THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGIONESSEX COUNTY

NEWSLETTER

Saturday 19th May am.Conference opened with prayers and Silent Tribute which included a mention of the late John Crisford OBE, immediatepast National Chairman, followed by the Civic Welcome from Councillor Sonia Copeland Deputy Mayor of Belfast. TheRBL National President Air Marshall David Walker CB CBE AFC then gave his address. After the previous year’sminutes were accepted the National Chairman, Terry Whittles, also addressed conference.

A very moving presentation was given by Mrs Brenda Hales whose husband had been tragically killed in Afghanistan in2009. There wasn't a dry eye in the house and she received a standing ovation at the conclusion of her talk.

The Dominion President of the Royal Canadian Legion, David Flannigan gave a presentation on their work in Canada.Lunch followed where the Conference Centre personnel had put up a large TV screen in the Exhibition hall so thatanybody who wished could watch the Royal Wedding.

Saturday pm.The session started with Charter motions, followed by Emma Channings, Director of Membership & Volunteering, whogave a brief presentation on Membership issues most of which we were already aware of including Membership cardsetc. She also stated that the RBL currently has 275,000 members.

The National Officers left the stage and the Chairman of the Membership Council, Colin Kemp plus four members of theMembership Council held a forum giving RBL members a chance to ask questions from the auditorium. Questionscame fast and furious and were mostly answered by Colin Kemp or if he didn’t know the answer Sandra Fruish,Assistant Director of Membership, came on stage to answer the question.

Julian Walker, an author, read excerpts from the book he has written about WW1 humour and language a lot of whicheverybody had heard one way or another but were still quite amusing.

Paul Harris (Trustee) and Mike Alderson (Membership Council) were next to give a presentation on County SupportedBranches. This was very enlightening as basically the scheme means that branches that cannot get officers don’t needto close.

A bucket collection was held which raised just over £2000 for the Poppy Appeal.

Sunday 20th May amThe morning session started with the presentation of Cups and Awards. As the Essex County Chairman Roger Burgesswas unavailable Georgina Swann, delegate for Chelmsford Branch, was asked to collect the Maurice Cup, the award foris for the most efficiently run county which Essex has won for the third yearrunning. She was presented with an acrylic plaque and a hazel tree sapling. (Thetree has been given to the County President, Bob Villa, as he has a large garden).

After the awards had been presented we were given an excellent talk by a 13 yearold Youth member, Madison Watkins, a very inspirational and confident younglady, who spoke of the role she plays in encouraging other young people, in herarea, to get involved with the RBL.

More motions were heard and at 11:00 all Standard Bearers and able membersassembled in the square outside the Conference Centre where the Parade thenmarched through the streets of Belfast to the War Memorial outside the City Hallfor a Service and Wreath laying ceremony.

Sunday pmThe afternoon started with the final motions being heard. All Charter motions thathad been put forward failed and ten motions put forward by various branches orcounties were carried and four were lost.

The National Standards were presented to the relevant recipients and the National Parade Marshal's pace-stick waspresented to the new National Parade Marshal, Mr John Grimes, and Conference finished with the customary Serviceled by the RBL Chaplain.

There are videos of the parade Youtube UK [win20180520 113210 or https://youtu.be/SNoHubmUVGM] and [https://

youtu.be/BzNCUn6Z4Uk]

A REVIEW OF 2018 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN BELFASTA REVIEW OF 2018 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN BELFAST

JUNE 2018

‘Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.’(Henry Ford)

I returned to Essex at the end of Last November after leaving Southend as a teenagerto go to the London School of Economics. For most of the intervening years I havebeen a full time Chaplain with the Royal Navy mostly serving with the Royal Marines.My time with them has included several tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, IraqAfghanistan and most recently in Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis. Aside from that,as many will be familiar with, has been the obligatory arctic, jungle and desert training.I finished full time chaplaincy in November although I continue as a reservist – my unitbeing HMS President in London. The return to parish life has been a very full one andof course is in the early stages but I am enjoying it as I did my first parishes in inner cityLondon in the 1990s. I also act as the National Chaplain for the Royal MarinesAssociation and am a member of my local RBL here in Leigh-on-Sea.With a traditional parish such as mine at St. Margaret of Antioch, Leigh-on-Sea, it is adaily ministry with several services every day as well as daily pastoral duties and duties

in our active schools ministry (I am chaplain and governor to one of our three schools in the parish). As a single priestin the parish this means that I am usually reliant on getting cover within the parish for the day if I leave to undertakeduties elsewhere and this does require some planning. Nevertheless, I do hope to visit the occasional branch in thecounty, attend county meetings when I can, be available for advice with respect to “my part of ship “ across the county,and take a lead in key events during the year.I am particularly concerned that our veteran organisations have a sustainable and attractive future for newer retired folkfrom the military and their families and supporters and believe that an outward looking and charitable mentality with ouryoung and the wider community will prove fruitful in this over the coming years.You may contact me on 07768687605 or davidvictorwylie@gmail.com

FROM THE COUNTY

HERE TO HELP

We are the MembershipSupport Officers for RBL Essexand will help with any branch,club or membership relatedquery. We can be contacted on01245 347123 orat msoessex@britishlegion.org.uk. Our office is notmanned on a Friday.

