – Our second Gathering of the year, this time at the Rose and Crown in Cotgrave. Jacqui Ludlam provided an excellent, and different, quiz which created much discussion about the price of goods at Argos. £22 raised for Branch Welfare.

20 Jun – The Cotgrave Festival was very well supported by members and the Branch ran Welly Wanging, Egg Throwing and the TOMBOLA. The first 2 events were for fun but the TOMBOLA was a fund raiser. Thank you all for donating prizes and a very big thankyou to the McLaughlins and Cockaynes for setting up not only the stand but also the Festival marquee. An outstanding £265 raised for Branch Welfare.

12 Jul - Our major fundraising event of the year in Colston Bassett village hall listening to an excellent story told by Lorrie Tillen about the crew of a Lancaster which crashed in France in WW2. 115 people attended which maxed out the hall, and we could have sold another 20 tickets on the day. Many thanks for the great effort by the committee and helpers and in particular to Gilly Cross for preparing excellent Sausage and Mash and to Joan Charlett for the puds. Peeling potatoes for 115 people was quite a challenge as was washing up. The £1368 raised for Branch Welfare is the most we have ever raised at our main fundraisers!

Future.           There remains much to come in 2015 and we will be asking for all hands to the pumps to raise money over the Remembrance Period. Our aim is £5K. But before that we have a trip to the National Memorial Arboretum on 12 Sep, a Fish and Chip AGM on 8 Oct and a Christmas Gathering on 16 Dec. Get the dates in your diaries.

Saturday 12 September - Visit to the National Memorial Arboretum.          The Branch visited the NMA in 2012 and found it a tremendous experience. In the 3 years since then the Arboretum has expanded and we thought that it would be a good idea to go again. We will travel in a Sharpe’s coach departing from the Coop Cropwell Bishop and traveling to the NMA via the Cotgrave Welfare. Tickets at £10 per head will be limited in number and I recommend that you reserve you’re a soon as possible. A more detailed Call In notice is at the bottom of the page.

Thursday 8 Oct – AGM with Fish and Chips at the Lime Kiln.         Every year the Branch must hold an AGM. We now combine it with a Fish and Chip supper which is 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.

Remembrance.            The Poppy launch will be held on Sat 24 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 24 Oct and 31 Oct. Mary Myles, Suzi McCulloch and Peter McLaughlin will be asking for lots of helpers so please be ready to answer the call.

Remembrance Sunday 8 Nov.                        We will be supporting all 3 communities on Sunday 8 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 16 Dec – Quiz.     We will round off the year by holding a Christmas Quiz, location to be decided. I hope to see you there, mince pies in hand. Maybe some carols!          

                                                                                                            Best Wishes

                                                                                                            John Ludlam

VISIT to the NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM – SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER

Out: Depart Cropwell Bishop Coop at 0900. Depart Cotgrave Welfare 0930. Arrive NMA 1030.

Back: Depart NMA 1530. Arrive Cotgrave 1630. Arrive Cropwell Bishop 1700.

Cost: £10. (Mobility Scooters can be hired for £5 on the day but need to be booked in advance. Wheelchairs are available for a donation.)

Activity.          We have not booked any group activity but the following is available on the day:

• A 45 minute guided walk for £3.
• A one and a half hour Landrover Train tour for £4.50.
• Hot or Cold Lunch in the self service restaurant.

Check it out at www.thenma.org.uk

Reserve your tickets now with The Secretary, Peter McLaughlin and, before 1 Sep, pay him by £10 Cash or Cheque (made out to The Royal British Legion). Peter’s contact details are 0115 9894610 or peter.mclaughlin@live.co.uk , address is 4 Eastwold, Cotgrave, NG12 3NQ.