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Royal British Legion Portugal Branch

Spring Newsletter

Welcome to the Spring Newsletter from the Royal British Legion (Portugal) Branch.

We hope that you are enjoying the Spring and send our apologies if you feel that we

have not communicated regularly enough with you - we will try and do better in the

future....

Our lunches offer friendship and fellowship

We are pleased to report that the RBL lunches on the third Wednesday of the month in the

Central area and the first Sunday of the month lunch in the East continue to give members a

great opportunity to enjoy fellowship with other members as well as not having to cook or do

the washing up!

Each member is encouraged to remember that we should invite prospective members to come

to our events. The Royal British Legion needs new members and those moving to Portugal

will surely find good contacts and friendship when they join us.

Porto

The RBL Porto Group helps people throughout the year but its fund raising activity is

focussed around the six weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday.

If you know someone living in the Porto area who would like to make contact with the group,

the local representative for Porto is Adrian Bridge, who will be pleased to supply more

information.

Madeira

The Madeira Group is a vibrant group enjoying some of the best that life offers on the lovely

island of Madeira.

Sadly, Nick Martin, who has been the representative for Madeira has resigned and the new

representative is Susan Marloye-James. Susan will be pleased to supply more information for

anyone in the Madeira area that would like to make contact with the group.

Susan’s first official function was to lay a wreath at the 81st Anniversario da Fundacao do

Nucleo do Funchal na Regiao Autonoma da Madeira on 2nd

of March. Our new standard

bearer, Jean Blair performed her duties for the first time.

Our second function was held on March 11th

. This was our Spring Dinner. There were 79

people in attendance. The dinner raised 600 Euros plus 15 Euros from the ‘shrapnel’from last

year’s collection which Sue managed to get for the local coin man!

A special guest was in attendance- Ian Lisle, the Cambridgeshire Representative for the

Riders Branch 3542 happened to be on holiday on the island, and was accompanied to the

dinner by Jo.

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After dinner, Nick was thanked for his contribution over the ten years in office and was given

a certificate of appreciation. His long suffering wife, Agueda, was presented with a small

bouquet.

The next official function will be a Summer BBQ to be held at the Casa do Combatente on

28th

June. Please feel free to attend.

Algarve East

Thanks to Phil and Vi Ladbrook, the Algarve East Group is a dynamic group that have made

themselves available to assist any and all looking to learn more about the Royal British

Legion. They have organised two lunches this quarter. The February luncheon had 26

people attending raising 139 Euros for the Poppy Appeal. The March luncheon had 23

people attending raising 133 Euros for the Poppy Appeal.

Lunches are held at Gunther’s Restaurant, Pechao on the 1st Sunday of each month.

A community Fayre was held at the Vila Sol Hotel in Almancil on the 31st. Of January with

the RBL invited to be present. Vi and Phil Ladbrook manned a stall raising 133 Euros in

donations for the Poppy Appeal.

Keep up the good work.

Algarve Central

Alun & Pat Roberts are the hard working representatives for the Algarve Central. They have

made themselves available to assist any new comers and people looking to become a part of

the Algarve Central. They have organized lunches that are current being held at the Holiday

Inn in Armacao Pera in the 3rd

Wednesday of each month. The January luncheon had 29

attendees, raising 120 Euros for the Poppy Appeal. The February luncheon had 19, raising

106 Euros for the Poppy Appeal while the March luncheon had 36 people attending, raising

195 Euros for the Poppy Appeal

Let’s give a big cheer for Alun and Pat!!!!!

Poppy Appeal

The Portugal Branch is proud to announce that an amazing 41,850 Euros was raised in 2015 -

up 8% on 2014!!! This is an outstanding amount and our thanks go to all the organisers,

distributors and individual collectors for their unselfish commitment to the Appeal.