We are always keen to meet branches, answer anyqueries you have or help with issues. If you have aforthcoming branch or committee meeting you would likeus to attend please do let us know and we will do our bestto come along. We have a Facebook page so do follow us,Essex Royal British Legion.

THE REVD DAVID WYLIE, ESSEX COUNTY CHAPLAIN FOR THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

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County President, Cllr Bob Villa, presentingEssex County Parade Marshall Jamie Robinsonwith the Hilliard Cane Certificate.

COUNTY VACANCIES

There is still a vacancy for thepost of County RecruitingOfficer.For details of what the postentails and any other queries,please contact the MSOs directto find out more .msoessex@britishlegion.org.uk

FROM THE EDITOR

Please let me know of any branch events, past orplanned. Please send articles in ‘WORD’ documents,Arial 10pt. Pictures should be in TIFF or JPEG formand not embedded within the article text.Items for inclusion in the County Newsletter should beemailed to Shirley Ratcliffe,rblcoggeshall@btinternet.com

FROM THE COUNTY

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From the President Cllr Bob Villa

Remembrance Day Sunday 11th November.

As mentioned at the County Committee Meeting on the 2nd June Chelmsford City Council are proposing to extend thetraditional Service of Remembrance to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the First World War.The traditional element of the service and Parade should remain the same. The Act of Remembrance to take placeoutside the Civic Centre at the War memorial as per previous years.It is agreed in principle to the Parade taking place following the salute, ending outside Shire Hall with a second part of aservice.The Parade route will include Duke Street, Tindal Square, Half Moon Square to Shire Hall. Refreshments will be offeredin the Cathedral.It is also suggested that a large screen in front of Shire Hall, projecting poppies falling over Shire Hall or footage fromWW1, the screen could also be used for showing the service taking place at the War Memorial and the Parade as itmoves from the Civic Centre. It is also proposed that street entertainment and shop window displays appropriate toWW1 theme takes place.Whilst It is understood that many Branches will be organising their own local event. However, it would be appreciated, ifBranches could give their support and send a representation to this event to promote the awareness of the Legion.If you are able to represent the Legion at this event, please let me know.

You can contact me via the MSOs. msoessex@britishlegion.org.uk

National Poppy AppealTotal: 2017/18:£44,629,779.41

Essex Poppy AppealTotal:2017/18: £1,343,792.18

Essex Poppy Appeal 2017/18 is set to have a great yearcommemorating the centenary of the end of World WarOne. With many events taking place across the county.(see the June 2018 edition of the Essex Poppy AppealNewsletter for details.)These events are made possible by the Poppy AppealOrganisers and their volunteers so Thank You for thehard work you all do.

The process for obtaining tickets to attend theFestival of Remembrance has been changedbased on Members’ feedback and to comply withthe recent Data protection laws and increasedsecurity measures. This year Members will be ableto buy tickets on a first-come-first-served basis, inan exclusive Member sale, directly from a ticketagent designated by the Royal British Legion andRoyal Albert Hall. There is also a new pricingstructure, which now allows members to selecttheir own seating and pay accordingly. Exactdetails of the application procedure will bereleased in the Legion Magazine, e-Newsletterand Yammer in July. This will also be sent viaemail to MSOs.

WATCH OUT FOR DETAILS

FESTIVAL OFREMEMBRANCE

HOW YOU CANBOOK TICKETS

SEE ATTACHMENTAT END OFNEWSLETTER!!

Smiley Bits

What is a "free" gift? Aren't all gifts free?

If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain

whales?

If the world was a logical place, men would be the ones

who ride horses side-saddle!

If there was a shred of doubt the world is totally insane, this will

remove it.

Pythagoras' Theorem: .........................24 words.

The Lord's Prayer: ............................. 66 words.

Archimedes' Principle: ........................67 words.

The Ten Commandments: .................179 words.

US Declaration of Independence: ....1,300 words.

US Constitution with all 27 Amendments:.7,818 words.

EU Regulations on the Sale of CABBAGES: 26,911 words

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BRANCH AND GROUP NEWS & EVENTS

To commemorate and remember 100 years from the endof World War One the Branch will be having a parade inSt. Osyth on Friday 9th November from our village hall toour war memorial at Cowley Park in St. Osyth.We are hoping to have at least 100 children from ourprimary school together with branch members andresidents are being invited to attend.

