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CLOSING-OUT MEETING
was held on
SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 2022
All the Members have transferred to the Romsey Mountbatten Branch of Hampshire
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Annual Memorial Service
Sunday 4 September 2022 3pm at Romsey Abbey
Once again the Branch was able to attend a shortened service led by the Reverend Thomas Wharton, Vicar of Romsey, and assisted by Rev'd Mark Christian FRSA CF, the County Padre, in St Nicholas' chapel.
Thirty seven members of the assembly included Rt Hon Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Councillor Dowden and Mrs Dowden (Mayor of Test Valley), Councillor Neil Gwynne and Mrs Gwynne (Town Mayor of Romsey), Lt General Sir Mark Mans KCB CBE DL (County Patron of Hampshire RBL) and Lady Mans, Colonel Andrew King (County President of Hampshire RBL), Tim Russell (Hampshire County Chairman RBL) and Averil Mitchell (County Committee), Mrs Sue Butcher (County Chairman Hampshire RBL W/S), Miss Sandra Fishlock (National Treasurer RBL W/S), Peter Hurst (Chairman of Romsey Branch) and members of the Memorial Branch and Romsey Branches.
The Hampshire County and County W/S standards led in the Romsey branch standard and the Memorial branch standard carried by Peter Cox.
The 1st lesson was read by Brigadier David Harrison DL JP
'Nimrod' from Elgar's 'Enigma Variations' was given on the organ by Martin Seymour
The 2nd lesson was read by Countess Mountbatten.
Roy Farmers MBE JP MCIM, branch chairman, gave a reflection on the need to acknowledge the service of Earl Mountbatten and those who have served or are serving in the armed forces. He spoke of the sad news of the ending of this Memorial Branch, and its amalgamation with the Romsey Branch.
The Rev Mark Christian led the assembly in prayers.
Sir Mark Mans recited the Exhortation followed by the Last Post, a two minutes Silence and Reveille and ended with the Kohima Epitaph.
The branch chairman laid a wreath on the tomb of Earl Mountbatten in the St Nicholas' Chapel.
Laying-up of the Memorial Branch Standard
Mr Brian Soffe, founder member of the Branch, took hold of the standard with the Branch Chairman saying these words:
"I commit this Sacred Standard of the Earl Mountbatten Memorial Branch of the Royal British Legion to you as vicar of the Parish of Romsey for safekeeping in this Holy Church for evermore".
The Revd Thomas Wharton replied "I accept the charge".
The Branch Standard was placed on the chapel altar.
The service closed with the National Anthem and the Blessing.
Our thanks to those who attended on this 43rd anniversary of the death of Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma
Major D F Covill MBE DCM
It is with considerable sadness that I announce the passing of Dougie Covill, one day after his 101st birthday in November 2021.
Dougie has been a Member of the Earl Mountbatten Memorial Branch since 1986
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Dougie was Hampshire County Vice President from 1983 - 1985,
County President from 1985 until 1996,
and County Life Vice President from 1996 till now.
He was also a Member of Alresford Branch
'WE WILL REMEMBER THEM'
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Annual Memorial Service
Sunday 5th September 2021 3pm at Romsey Abbey
Once again the Branch was able to attend a shortened service led by the Reverend Thomas Wharton, Vicar of Romsey.
Twenty seven members of the assembly included Countess Mountbatten of Broadlands, Caroline Nokes MP, Martin Hatley (Test Valley), Lt General Sir Mark Mans KCB CBE DL (County Patron of Hampshire RBL) and Lady Mans, Colonel Andrew King (County President of Hampshire RBL), Mrs Sarah Jones CBE (County President Hampshire RBL W/S), Tim Russell (Hampshire County Chairman RBL) and Averil Mitchell (County Committee).
'Nimrod' from Elgar's 'Enigma Variations' given on the organ by Tim Rogerson opened the service, after the entry of the branch standard carried by Peter Cox.
The lesson was read by Brigadier David Harrison DL JP
Roy Farmers MBE JP MCIM, branch chairman, gave a reflection on the need to acknowledge the service of Earl Mountbatten and those who have served or are serving in the armed forces, remembering especially those involved in the recent Afghan airlift. He also gave tribute to 90 year old Brian Soffe, the remaining founder member of the Branch.
