Minutes of the Toddington Branch of The Royal British Legion

Committee Meeting 19:30hrs

Tuesday 20^th May 2025

1. Present

John Wood , Lee Stone, Debbie Gibbons, Graeme Kelly, Bil Levinson, Pippa Brazier, Kelly Grumoli

2. Apologies 

Lynda Bryant, Nigel Washington, Linda Washington, 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 April 2025

The minutes having been previously circulated were agreed to be a true record of the last full committee meeting. 

Proposed – Pippa Brazier

Seconded – Debbie Gibbons

6. Chairmans Report

D-Day Events, 8^th & 10^th May 2025

Both of our commemorative VE-Day events went off very well, we had a fantastic attendance on the evening of the 8^th June to see the first beacon lighting.  We had a short service which included our Minister Malcolm Curtis leading us through prayer followed by the Last Post, a 2 Minutes silence and Reveille. Our honoured Guest Air Commodore Gordon Moulds CBE then laid a VE-Day wreath on behalf of Toddington RBL.

We then did this all again on Saturday 10^th May, with the addition starting with a very “Cool” Sax’s Cool Band and a fabulously talented and dressed, singer Alice Hayden. Ice cream and Thai food on hand with our own RBL merchandise stall and raffle for the Poppy Appeal. We also had an information tent complete with pin board organised by Graeme Kelly which was very popular showing VE-Day images.  We would like to thank everyone who attended and supported us.

7. Future Events – Memorable Dates

• 21^st June (Saturday) – Toddington Village Fete
  • No RBL Raffle due to not enough RBL committee members able to run it.
• 13^th July (Sunday) – Wingfield Car Show
• 15^th August (Friday) – VJ Day Commemoration and Beacon Lighting
• 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

8.2 Poppy Appeal Update – Melanie Parker

No change since previous meeting.

8.3 Membership Secretaries Report – Bil Levinson

From the membership list on 10th of May 2025, we now have 58 members, this includes a new member that joined after the VE 80 celebrations on Thursday 8th April. I gave out some forms detailing the methods for joining the RBL. One gentleman joined that evening!

Web Site Report

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

8.4 Standard Bearer – Pippa Brazier

• 8^th May – Attended the funeral of Mr Norman Grey @ Kempston Church
• 10^th May – Attended the service for VE Day on Toddington Village Green
• 11^th May - Attended the VE Day Parade & Service @St Paul’s Church in Bedford + Flag Raising
• 18^th May – Attended Runnymede R.A.F memorial & Reception @ De Vere Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor

Pippa also reported that standard bearers will require replacement cap badges, slings & ties to replace the Queen’s crown on them with the King’s crown.

• Branch Community Support

Our Branch Community officer has now received his official ID badge and lanyard.

9. Correspondence

All items of correspondence are now sent out via email to the committee members prior to the meeting taking place, so that they can be read beforehand and discussed as necessary during the meeting. If any member would like a copy of any correspondence item, please contact John Wood or Kelly Grumoli (details at the top of these minutes) and we will get copies to you.

• New King Charles Cypher – Our Standard will be ordered new Gauntlets, Lapel Badge, Sling Badge, Cap Badge & all Committee members will be ordered a new Crest badge
• Internet Banking – It has been agreed that we will continue to bank the way we currently do.
• Subscription Fee – We are all in agreement we will be not partaking in the subscription fee initiative

10. Any other Business.

• Royal British Legion Notice Board – We discussed the option of having a village notice board in the village – Kelly to send email to Parish Council to discuss
• Face Book Page – Graeme has opted to design and support our Facebook Page – Watch this Space
• We have agreed that we will purchase some more Cable mats for health and safety reasons.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at 19:30hrs on Tuesday 17^th June 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 21:10 hrs.