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Celebrations

The Portugal branch of the Royal British Legion would like to celebrate the birthdays of our

members for this quarter:

Helga Etlis, Patricia Boling, Jill Wyndham, John Woodcock, WilliamWilson, Barry Wills,

Latif Vajzovic, John Symington, Simon Stilwell, Anthony Stilwell, Maxine Srivastava, John

Shubrook, Baden Roberts, Rosemary Reynolds, Catheringe Rainey, James Rapp, Alan

Powell, Russell Price, Anthony Peters, Pamela Patten, Ian Ord, William Offen, Barry Minter,

Peter Nugent, Martin Mears, Margaret McAlister, Jacques Marloye, Myfanwy Manning,

Matthew Krystman, Patricia Lavery, Violet Ladbrook, Linda Hyde, Jeffrey Huster, David

Houghton, Susan Holloway, Douglas Holden, Richard Hill, Janet Greenwood, John Grant,

Tony Gazzard, Grahame Jaulkner, Frankie Dunn, Eddy De Bie, Albert Croft, Kenneth

Cragg, Carole Cracknell, Johathan Calvert, Peter Cobb, William Couper, Paul Burns, Jeremy

Bull, Barbara Briggs, Adrian Bridge, Colin Bates, Richard Birkhead, Carole Beranek,

Michael Barnes, Martin Baker, Nick Bach-Price, Royston Atkin, Gillian Atkin, John

Allington and Edgar Adamson.

Centenary Anniversary of Events of The Great War- Battle of Jutland

The Battle of Jutland took place between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas

Fleet on the 31st May 1916 in the North Sea, off the mainland of Denmark. Although it was

the only major naval battle of World War I, it became the largest sea battle in naval warfare

history in terms of the numbers of battleships and battle cruisers engaged. It brought together

the two most powerful naval forces in existence at that time.

MY BOY JACK by Rudyard Kipling

“Have you news of my boy Jack?”

Not this tide.

“When d’you think that he’ll come back?”

Not with this wind blowing and this tide.

“Has anyone else had word of him?”

Not this tide.

For what is sunk will hardly swim,

Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

“Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?”

None this tide, Nor any tide,

Except he did not shame his kind-

Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.

Then hold your head up all the more,

This tide, And every tide;

Because he was the son you bore,

And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!

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This poem was written by Rudyard Kipling after his son John, an 18 year old Lieutenant in

the Irish Guards went missing in September 1915 during the Battle of Loos.

VICTORIA CROSSES

4 Victoria Crosses were awarded for actions at Jutland:

Boy Seaman John Travers-Cornwell VC- Royal Navy (Posthumously)

Major Francis John William Harvey- VC Royal Marines (Posthumously)

Commander Loftus W. Jones- VC Royal Navy (Posthumously)

Commander Edward Barry Stewart Bingham- VC Royal Navy

Good-Bye, Farewell, Adieu.......

We would like to say a big thank you and farewell to our Bugler of many years, Neville

Woodcock (background). Sadly, he cannot play the bugle any more but hopefully will

continue to collect for the Poppy Appeal.

We would also like to acknowledge the wonderful job Nick Martin has done in Madeira. He

has tirelessly (?) worked for ten years to make the Madeira Group of the Royal British Legion

one of the most vibrant and productive groups of the Portuguese branch of the Royal British

Legion. He will be missed very much!

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Honorary Vice Presidents

We are pleased to have two new honorary Vice-Presidents. They are Deputy Commander

Rear Admiral P.A. Mc Alpine, CBE Royal Navy and Father Mark Wilson. Our best wishes

go to our new honorary Vice- Presidents!

Rear Admiral P.A.McAlpine, CBE Royal Navy

Rear Admiral McAlpine was born in Northern Ireland and joined the Royal

Navy in 1982. He has enjoyed sea command twice, the T23 Frigate HMS

SOMERSET (00-01 and the Type 45 Destroyer HMS DARING (09-11)

taking the latter through the First of Class sea training and on the first

overseas deployment. Selected for promotion to Captain in 2005, he joined

the UK Maritime Battle Staff as CTG 58.1 and deployed to the Gulf as the

Maritime Security Operations Commander.

His time within the Naval Training Command culminated with his

appointment as Deputy Flag Officer Sea Training from Feb-Nov. 11.