The Rev Wharton led the assembly in prayers.
Sir Mark Mans recited the Exhortation followed by the Last Post, a two minutes Silence and Reveille and ended with the Kohima Epitaph.
The branch chairman laid a wreath on the tomb of Earl Mountbatten in the St Nicholas Chapel, where the previous branch standard has been laid up.
Our thanks to those who attended on this 42nd anniversary of the death of Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma
Sunday 6th September 2020
Annual Memorial Service 3pm at Romsey Abbey.
The Rev Thomas Wharton, vicar of Romsey, led a shortened service in the Abbey
The lesson was read by Brig David Harrison JP DL.
Roy Farmers MBE JP MCIM, branch chairman, gave appreciation to past members - Michael Reed (former President) and Sid Slatter (D-Day veteran)
A wreath was laid by the branch chairman on the tomb of Earl Mountbatten in the St Nicholas Chapel.
Sunday 8 September 2019
Annual Memorial Service 3pm at Romsey Abbey.
We welcomed Lt Gen Sir Mark Mans KCB CBE DL our Hampshire County Patron and Lady Mans to our annual Memorial Service. We were delighted to receive Countess Mountbatten to the service.
Alderman Ian Carr MBE, Past Mayor of Test Valley, and Mrs Beryl Carr with Councillor Dorothy Baverstock, Past Town Mayor of Romsey were present, with Caroline Nokes the local MP.
Representatives of the Royal British Legion included Colonel Andrew King, County President of Hampshire, Tim Russell, County Chairman and Ms Avril Mitchell with Mrs Sue Butcher, W/S County Chairman,
together with Members and Standards of the Legion and Women's Section Branches and the Hampshire's Regimental Associations.
The service gave thanks for life of Lord Louis, on this the 40th anniversary of his death, in Southern Ireland. This year marked the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France and our thoughts were also with those who lost their lives so long ago.
Branch Chairman, Roy Farmers MBE JP laid the wreath on the grave of Earl Mountbatten in the St Nicholas Chapel of the Abbey, and bugler, Jan Boler sounded 'Last Post' and 'Reveille' with Branch President, Mike Reed reciting the Legion's 'Exhortation' and 'Kohima Epitaph' remembering Sally Musgrove, who passed away this year.
Reverend Thomas Wharton, vicar of Romsey led the service and Reverend Mark Christian FRSA CF, the RBL County Padre read the 1st lesson and gave the address. The County President read the 2nd lesson.
Standards were paraded by County Parade Marshal, Dave Graham with help from other marshals, with Peter Cox carrying the Memorial Branch standard.
Our thanks to the ladies of the church for serving the refreshments after the service in the Church Rooms.
Sunday 9 September 2018
Annual Memorial Service 3pm at Romsey Abbey.
We welcomed Nigel Atkinson, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire and Mrs Christine Atkinson to our annual Memorial Service.
Councillor Ian Carr, Mayor of Test Valley, and Mayoress Mrs Beryl Carr with Councillor Dorothy Baverstock, Town Mayor of Romsey and Miss Wendy Morrish, Consort to the Mayor were present.
Representatives of the Royal British Legion included Colonel Andrew King, County President of Hampshire, Tim Russell, County Chairman and Ms Avril Mitchell with Mrs Sara Jones CBE JP, W/S County President and Mrs Pauline Keane, W/S County Chairman,
together with Members and Standards of the Legion and Women's Section Branches and the Hampshire's Regimental Associations.
The service gave thanks for the centenary of the end of the Great War in 1918 - the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Air Force in 1918 - and our remembrance of the late Earl Mountbatten of Burma.
Branch Chairman, Roy Farmers MBE JP laid the wreath on the grave of Earl Mountbatten in the St Nicholas Chapel of the Abbey, and bugler, Nick Jarvis sounded 'Last Post' and 'Reveille' with Branch President, Mike Reed reciting the Legion's 'Exhortation' remembering Ted Dixon, a founder Member of this Branch in 1980, who passed away last year.
The Reverend Thomas Wharton, Vicar of Romsey only took over his duties last Monday, and our particular thanks go to him and the Abbey staff and volunteers for their warm welcome to us.
