BRANCH NEWSLETTER AUGUST
2009.
Dear Members,
Membership News
Once again and sadly we begin this Newsletter with news of the
passing of two of our members,
namely Don Stanmore who served in the Coldstream
Guards, and Ian Sweeney, ex Royal Navy. We offer
condolences to their friends and families and hope that they may
Rest in Peace. On the positive side we warmly welcome six new
members to our Branch and they are Adrian Garside ex R
Tank Regiment, Graham Poole ex RAF, Major Richard
Laws ex RA, Ms V Laws, Graham Ross, and Flt Lt Campbell
Blake RAF. The total Branch membership now stands
at 236, and new members would be more than welcome.
Branch Matters
Outings: The response to the question posed in the May
edition on the subject of Branch Outings was less than encouraging;
only 7 reply slips were returned and of these only 4 were in favour
so we'll take that as a "no" vote on the matter.
Meetings: Continue to be well supported although the July
one was less so, possibly due to the atrocious weather on the
night.
Speakers: Recent talks have been on Headstones and
Memorials, 18th Century Fire-arms, the Thames
Valley Air Ambulance Service, and Alec Powell on his time
in the REME, all informative and enjoyable. The diary for the
remainder of this year is now complete: In September Peter
MacKinnon, who was there recently, will talk about
the recent troubles in Western China between the Han Chinese
and the Uighers. In October Sqn Leader M C Allen,
RAF will talk about her experiences during the hand over of
Basra to the Americans earlier this year; on November
3rd we shall be holding
the Branch AGM when we hope to enrol some new
members on to the committee; and finally in December a group
of Chefs from RAF Benson will entertain us with some Xmas
fare. All these dates are firm and can be entered into your
calendars now.
Welfare: Eileen Hopkins continues to struggle to find
volunteer drivers to transport members to hospital; there have been
only three regular drivers but one of these is about to retire
leaving just the two plus a small number who can be called upon
occasionally. The requests for our help never seem to diminish and
we really do need more people who would be willing to help even if
it's only now and then. If you can help please phone Eileen on
612627.
Annual Garden Fete will again be held on August Bank
Holiday Monday in the garden of Church Close starting at 2pm. There
will be all the usual attractions for both young and old, and for
the first time a Line Dancing display. As always we shall be
grateful for your donations of books and bric-a-brac (to Dick
Stillwell 613105), cakes to (Debbie Hemmins 613269) and bottles (to
Eileen
Hopkins before the 29th August
please.
The Garden Fete
Draw will take place at about 4pm on the day. Many thanks
to those of you who have already returned your counterfoils and
ticket money, but if you haven't done so yet it would be very
helpful if you could do so before the 31st of
August. As you all know the Draw is to help raise extra funds for
the Branch bearing in mind that our other annual fund raising
event, namely Watlington Festival, did not take place this year. As
well as the top three prizes of £100.00, £50.00 and £25.00, there
will be many other attractive items which have been donated by
local businesses and individuals. Please support the Branch by
buying your tickets.
Gift Aid
The records show that a number of members who could be eligible
have not yet registered for Gift Aid. It is a simple procedure and
costs you absolutely nothing but by doing so the Legion can recover
£3.08 from the Inland Revenue every year for every member. To be
eligible you have to be a UK Income Tax payer either on your
salary, pension, or by way of savings. Many members have ticked the
Gift Aid box on either their original Application form or on the
replacement card holder form, but it is possible that some may have
missed doing it at the time and have since forgotten about it.
Accordingly a Declaration form is being attached to this Newsletter
for some members and if you receive one all you need to do is sign
it and return it to the secretary at the address above. It really
does help. If you don't receive a form but think you are eligible
please ring 612266.
Other Matters
Members may like to know that most, if not all, of the
Servicemen killed in Afghanistan whose bodies are repatriated to
RAF Lyneham are transported to the John Radcliffe hospital, and
when this happens many local people as well as a number of Legion
Branch Standards and members turn out to line the route close to
the hospital entrance. Of necessity when this happens the notice
can be quite short and the timing is not always precise, but if
anyone would like to be notified of any of these occasions so that
they can attend please contact the secretary and your name will be
kept on a list to be contacted when information of a repatriation
is received.
Recruiting
As part of our campaign to recruit more members in to the Branch
we are planning to send a flyer to all households in Watlington.
This means that members as well as non members will receive it and
for that we apologise in advance, however if it encourages you to
persuade your friends and/or neighbours to join us it will not have
been entirely wasted. There are still many people who think they
are ineligible to join the Legion because they have not served in
the Forces, and it is up to all of us to explain that this is not
the case. Anyone can become a member.
The
bigger the Legion membership, the louder its campaign voice.
A Century of Fatherhood.
Testimony
Films are making a documentary for the BBC about Fatherhood over
the last 100 years, and invite contributions from men who may have
an interesting story to tell either about being a Dad or about
their own Dad. They are particularly interested in exploring the
effects that WW1 and WW2 had on family life. If anyone would like
to be involved or would like more information about this project
they should contact Pascal Emmenegger c/o Testimony Films, 12 Great
George Street, Bristol BS1 5RH; telephone 0117925 8589; e-mailresearch1@testimonyfilms.com