Promoted to Commodore in 2011, he flew his pennant from the Fleet

Flagship, HMS BULWARK as Commander United Kingdom Task Group

during both the 2012 (Mediterranean ) and 2013 (Gulf) COUGAR

deployments and was then appointed in Command of the Portsmouth Flotilla in 2014. He was appointed as

Deputy Commander Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO in 2015. A Younger Brother of Trinity House,

he was mentioned in dispatches during the 1991 Gulf War, appointed OBE in 2006 and elevated to CBE in

2014. Paddy is married to Janette, who has remained in the UK with their 2 children, Harry and Emily. A

sports enthusiast, he is a qualified rugby coach and a keen golfer and fly fisherman.

Father Mark Wilson

After nearly a year without a chaplain, Saint Vincent’s Church of

England in the Algarve is finally welcoming Father Mark Wilson who

acted as a locum in the region last year. Father Wilson was officially

licensed on Tuesday, February 16 at 11 a.m.at St. Luke’s Church in

Monte da Palhagueira. It was a service attended by the UK Consul and

representatives of the Roman Catholic Church. Said the new chaplain in

a statement: “I am looking forward to renewing old acquaintances in the

Algarve and making new friends. I would ask that you all pray for me

as I begin this new phase of my Christian pilgrimage.

Father Mark was born in 1956 in County Kilkenny in Ireland and

became a deacon in 1980. He was ordained a priest a year later and

served “in a variety of settings”, including spells with Her Majesty’s Forces both in Germany and Northern

Ireland. More recently he was the full-time chaplain to a large teaching hospital in Northern Ireland.

Getting to know you!

Susan Marloye- James, Representative for Madeira

Susan was born in Bulwayo (Southern Rhodesia) now Zimbabwe.

She joined the WRNS and served 4 years. After leaving she joined

SHAPE HQ (the military side of NATO) where she met the love of

her life, Jacques.

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Later she became Secretary to the Royal Naval Association for many years in Brussels. She

retired to France, and after running a music festival for 5 years decided to downsize and

move to Madeira-“It was just one of those places we always returned to.”She was drawn

towards the military and got involved with the RBL. She was the Poppy Coordinator and has

now become the Madeira Representative/

Patricia Boling, Information Liaison

Patti was born in Cincinnati, Ohio (yes, that’s right, the U.S.A.)

too many years ago to record. She has a degree in Political

Science as well as a Masters in Education. After 31 years of

teaching adolescents, she and her husband decided to retire to

the quiet village of Figueira. After meeting several members of

the RBL, she decided to become a member and has become the

Information Liaison person. She has been married for 20 years

has 3 wonderful children and an absolutely perfect

granddaughter. She also resides with her two rescue dogs Fish and Chips

Best of luck to these new members of the team!

Upcoming Events

The next monthly lunch will be on Sunday April 3rd

at 12:45 for 13:15 at Gunther’s. If

interested in attending, contact Vi and Phil at 912392618.

Algarve Central

The next monthly lunch will be held on Wednesday April 20th

at 1:00 at the Navigador in

Alvor. For further information contact Alun and Pat Roberts at alunrluz@gmail.com.

Algarve West

The next RBL dinner will be held at Borsalino & Amici Italian Restaurant on Saturday April

16th

at 7:00 p.m. for 7:30 start. For more information contact James or Sue on 969324117 or

by email on casahobo@sapo.pt.

Pub Night with live music at Brodies in Almadena starting the beginning of June. More

information come soon.

Some Useful Contacts:

Chairman: Jacquie Collins Secretary: Stewart Austin

282 698 614 219 855 440 rblportugalchairman@gmail.com rblportugalsecretary@gmail.com

Treasurer: Dennis Boling Information Liaison: Patti Boling

925 097 403 925 097 403

rblportugaltreasurer@gmail.com rblportugalinfo@gmail.com

Poppy Appeal: Sandra Wilkinson Membership: Captain Tony Peters 289 791 699 910 983 158

thealgarvewilkinsons@gmail.com rblportugalmembership@gmail.com