Minutes of the Toddington Branch of The Royal British Legion

Committee Meeting 19:30hrs

Tuesday 17^th June 2025

1. Present

John Wood , Lee Stone, Lynda Bryant, Debbie Gibbons, Graeme Kelly, Bil Levinson, Pippa Brazier.

2a. Apologies

Kelly Grumoli, Nigel Washington, Linda Washington.

2b. Absent

Glen Gadsden.

3. Silent Tribute.

4. Exhortation 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

we will remember them.

5. Previous Meeting – Committee Meeting 15^th May 2025

Pippa Brazier asked for a correction to be made to the Standard Bearer’s report, that being on 8^th May the Standard Bearer also attended the VE Day 80 evening event.  Apart from this correction, there were no other changes proposed.  

Proposed – Lynda Bryant

Seconded – Debbie Gibbons

6. Chairmans Report

The Village fete is this Saturday, for the first time we will not have an RBL stall, as we are all either on holiday, busy elsewhere or are part of the fete committee.

The latest RBL page by Graeme is in the latest edition of the village magazine on page 17, this may help people know a bit more about VJ day and the war that was fought in the far east. We will have to decide what we are going to do to commemorate the day on 15^th August, we already have the next sets of pages from Graeme, a page about joining the legion for the August/September edition and for the October /November edition a double page regarding the October Coffee morning as this year’s Poppy appeal is launched and another about the Remembrance services in November.

Graeme with Kelly is also looking into setting up a Toddington RBL Facebook page, which will enhance our profile in the village.

Wingfield Car show is on Sunday 13^th July, we will be attending with the Poppy Appeal Merchandise Stall, Mel has already paid the pitch fee for this, this is a fantastic show, near the site of the now closed Plough public house in Wingfield, please come along if you can.

I shall be sitting down with Pippa to look into new lapel, cap and harness badges with the new king’s cypher on them, I will also order some new RBL pins with the new cypher.

I have also replied to the new MEO Ellie Nellis, to say that this branch is already using internet banking for statements etc, but not for payments.

7. Future Events – Memorable Dates

•  21^st June (Saturday) – Toddington Village Fete
• • no RBL stand due to manning shortage.
• 13^th July (Sunday) – Wingfield Car Show
  • We will be manning the Poppy Appeal’s merchandise stand (Melanie, John, Debbie, Bridie).
• 15^th August (Friday) – VJ Day Commemoration and Beacon Lighting
  • It was suggested that we would hold a short service and beacon lighting similar to our event on Thursday 8^th Timings to be confirmed, but the Beacon lighting would be earlier than VE Day as the sun sets earlier in August as opposed to May.
• 25^th October (Saturday) – RBL Coffee Morning – Toddington Methodist Hall.
• 9^th November (Sunday) – Remembrance Sunday
• 11^th November (Tuesday) – Armistice Day 

8. Reports

8.1 Treasurer – Debbie Gibbons

Another cheque was issued during the meeting for £50.00 being the payment of an invoice received from Sax’s Cool Band for playing at our VE Day event. 

8.2 Poppy Appeal Update – Melanie Parker 

An update would be sought at our next meeting. 

8.3 Membership Secretaries Report – Bil Levinson

 From the membership list on 6th of June 2025, we now have 60 members, this includes a new member that joined after the VE 80 celebrations on Thursday 8th April with a further two ladies joining, one lady in May and the another in June. Whether or not it is due to the forms I gave out or not is not known! 

Web Site Report 

The web site is up to date as far as I can tell, including the June Minutes. 

8.4 Standard Bearer – Pippa Brazier 

Attended:

• 25^th May – dedication of the new R.A.F.A. standard at St Clement Danes, London.
• 12^th June – Lancastrian Service at Tower Hill & a service at St Katherine Cree Church.

Invited to:

• 23^rd June – Flag raising at Chicksands & at Bedford for Armed Forces Day
• 24^th June – Armed Forces flag raising parade at the Guildhall, London.
• 25^th June – Ajex Service at the National Arboretum to mark the 80^th anniversary of the end of WW2.
• 29^th June – Armed Forces Parade, Bedford.
• 5^th July – Capel Manor Military Show, Surrey.
• 6^th July – Ajex Parade to remember the Jewish fallen, 80 years on, at Willesden Jewish Cemetery, London.

Uniform - Replacement cap badges, slings & ties will be ordered once John and Pippa have sat down together to identify the items required. 

Wrest Park – Richard Luscombe of the historical team has asked if we have any historical information, leaflets or books relating to the RBL for an exhibition at Wrest Park. 

• Branch Community Support 

BSC Training – No requests for assistance have been received, however a member of our community is going to be checked upon. 

9. Correspondence

No items were discussed or shared.

10. Any other Business. 

• Armistice Day – Debbie asked if we intended to hold another service at the Thorn Springs Care Home. We will, starting at 14.00hrs. 

• Graeme has some ideas for future content for our Facebook page, including advertising other Branch’s events.

11. Next Meeting

 The next meeting will be at 19:30hrs on Tuesday 15^th July 2025.

 If any member would like to attend a committee meeting, please contact John Wood or Kelly Grumoli and we can send you the details.

 The meeting was closed at 21:20 hrs.