To get to Cowley Park we will be parading along ClactonRoad and here we will be creating our own ' Avenue ofRemembrance '. A cross bearing the name of each oneof our Fallen - there were 56 from our village who did notreturn - will be attached to lamp posts/ telegraph poles forthe duration of the Poppy Appeal . Further plans arebeing put together.

ST. OSYTH BRANCH

The Branch were at Hedingham Castle on Sunday 20th

May for a Classic Vehicle Show with lots of beautifulcars, stalls and really professional music and dancing.As you can see we were close to the castle keep.It was a good day, and £239.10 was collected with aninvitation to go again to future events.

HEDINGHAMS & DISTRICT BRANCH

Branch Chairman MalcolmFirman showing his dance skills

Shaun Bambrick ,the man with thebucket.

Grays Thurrock Branch held a Recruitment Day inGrays Town Centre on Friday the 18th May 2018.

Lots of people came up to the stall and enquiredabout joining the Royal British Legion. They alsowanted to ask about how they could assist with thePoppy Appeal by becoming a volunteer in October/November this year.2018 is the Centenary of the end of the First WorldWar and the Grays Thurrock Branch would like to say"Thank You to all who Served, Sacrificed andchanged our world 1918-2018"

GRAYS THURROCK BRANCH

Rod & Sabine Oakley, Branch Chairman and Branch Treasurer

Vanessa Magee,Poppy AppealOrganiser andSabine Oakley

BRANCH AND GROUP NEWS & EVENTS

Great Dunmow Primary School has made history by officially becoming the firstschool to affiliate with the Dunmow & District Branch of the Royal British Legion.

The affiliation between Great Dunmow Primary School and the Dunmow & DistrictBranch of the RBL means that the school will have a direct link to the charity, withboth organisations looking to work to work together on fundraising projects and topromote mutual community support.Pupils, staff and representatives of the Royal British Legion gathered at GreatDunmow Primary School for a special assembly, where a Certificate of Affiliationwas presented to the Year 6 School Council Representatives by Kevin May, BranchSecretary of Dunmow & District Royal British Legion.During the assembly, the County Youth Officer for Essex, Gordon Roach, talkedabout the Standard and its history, whilst also demonstrating a number of StandardBearer moves. The Branch Secretary, Kevin May, also talked of why the Poppy isused as a symbol of remembrance, and how the money raised is used to supportservice personnel from past and present, and their dependants.

After the assembly, pupils had an opportunity to talk to Legion Members and toview artefacts from World War 1. The assembly marked hope for the future of theRoyal British Legion, with the children further developing an understanding of thesacrifice service personnel have made through the years since World War 1.“The affiliation is a fantastic opportunity for Great Dunmow Primary School and theRoyal British Legion to work together to help local children understand theimportance of the legacy left to them by the service personnel. The children wereinterested in the rare historical artefacts that were shared as part of the assemblyand many are still talking about them. We are looking forward to working together inthe future on some joint projects,” said Mrs Waters, Deputy Headteacher, GreatDunmow Primary School.The Branch will help the School by fundraising under the name of the School andoffering a wealth of experience on military knowledge, such as providing Membersfrom within the Branch to talk to pupils.Providing free educational resources via school learning packs.Raising awareness about The Royal British Legion, and encouraging young peopleto take part in Legion activities.

The School can assist the Branch in Poppy Appeal awareness and collecting and inRemembrance services and parades (such as the Remembrance Service held at the War Memorial in town lastNovember).

DUNMOW & DISTRICT BRANCH

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PAINT A POPPY COMPETITION FOR SCHOOLS

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PAINT A POPPY COMPETITION FOR SCHOOLS

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WIN £500 OF ART MATERIALS!1. Paint 2. Donate 3. RememberCompetition Details!Encourage your pupils to create a poppy picture using any materials they choose.Curate a display of the artworks in your school and upload a picture to our schools portal:www.saa.co.uk/school-poppy

Join with us and encourage your pupils to say Thank You to the courageous men and women who served and sacrificedfor our country.

Your entries will be judged by Anita - our in-house artist and Niki, the editor of PAINT (our magazine for SAA members).

Our favourite entry will win £500 of art materials!Five runner up schools will win £100 of art materials too.

We’ll let you know if you’ve won the competition by 31st October 2018.If you can, make a donation to support the valuable work of The Royal British Legion.justgiving.com/SAAPaintaPoppy0800 980 1123

Enter our painting challenge and win a fantastic bundle of art materials for your school!

Can our pupils complete more than one poppypainting?Yes there’s no limit to the number of paintingsthey can create and we would encourage themto paint as many times as they like! The more poppiesthey paint, the bigger the display!

