Minutes of the Toddington Branch of The Royal British Legion

Committee Meeting 19:30hrs

Tuesday 16^th September 2025

1. Present - John Wood, Nigel Washington, Debbie Gibbons, Graeme Kelly,

Bil Levinson, Melanie Parker (PAO) Glen Gadsden.

2. Apologies – Lee Stone, Kelly Grumoli, Lynda Bryant,

Linda Washington, Pippa Brazier

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 July 2025

Proposed – Glen Gadsden

Seconded – Bil Levinson

6. Chairmans Report

I am saddened to report the passing of one of our members recently, we would like to offer our condolences to Roy’s family.

Branch President.

Our Branch president Canon Nigel Washington, has announced that he will be retiring from his position as president at the end of this year, Nigel and Reverend Linda will be doing lots of travelling, they intend to go and see the world, we would like to thank Nigel and Linda for everything they have done for the Branch, St Goerges and the whole of Toddington and Chalgrave, Thank You both of you.

VJ Day Event

Our VJ display in the library window was brilliant, and very well received by everyone that saw it, well done! To those who helped put it together.

Our service and beacon lighting on the village green went very well, with a good attendance of people showing their thanks and respect to all those who fought in the far east during World War Ⅱ, Air Commodore Gordon Moulds CBE was in attendance as deputy Lord Leuitenant, Gordon laid a wreath for us during the service.

Discussions by the committee noted that we were drowned out by the church bells ringing during our service, and that we could have possibly mitigated this by getting the public to come closer to the speakers.

New Reverend

The reverend Ian Smith is to become new vicar for St Georges and Chalgrave, Ian joins the Toddington Benefice at the end of October.

Coffee Morning – 25^th October 2025

Our annual Coffee Morning is fast approaching, which also signals the launch of the 2025-2026 Poppy Appeal, the Poppy Stall will be in attendance, we will again be looking for volunteers to help out on the morning, and if you can all get ready to start baking to bring along cakes and treats for us to sell, Graeme has been posting the event on our new facebook page and I will be putting up some posters and flyers to remind people of the event, we can finalise who is doing what at our next meeting, which will now be on 14^th October 2025

Air Commodore Gordon Moulds CBE

Gordon has confirmed he will be attending the Remembrance service on 9^th November to lay a wreath on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire.

Remembrance Events

Just a quick reminder that shortly after the coffee morning is Remembrance Sunday on 9^th November, we will again be on the village green, with hopefully the new Reverend Ian Smith taking the service, we will also be attending Chalgrave church and Wingfield memorial hall that afternoon.

11^th November – Armistice Day, we will hold a short service on the green about 10:30am

then we will be attending Thorn Springs Care home at 2pm for a second short service for the residents.

7. Reports

7.1 Treasurer – Debbie Gibbons

The branch accounts have now been completed and sent to Ellie Nellis, our membership engagement officer to be checked and sent on to head office.

7.2 Membership Secretaries Report – Bil Levinson 

Good afternoon, ladies, and gentlemen,

My name is Bil Levinson, and I am the Membership Secretary for the Toddington branch of the Royal British Legion.

This time last year, we had a total of 61 members in our branch, but over the last 12 months we have lost 4 members, two of whom have now moved out of the area and two who have sadly passed away.

However, I am pleased to report that I have recently received a few enquiries from potential new members, and we now currently have 63 Members, I would also ask that you, our very valued existing members, spread the word about us to your friends and families and encourage them to think about joining.

I have some membership application forms here if anyone would like to take one and I will be supplying leaflets on our Poppy Stands at future events to give details of how to join.

Your continued support of our branch is very much appreciated, and we will always be very pleased to welcome new members.

Thank you.

Web Site Report

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

7.3 Poppy Appeal Update – Melanie Parker

2024/2025 Poppy Appeal Update

 The local poppy appeal has been increased by recent events as follows:

• VE Day event on green Raffle - £223.00
• VE Day event on green Merchandise - £153.81
• VE Day afternoon tea at Melanie’s - £209.32
• £5 additional pin sales
• Total Raised for VE Day - £ 591.13
• 2 x Wreaths paid from Branch for VE & VJ day - £60.00
• Villate Fete £0.00
• Wingfield car show - £145.07
• Total recent income: £796.20

Closing figures at end of September will be as follows before the new year starts on October 1^st:

• Local figure - £15,830.17
• Luton schools - £17,036.22
• Overall total - £32,866.39

Just up on 2023/2024-year end totals:

• Local figure - £14,781.49
• Luton schools - £17,867.02
• Overall total - £32,648.51

 Standard Bearer – Pippa Brazier

• 1^st September – Attended the funeral of Mr Len Cooper in Toddington
• 5^th September – Attended the Bedford Rugby Club Parade
• 6^th September - Attended the Ampthill Rugby Club Parade

• Branch Community Support – Lee Stone

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

7.6 Branch Facebook Page – Graeme Kelly.

Our Facebook page has been up and running from 2nd July 2025 with 2 regular post a week. 

From the last meeting 21 posts with the posting on the 25th August regarding our standard bearer getting 3859 views and reaching 2210 people with 20 (11 reactions, 1 comment, 8 shares) of the post.  Most views of our postings are around 20-67 with one other going higher to 448.

We are still growing the page and making sure we are posting information that we believe is right and appropriate for our area and not overloading followers.

Our current follower count is 17.

Our Facebook page is Royal British Legion Toddington.

8. Any other Business.

Poppy Concerts – Leighton Buzzard and Woburn are holding Poppy Concerts during October 2025. If any member would like details of these please contact the Chairman, Mr John Wood.

9. Correspondence

We received an email from the county Parade Marshal, Mr Peter Davies, notifying us that he will be resigning from his post.

10 Future Events – Memorable Dates

• 25^th October (Saturday) – RBL Coffee Morning – Toddington Methodist Hall.
• 9^th November (Sunday) – Remembrance Sunday
• 11^th November (Tuesday) – Armistice Day
• 29^th November (Saturday – Branch AGM – Moved from 22^nd November
• 20^th June 2026 (Saturday) – Toddington Village Fete.

11. Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at 19:30hrs on Tuesday 14^th October 2025,

at the Toddington Guide Hall.

 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 20:15 hrs.