On 27 Nov 2025 we held our Branch AGM at the Spire Room, St. Mary The Virgin Church, East Preston.
Below is a summary of the Chairmans report:
WE SHOULD PAUSE AND REFLECT ON THE SAD LOSS OF FATHER ANDREW WHO MADE OUR REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY'S VERY SPECIAL WITH HIS UNIQUE DELIVERY. FRANK AND I ATTENDED HIS FUNERAL AND WERE VERY MOVED AND UPLIFTED BY WHAT WE HEARD. THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS POORER FOR HIS PASSING.
THANKS: TO JOHN BENNETT OUR OUTGOING PRESIDENT WHO WHEN TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE REPRESENTED OUR BRANCH ON MANY OCCASIONS WHICH HE DID EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. HOWEVER, HIS ODE TO KOHIMA VERSION STILL NEEDS A LITTLE WORK!
GRAHAM HOLNESS: BRANCH TREASURER AND BRANCH SECRETARY WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT ADDITION TO THE TEAM AND UNDERTOOK HIS DUTIES WITH DILIGANCE AND ENTHUSIASM. HE WILL BE MISSED IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM AS HE GAVE SOME IMPORTANT INPUT THAT HELPED THE BRANCH GROW.
TO RENFORD MARSEN: WHO HAS ALWAYS GIVEN ME SUPPORT AND ADVICE ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE HIDDEN MYSTERY'S OF HOW THE RBL WORKS! INVALUABLE ASSET.
TO ALL OF THE COMMITTEE WHO GIVE UP SO MUCH OF THEIR OWN TIME TO MAKE OUR EVENTS SUCH A HUGE SUCCESS AND WITHOUT THEIR HARD WORK WE WOULD NOT BE THE BRANCH WE ARE.
A SPECIAL THANKYOU TO RITCHIE OUR BRANCH SECRETARY WHO IS THE ENGINE ROOM OF THE BRANCH AND MAKES ME LOOK A BETTER CHAIRMAN THAN I ACTUALLY AM! BUT DUE TO HIS HARD WORK IT GIVES ME MORE TIME TO SPEND ON WELFARE SO HIS EFFORTS ARE INVALUABLE.
WE HELD 4 MAJOR EVENTS THIS YEAR WHICH WERE VE DAY 80, VJ DAY
80 AND BATTLE OF BRITAIN DAY 85. EVERYBODY I SPOKE TO THOUGHT THE EVENTS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED AND SUFFERED HARDSHIP IN WW2 AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.
WE ARE NOW CO-SPONSORS OF LITTLEHAMPTON ARMED FORCES DAY
WHICH ATTRACTS OVER 5000 VISITORS AND IT HAS BECOME OUR FLAGSHIP EVENT. WE ARE SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT THE WORK OF THE RBL IN THE COMMUNITY AND RECEIVED EXCELLENT FEEDBACK AS A RESULT.
EVENTS FOR NEXT YEAR:
MAY 15TH 2026 IS THE 105th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE RBL AND WE SHALL BE PLANNING FOR THAT SHORTLY.
JUNE 30TH 2026 IS THE 110TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE "DAY SUSSEX DIED" WHICH WE WILL BRING TO THE VILLAGE DURING THE SUMMER.
3 YEAR PLAN:
TO FOLLOW ON WITH THE ORIGINAL 3 YEAR BRANCH PLAN WHICH HAS ACHIEVED GOOD THINGS IN CONNECTION TO WELFARE, REMEMBRANCE AND COMMEMORATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
TO EXPAND OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WITHIN THE LOCAL AREA AND THROUGHOUT THE ARUN DISTRICT AREA.
TO NETWORK WITH VETERAN BREAKFAST CLUBS AND HUBS ACROSS SUSSEX TO GIVE THEM ALL THE ASSISTANCE WE CAN.
TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER BRANCHES ACROSS SUSSEX TO EXCHANGE IDEA AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES STATED IN THE ROYAL CHARTER. AUTO
I THANK ALL MEMBERS FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
THANKYOU.
The Branch really would like to focus on its core agenda of aiding veterans and beneficiaries in need, building membership and continuing to ensure that we Commemorate key dates for the public benefit, we will keep you updated on our plans for 2026.
We would like to thank those who have served on the Committee over the past three years for their help and support:
John Hinde (Bish) - Branch Treasurer for many years, sadly departed and very much missed
Graham Holness - Branch Membership Secretary and Treasurer
James Reene - Committee Member
John Powis - Committee Member
Steve Cooper - Committee Member
Geoff Kilgarriff - Committee Member (and Parade Marshall 2023)
