THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION COUNTY NEWSLETTER

Summer 2011 POPPY APPEAL AS AT 27 July 2011

Suffolk £627,291.24 which is 2.17 % up on the same time last year Well done!! National is currently £35.5m

COUNTY NOTICES & EVENTS

Haughley – poppy picnic and music day Sudbury- Escape to Victory event (picture courtesy of Jane Hyde)

Fun in the Poppy Fields Branch birthday party (picture courtesy of Jane Hyde)

COUNTY NOTICES & EVENTS - CONTINUED

Raise a glass in honour NEW COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER FOR EAST

To the Legion’s 90th year, SUFFOLK

For the families past and present Sarah Jarvis has recently joined the team as Part- time Community Fundraiser. She has worked in the For all those we hold dear charitable sector for many years and is looking The funds that’s raised from year to year forward to the new challenge of supporting and

For forces far and wide, working with her regional Poppy Appeal Organisers

The Legion’s right behind you, to achieve maximum fundraising for the Poppy

To help those left behind Appeal and the many additional events that are orga nised by its volunteers and supporters. She can So today’s your 90th birthday be contacted on 07917554969 or 02032960413 We stand and we salute you,

90TH ANNIVERSARY CATHEDRAL CONCERT From the British Legions, far and wide, CATHEDRAL We want to say “God Bless You”. SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2011 From Member There will be a combination of The Band of

The Army Air Corps, St James School Chamber Choir and 90TH ANNIVERSARY GOLF EVENT the Cathedral choir

90 GOLFERS FOR 90 YEARS Tickets on sale from The Theatre Royal Box Office. Prices: BURY ST EDMUNDS GOLF CLUB HAVE KINDLY £13 for side aisles, £18 back central and £25 front central DONATED THEIR COURSE TO US FOR THE DAY th on Friday September 16 2011 Homecoming Parade at

We also have the donation of an international Trick Shot Show. Coffee on arrival and dinner following the Show. Guest speaker Simon Clegg, CEO at Ipswich Town Football Club

I would be grateful for any donations for the draw - Sandra

FROM DAVID LAND Thank you all very much for all your kind wishes for my operation and my stay in hospital

COUNTY NOTICES & EVENTS - DIARY

SUFFOLK COUNTY CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2011/12

2011 July 23 Saturday B group Walk Bacton to – Contact Margaret Buttle 24 Sunday Bures RBL- open garden –Secretaries, Station Hill/Water Lane 2-5pm 29-31 weekend Bikers Branch national rally –Trimley St Mary August 6 Saturday Newmarket Race Day 13 Saturday Wickham Market Club – coffee morning 20-21 Sat-Sun Maritime Ipswich event– recruitment stall September 04 Sunday A group walk, Haverhill, Kedington and Thurlow 07 Wednesday County Management Board 10 Saturday Ipswich RBL - Corn Exchange – Minden band concert. Freedom of Borough for Royal Anglians 11 Sunday Felixstowe Branch Open Day at Landguard Fort. Pipes and drums 11 Sunday RAFA – Battle of Britain Church Service and Parade 16 Friday Suffolk RBL – Golf Day – Bury St Edmunds contact Sandra 17 Saturday Concert in the Cathedral with Army Air Corps Band contact Ted Wood 25 Sunday Standard Bearers Competition October 01 Saturday County committee – County Office 02 Sunday Chairman’s’ seminar – RBL Club 09 Sunday Youth Standards bearers competition 29 Saturday Ipswich Poppy Launch 29 Saturday Felixstowe Poppy Launch November 05 Saturday Woodbridge – Poppy Parade 11 Friday Eve C Group Festival of Remembrance – The Apex Bury St Edmunds 11 Friday Witnesham Branch – social evening St Clements Hall Ipswich 2012 August 26 Sunday Woodbridge Branch 90th birthday – Elmhurst Park Woodbridge

Please share information about events you know of with the County by informing the office and keep this document updated.

WOOTTON BASSETT TEARDROPS FOR POPPIES I am arranging to get some of these into Suffolk. This version is £3 and loops around the centre of a poppy or for £3.50 a brooch version is available which pins through the poppy onto a lapel. Please contact County Secretary if you require any. £1 from each sale goes to The Royal British Legion and associated military charities.

“The residents of Wootton Bassett who have turned out for countless soldier repatriation parades are to be thanked with special remembrance poppies. Created by Wiltshire charity worker Lynda Beaven, poppies can now be adorned with crystal tears as a "physical way of saying thank you".” BBC news

COUNTY NOTICES & EVENTS - CONTINUED

Suffolk Junior Cavalry Founded 1990 An Affiliated Unit of The Royal British Legion

An Open Invitation to all Standard Bearers and Members of The Royal British Legion

The Suffolk Junior Cavalry will be holding their Annual Inspection & Display on Sunday 25th September 2011 at Valley Farm Riding Centre, Wickham Market, commencing at 1800 hrs.