What size and type of paper should we use?We’d like each poppy tile to measure 125 x 125mm(4.9” x 4.9”) as this is the perfect size to encourageeveryone to take part - not too big to be daunting butbig enough for an original painting! Use any surface youlike and feel free to be as creative as you like with thelayout of each tile for your display.

Can we use any materials?Yes! We would encourage your pupils to experimentwith any materials you choose. Try out using thematerials you have to hand to get creative with thepoppies!

How do we enter the competition?When you‘ve curated your poppy display, take aphotograph of it and upload it to our special school’schallenge portal at www.saa.co.uk/school-poppyMake sure you enter your contact details and we‘ll be intouch if you’re a winner!

Can parents and teachers take part too?Yes! Teachers and parents can enter our artists’challenge and paint their own poppies too - visitsaa.co.uk/poppy for more details.

Will we be able to see the finished poppy displaysfrom other schools?You’ll be able to see your entry on our special heat mapand online exhibition where you can find out if schoolsnear you have entered too!

Do we have to make a donation to be able to takepart?No, the competition is open for anyone to take partregardless of whether they have donated.However we would encourage you to consider making adonation to help support veterans and their familiesthrough the work of The Royal British Legion.

Are we able to post our poppy paintings to you?Unfortunately we are unable to accept competitionentries by post - simply go to our special school’schallenge portal to enter!

Should our poppy display be a special size?No, your display of poppy paintings can be as big orsmall as you like - let your creativity run wild!

Is there a closing date?Yes, all displays should be uploaded to our portal byWednesday 31st October.

REMEMBRANCE SPECIAL CIRCULAR 20181. FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE

Membership TicketingThe Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance will be held in the Royal Albert Hall, London on Saturday10 November 2018 with performances at 2.00pm and 7.00pm.Recent changes in Data Protection laws and increased security measures have meant a review of theprocess for obtaining tickets to attend the Festival of Remembrance was necessary. This is timely, because ithas given us an opportunity to act on feedback from the Membership by changing to a fairer and morestraightforward system of obtaining tickets. Under the new system, Members will be able to buy tickets on afirst-come-first served basis, in an exclusive Member sale, buying tickets directly from the ticket agent.There is also a new pricing structure for the purchase of tickets, which now allows members to select theirown seating and pay accordingly, meaning a fairer allocation of seating within the Royal Albert Hall. Therewill be no additional booking fees for Members and administrative costs for the process will be covered by theLegion.We believe that this new system means fairer distribution and fairer pricing along with an equal opportunityfor all Members to secure a ticket. It will also ensure that Members’ personal data is secure.The ticketing information and application procedure is outlined below. Exact details of ticket booking phonenumber and website will be released in the Legion Magazine, e-Newsletter and Yammer in July. This will alsobe sent via email to MSOs.RequirementsIn addition to the implementation of GDPR, the Metropolitan Police have asked for the following informationfor every person who will attend the Festival of Remembrance, both afternoon and evening performances:o Full Name (this must be exactly as it appears on your photo ID)o Address (please include post code)o Date of Birth (please use the format DD/MM/YYYY)o Email addresso Contact number

This information must be allocated to their seat number and all tickets must be individually named.The ticket agent has agreed to gather all of the aforementioned data on behalf of the Legion and will beGDPR compliant. The ticket seller will share the data with TRBL and Met Police only. All data will be deletedwithin one month after the event.

The process for purchasing tickets for the Festival of Remembrance is as follows:Mon 23 Jul All members of the Legion (including the Women’s Section) can purchase tickets from 9.00am byphone and online via a dedicated phone line and private web link.The member should call the ticket agent directly. Each member must be prepared to quote the name of theirbranch and membership number when booking, as well as the information requested by the MetropolitanPolice above for each guest to process the ticket booking. No more than 2 tickets will be issued andpayment will be taken at the time of booking. Postal applications will not be accepted.

Tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets will be issued before full ticket holderdetails are received. Tickets will be posted directly to the lead ticket booker in October. Once confirmedtickets sent are non-returnable or refundable. You are able to change the name of your guest before 1October by calling the ticket agent. All membership numbers will be checked. A clause will be written in to thepurchaser terms and conditions that a refund will be processed if an invalid / fraudulent membership numberis used.

Fri 7 Sep All membership numbers checked for validity by TRBL.Invalid numbers are contacted and tickets will be refunded.Mon 17 Sep Refunded tickets go on resaleMon 1 Oct Ticket sales open to the general public.Sun 14 Oct All ticketing closes. Tickets are posted to the lead booker.

Ticket prices

Ticket prices for both the afternoon and evening in 2018 (includingVAT) are: Grand Tier Boxes (afternoon performance only)

£30.00 per seat

Loggia Boxes (afternoon performance only) £30.00 per seat

Second Tier Boxes & Stalls £25.00 per seat

Circle (Centre), Circle (Restricted View), Wheelchair spaces £10.00 per seat

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