President’s Report This Issue:

President’s Report 1

Remembrance 1

Poppy Appeal 2

Little Gaddesden Branch

Royal British Legion Newsletter

Winter Issue Merry Christmas!

Issue 27

Tommy Tucker, 1 Home Farm Cottages. Tel: 01442 842305

Marika Woods, 15 Little Gaddesden. Tel: 01442 842717

It has been a very good 90th Anniversary year for the Royal British Legion

(RBL) at large. That success is mirrored at local level where we experience

increasing membership, record attendances at our social/fund raising func-

tions and ever increasing support for the Poppy Appeal as the awareness of

our debt to the Armed Forces continues. The attendances on Remembrance

Sunday on The Green and at our Church were the best ever and the revised

service at the Church was appreciated by all. We are a vibrant, dynamic

Branch with much to offer but still a great deal more to do.

In 2007, the RBL helped around 40,000 beneficiaries; last year more than

160,000 received assistance. 2012 promises to be an even more demanding

year as we seek to continue our support, not only to those injured in combat,

but also to their dependents who have to assume the duty of care.

The role played by dependents is essential to the operational success of our

forces. Those of you who watched the TV programme “The Choir” will now

have an insight into the stress created when a loved one is deployed into a

high risk area such as Afghanistan. Choirmaster, Gareth Malone, created

The Military Wives Choir during the 6 months their husbands were deployed

to ease the strain of separation and “to give them a voice”. So successful was

the venture that they eventually performed at the RBLʼs Festival of Remem-

brance at the Royal Albert Hall in front of the Royal Family and some mem-

bers from our Branch. Their song “Wherever you are”, which was composed

especially for them, is emotive and creates a poignant reminder of the anxiety

and strain of their everyday life. The recording is predicted to be a commercial

success and the proceeds go to the RBL and SSAFA and will be used to sup-

port the needy not only at this festive time but throughout the years.

Thank you for your support over the past year and my wife Wendy joins me in

wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.

Remembrance

Sunday

2011

Diary Dates (Which means put them in your Diary!)

Mon 2nd Jan. Social Evening at the Bridgewater Arms 6.30PM

Mon 6th Feb. Committee Meeting 5pm Bridgewater Arms, followed by Social Evening.

Mon 6th Feb. Social Evening at the Bridgewater Arms 6.30PM

Mon 5th Mch. Social Evening at the Bridgewater Arms 6.30PM

Mon 2nd April. Social Evening at the Bridgewater Arms 6.30PM

Fri 23th April. Annual Dinner at Ashridge Golf Club

Mon 7th May. Social Evening at the Bridgewater Arms 6.30PM

2012 Event Dates for your diary.

Jubilee Fete on the Green, Sports Field and everywhere else in the Village. Tues 5th June.

Ashridge Open Day and Lunch. TBC July.

ENSA Concert in the Village Hall 2/3rd and 9/10th Nov.

Membership Matters Membership Secretary’s Report: As at the RBL New Year on the 1st October 2011

We have a very healthy active Branch Membership of 154 Members, and continue to grow at a steady pace. This has something to do with the mix of social, fund-raising, events and outings supported by you all!

We attracted 9 New Members in 2011 (to the 1st October): Howard Bradpiece, Reginald Coates, Sheila Coates, Dominic Cook, Dorothy Grande, Laurence McIlwee, Lavinia McIlwee, Simon Watson, Marc Window, & Sarah

Woods.

HQ RBL like to encourage Direct Debit Payment to ensure a strong predictable cash-flow and many of our Members now pay their subs by Direct Debit & Tax Paying Members are encouraged to Gift-Aid their donations.

Two Thirds of our Branch Members pay their subs by Direct Debit, and 48 pay annually by cash or cheque. If you’d like a DD or Gift Aid form, or would like to suggest a new member for Marika to press-gang, then just let her know!

Winding up our Branch Cadets Unit

A Message from Ken Dickson:

There were neither Cubs nor Scouts when we started

our RBL Branch Cadet membership in 2007.

Now that the Cubs are well-established in Little Gaddes-

den, and a Scout Troop is starting in January 2012,

there will be ample activities for the 8 to 14 year olds in

our community. We feel, therefore, that the Cadets have

now served their purpose and should be wound-up.

Our Committee have agreed, however, that all who have

served as Cadets are welcome to parade and march

with us for the Remembrance Sunday Services, and for

you to wear your berets – if they still fit!

May I say how much I have enjoyed the occasions when

we have been together, and look forward to learning how

you progress in future.

On behalf of The Little Gaddesden Branch of the Royal

British Legion, I send you our best

wishes for Christmas and the New

Year.

Sincerely

Ken Dickson Youth Officer

Representatives of the Cadets lay a cross

at the village War Memorial with the famous

berets in evidence!

The committee would like to thank

our inspiring & committed Youth

Officer Ken Dickson who has educated, informed,

guided and been a friend to so many of our children and

young people & their parents in this village across the

generations. He is truly remarkable!

2011 Poppy

Appeal

Many, many thanks to everyone who participated in this year's

Poppy Appeal - distributors, collectors and contributors.

The total collected to date, with a little more to come, is a

fantastic £5,625, which is 10% up on last year. It will be 11.5%

up when tax has been recovered on Gift Aided donations,

exactly in line with the Legion's overall aim for 2011.

Well done Little Gaddesden and District!

Happy Christmas to you all.

John Allen - Branch Treasurer and Poppy Appeal Co-Ordinator

Branch Christmas Dinner

What a very jolly time we all had sharing the great

company and terrific fare offered by Nicola and her staff at

the Branch Christmas Dinner on the 5th December!

Harry was feted on his birthday, Nicola was presented by

our Branch with an RBL Wall Plaque appropriately bearing

the Motto `Service Not Self’ as a token of our appreciation

for her and her teams’ unfailing hospitality towards us.

Sadly Marika's’ photos didn’t come out, but our thanks to

her and Mark for the wine which made everything go with a

swing!