Further details from David Foster Tel Nr. 01473 413704

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME Junior Cavalry – Mounted Inspection followed by Mounted Drill Demonstration The Royal British Legion Standards with short marching display Pas des Deux – 2 of the senior riders Cavalry Games Musical Ride of The Suffolk Junior Cavalry Finale incorporating The Royal British Legion Standards The Suffolk Junior Cavalry Presentations & Promotions Evening Hymn & Cavalry Last Post National Anthem REFRESHMENTS WILL BE ON SALE IN THE CAFÉ (Privately operated)

The Standard of the ______Branch will be attending The Suffolk Junior Cavalry Annual Inspection & Display.

Signed ______Branch Chairman/Secretary Please return this slip to David Foster, 6 Kinross Road, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP4 3PL. or e-mail [email protected]

COUNTY NOTICES - from The Secretary

TRAINING BRANCH ACCOUNTS 1 Make sure you are helping your Treasurer all Branch Treasurers 13-14 August Haughley you can in compiling the accounts. Suffolk Submission time will soon be upon us. Make Branch Management 16-17 August Taverham Norfolk sure the actual reporting forms balance when Treasurer Refresher course 13th August you sign them off at your AGM – do not just Chelmsford Office assume. MEMBERSHIP FORMS BRANCH ACCOUNTS 2

There is a shortage of these at the moment. We hope to target the correct branches for R&P New MEM 20s are being printed so these forms and Account forms to save duplication. will be used in the future. I have an Copy of this and relevant bank statements will electronic form of the MEM 4 if you wish. need to be sent to County only. They will not Online joining reduces the need for paper! be accepted without bank statements.

NEW ONLINE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM CONFERENCE MOTIONS

This is to be used by Counties this year and Get those moans and groans written down will be rolled out to those branches who and agreed in branch meetings. I will be wish to use it. Training will be arranged for sending out formal paperwork early August Treasurers wishing to get involved. Please after the Conference Committee Meeting July let Peter Gipson know if you are interested. 29th.

EMAIL ADDRESSES STANDARD BEARERS COMPETITIONS

Please when you fill in your MS1’s, can you Adult RBL standards competition – th please put any email addresses on, even if Sunday 25 September it is a family member’s. A lot of information th I send out has a very short time frame so it Youth Standards Competition- October 9 is only people with email that receive it and can action. Please encourage all to participate.

CHAIRMANS SEMINAR MEMBERSHIP CARDS Only one will be issued free per year. £2.50 to nd This will be held on Sunday October 2 replace or letter confirming membership. at Stowmarket RBL Club. All chairmen Return unused cards by first class post with are invited to attend or to send a branch certificate of posting. representative. The speaker will be the Credits will run over on account – no refunds new Head of Membership, Bob Gamble A new Membership Guide is being printed. who is a very inspirational speaker- The DD failure process will be simplified so Form enclosed to branches. branches will know much earlier (hopefully).

RBL CLOTHING BRANCH FUNDS INITIATIVE

If you require any further copies of the As Trustees of TRBL, officers should be

brochure I sent out last issue, please ensuring that best practice is followed at all ask. I have had only one reply so far. If times and this means getting best interest on we want to recruit and communicate savings. BFI gets 3.05% and you can draw back any money simply by post. with a younger generation, we need to be out there in a more relaxed manner.

NATIONAL NOTICES

VETERAN VISIT Wilkinson’s Stores Helping Hands Initiative Please contact TRAVELSERV, Mrs Santha Simmons, 1B Amberley Road, LONDON E10 7ER Local Wilkinson’s Stores have a budget to donate For details of Veterans trip to Singapore, Borneo and to local organisations and charities via their

Brunei in March 2013, 14- 16 days–approx cost £2000 scheme called Helping Hands. The best approach would be for branches to seek support by with flights from Glasgow obtaining an application form from their local Wilkinson’s stores.

Tamsin Comrie is researching a BBC documentary http://corporate.wilkinsonplus.com/story.asp?id about entertainment during WW2, and I'm looking to =19 speak to people who have memories of ENSA (the Entertainment National Service Association). ON LANGUARD POINT – A project about HOME

Whether you were an ENSA performer or a member of stories the Forces who might have seen a show or heard a radio broadcast, any memories or thoughts on this The Pacitti Company are co-ordinating an subject would be gratefully received. If you don't Encyclopaedia for the East of England that tells the remember ENSA, but know someone who might, story of the East – places, people, histories, myths, please feel free to pass on this message to them. folklore, recipes, dreams and futures. I can be contacted by email on Ipswich Office – The Wolsey Room, Ipswich Town [email protected], or by telephone on 020 Hall, IP1 1DH Tel 01473 216545 857 63273. Our programme has a focus on ENSA, but I’m interested in hearing everything about anything. www.onlanguardpoint.com Tamsin Comrie, Researcher, BBC Entertainment

From National Conference: www.legasee.org.uk Who is the Unknown Soldier? This company is interviewing veterans for He is the one who led the way so the general could make it home. She is the one who saved the child and posterity. They are currently working with a was left to die alone. well known company who would like to feature some of our Veterans in their His dreams were cut off by his untimely death; her pensioner magazine. They have strong links innocence shattered by her last shallow breath. with the Navy so they are especially keen to He is the voice that echoes our pride; she is the eyes hear from Naval Veterans who served during that for our freedom, cried. WWII. Please contact [email protected]

