Minutes of the Toddington Branch of The Royal British Legion
Committee Meeting 19:30hrs
Tuesday 30th September 2026
1. Present - Lee Stone, Debbie Gibbons, Melanie Parker, John Wood, Graeme Kelly,
Bil Levinson, Glen Gadsden.
2. Apologies – Lynda Bryant, 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 – 21st July 2026
Proposed – Bil Levinson
Seconded – Melanie Parker
6. Matters Arising
No matters were discussed
7. Deputy Chairmans Report & Correspondence
1. In July’s meeting I reported that a revised Ceremonial Handbook had been circulated. I have printed out some of the sections that I think will be relevant for Pippa, our Standard Bearer.
2. The Bedfordshire RBL Band played on 8th August at Flitwick Rufus Centre to raise funds for the Army Benevolent Fund. Alison and I went along and it was a very good evening, and I’d recommend them to everyone.
3. Our poster for the Coffee Morning on 24th October, created by Graeme, has been published in the Village Magazine.
4. Ellis Nellis, our Membership Engagement Officer, will be attending our meeting of 3rd November. She’s eager to meet as many branches as possible over the coming months.
5. There is a “Poppy Prom Concert” on Saturday 17th October starting at 7pm at All Saints Church, Leighton Buzzard. All proceeds will go to the Poppy Appeal (poster circulated).
6. The Lord Lieutenant’s office has contacted Bedfordshire Police to ask if the raising of the threat level within the UK impacts our upcoming parades on Remembrance and Armistice Days. The police are not aware of any change necessary at the moment.
7. There is a Branch Executives Symposium on Saturday 3rd October 2026 at the Heath and Reach RBL Club. It’s a nil return from our branch.
8. We were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Sean Prior’s wife Mim, and we have sent Sean a card of condolence. Sean was our former Standard Bearer.
Pop up Banner
A banner for the Branch had been ordered and delivered at a cost of £82.99, and this was displayed during the meeting. A picture may be found at the end of these Minutes. A second banner in blue would now be ordered.
Replacement Microphone
We decided to use the existing microphone(s) for our Remembrance Service. Lee is to test them to ensure they are still fit for purpose. After Remembrance, John would make some enquires for a wireless microphone that would be compatible with our sound system.
8. Future Events
· 24th October (Saturday) – RBL Coffee Morning 10am to 12pm – Toddington Methodist Hall
o Those attending – John, Melanie, Bill, (Lynda?) plus a few other volunteers.
o Cakes, cookies welcome
· 8th November (Sunday) – Remembrance Sunday
o 10.30am Village Green
o 2pm Chalgrave Church
o 3pm Tebworth & Wingfield
· 11th November (Wednesday) – Armistice Day
o 10.45am Village Green
o 2pm Thorn Springs
· 28th November – Branch AGM - Social and Services Club, main Bar at 12pm
· 26th June 2027 – Armed Forces Day – event to be confirmed
· September 2027 – visit to the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens
All these events will be discussed at future meetings.
9. Reports
9.1 Poppy Appeal 2025/2026 Update – Melanie Parker
· The total is unchanged from the previously reported total - £31,886.68.
· Preparations for the new Appeal year have begun in earnest with preparing the collectors’ boxes and those to the Luton schools are being delivered within the next week.
· Melanie explained how an app named “Toucan” could be used on phones by Poppy Appeal collectors.
9.2 Treasurer – Debbie Gibbons
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Branch Funding Initiative as of 30/06/25
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£59.93
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Current Account
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£3,385.72
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Branch Funding Initiative Sept 2025 – Jun 2026
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£0.60
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Balance
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£3,446.25
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Balance 30th September 2026
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£3,446.25
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9.3 Membership Secretaries Report – Bil Levinson
From the latest membership list on 26th of September 2026, we have 55 members. Two are new members and two have lapsed. I have written to one of the lapsed just in case they had forgotten. The other was born in 1945 so I felt that I shouldn’t write to them. I have also written to the new members welcoming them to the RBL family!
9.4 Web Site Report
I have updated the web site with the latest minutes.
9.5 Standard Bearer – Pippa Brazier
15th August 2026 – Attended a parade for the Maltese Cross association at Tower Hill, London.
30th August 2026 – Attended the Little Gransden airshow with Graeme and the branch and RAFA standards.
6th September 2026 – Attended the Merchant Navy Parade at Tower Hill, London.
7th September 2026 – Attended the funeral of Mr Derrick Dynes at Bedford Crematorium.
14t September 2026 – Attended the funeral of Ernie Bounds from Dunstable at South Shields Crematorium with the RAFA Standard. The RAFA Standard that Pippa uses came from Ernie, who was a great friend and supporter of Pippa and the Toddington Branch.
20th September 2026 – Attended the Battle of Brittain Parade at Westminster Abbey with the RAFA Standard.
30th September 2026 – Attended the funeral of Mr Roger Bayliss at Flitwick Crematorium.
9.6 Branch Community Support – Lee Stone
I have received emails regarding my annual refresher training for safeguarding and data protection, which I aim to complete in the next month.
I have made a social visit a long-standing member who has recently been in hospital.
9.7 Branch Facebook Page – Graeme Kelly.
Facebook Report 20th July to 29th September 2026
Followers have increased to 34 at the time of this report.
From the last report in July, we have continued with mix of postings from Remembered with Honour, Anniversary of Battle of Britain, 25 years since 911, a poster for our Coffee Morning, RBL Bedfordshire Band and a call for Poppy Appeal volunteers.
The poster has been done on the 24th September as well as this poster being in the October/November village magazine.
Events have been set up for the Coffee Morning, the 3 Sunday Remembrance Services and Armistice Day.
The number of views and likes are consistent with other months.
10. Any Other Business.
A discussion was had about the cleaning and renovation of the two Silent soldiers at the village memorial. This would be organised in Spring 2027.
11. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be at 19:30hrs on Tuesday 13th October 2026 (a change from the scheduled 3rd Tuesday of the month) in the top bar of the Social and Services Club.
If any member would like to attend a committee meeting, please contact Lee Stone or Lynda Bryant and we can send you the details.
The meeting was closed at 20.57hrs.