He is the rain that waters our souls; she is the river I have met people when they filmed some holding secrets untold. interviews in Ipswich and they made everyone very comfortable –Sandra. He’s in the wave crashing Normandy’s shore; she’s on the wind over Dieppe once more. TH WESTMINSTER ABBEY 90 SERVICE He’s in the song that Passchendaele sand; she’s in the Tuesday 20th September bell from which freedom rang. The Chairman received 27 tickets for this and a branch His death was a pledge prayers cannot suffice; her life, draw took place at the recent Management Meeting a gift, at the ultimate price. to decide recipients and these have now been Leah McDonald Elrose Saskatchewan contacted.

GET YOUR KNITTING NEEDLES OUT!!

KNITTED HATS FOR OUR TROOPS

Only 100% pure wool is allowed for these hats due to fire / accident risk whilst troops are on

patrol. Other wools will stick to the skin. The WOOL BAND has to be handed in along with the completed hats (any leftover wool can also be handed in as this will go towards knitting other hats) so the troops will know what the hats are made from. We will photocopy any extra bands required as one and a bit hats can be made out of a 50g ball of wool. The colour of the wool is also important. Colours such as black, grey, sandy, dark green, beige (or similar colours) are suitable. Bright colours are not suitable as they would make the troops

obvious targets. Please send your completed hat(s) (along with the wool bands and any spare wool) to:- Mrs Diana Church, Ivy Cottage, Horsley Lane, Beeston, Tarporley,

Cheshire. CW6 9TP Tel: 01829 262561

KNITTING PATTERN

With size 7 (4½ metric) needles, cast on 90 stitches. Knit 4 rows of K1, P1 rib.

Cast on 1 stitch at the end of last row, making 91 stitches. Row 5 – Knit. Row 6 – Purl. Continue in stocking stitch (1 row K, 1 row P), until work is 6 inches in all. Begin Decreasing:

Row 1 (K11, K2 together) 7 times = 84 stitches. Row 2 Purl. Row 3 (K10, K2 together) 7 times = 77 stitches. Row 4 Purl. Row 5 (K9, K2 together) 7 times = 70 stitches. Row 6 Purl.

Row 7 (K8, K2 together) 7 times = 63 stitches. Row 8 Purl. Row 9 (K7, K2 together) 7 times = 56 stitches. Row 10 Purl. Row 11 (K6, K2 together) 7 times = 49 stitches. Row 12 Purl.

Row 13 (K5, K2 together) 7 times = 42 stitches.Row 14 Purl. Row 15 (K4, K2 together) 7 times = 35 stitches.

Row 16 (P2 together, P3) 7 times = 28 stitches. Row 17 (K2, K2 together) 7 times = 21 stitches.

Row 18 (P2 together, P1) 7 times = 14 stitches. Row 19 (K2 together) 7 times = 7 stitches. Row 20 (P2 together) 3 times, K1 = 4 stitches.

Row 21 (K4 together) – Cast Off. Sewing – Please be careful to sew hat up with a ‘Flat’ seam as a thick seam would be uncomfortable to wear

SOMETHING TO TEST YOUR BRAINS

You should do this test in 2½ minutes!! Try it at a Branch meeting. Do it as quickly as you can but answer all the questions

1 If a doctor gave you 3 pills and told you to take one every half hour, how long would they last?

2 Divide 30 by a half. Add 10. What is the answer?

3 If you only had one match and entered a dark room where there was an oil lamp, an oil heater and some kindling wood, which would you light first?

4 Take two apples from 3 apples, What would you have?

5 Some months have 30 days, some have 31. How many months have 28?

6 Imagine you built a house with four sides and each wall had a southern exposure. If a bear went past one of the windows, what colour would it be? 7 How many animals of each species did Moses take into the ark?

8 If you went to bed at 8 o’clock in the evening, would up the alarm clock and set it to get up at 9 o’clock the next morning, how many hours sleep would you get?

ANSWERS NEXT TIME DIGITAL SWITCHOVER HELP Poppy Man doing his bit at the Suffolk Show For older and disabled viewers who may find making the switch difficult, the BBC–run Switchover help scheme can help. Most people will be asked to pay £40 towards the standard option of help.

This includes: Easy to use equipment to convert one set, an approved installer and 12 month aftercare.

Help is available is available if you are aged 75 or over; have lived in a care home for 6 months or more or get DLA, attendance allowance, Mobility supplement or are registered blind or partially sighted.

For further information visit helpscheme.co.uk or call 08004085900 or Textphone 08004085936.

If you do not qualify for help but still need to ask questions, visit digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456505050

DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER VIA YOUR E- MAIL? – THEN PLEASE INFORM [email protected] 01284 773471 Any information to be included for the next newsletter, please have into the Office by 30 September 2010 IF YOU WISH THIS NEWSLETTER IN LARGE TEXT OR CLEARER TEXT FORMAT, Please contact the County Secretary