NORTH DISTRICT APRIL 2015

Our thanks go to all of those who assisted during the Poppy Appeal . Once again the young people of North Wales raised nearly 10% of our total. The complete list of the award winners and those with special certificates will be published on the Wales web page as soon as possible. This year some changes were made with the average collection per young person being considered for the first time. A Very special ‘Thank you' to those branches who made District Team a contribution towards the costs of the evening. The North Wales District has a fundraising committee Overton Branch which consists of Merfyn Thomas, District Poppy Coordinator and PAO Colwyn Bay; Graham Williams Overton’s British Legion Standard Bearer retired on PAO Conwy; Peter Kingston MBE District Chair; Carol Remembrance Sunday. Gerry Owen has carried the Cathery, ; Ted Evans,; Piers Beeland, Standard for Overton Royal British Legion for the past PAO Holyhead; Dave Hylands, PAO Wrexham; Kevin 30 years, starting in 1984. Gerry was also the Poppy Forbes CFR, Appeal Organiser for Overton On Dee, willingly This group consider fundraising activities and ensure ‘stepping into the breach’ as they say. In a simple the smooth running of the Poppy Appeal. Merfyn ceremony at the end of the Remembrance Service Thomas is now the District Poppy Coordinator. He can Gerry was thanked for his years of service by Chairman be contacted at [email protected], David Burton before the Standard was handed to a new bearer, Dave Austin. Merfyn and I will be contacting you with dates and venues for meeting of Poppy Appeal Organisers. The The British intention is not only to bring you up to date with any Legion would changes but also to address any concerns that you like to thank might have. We will offer a number of possible venues the Scouts, across a range of dates in late June /early July. Cubs, Beavers and Brownies I said in the first newsletter that ‘Poppy Appeal in North and members Wales has been very strong this year. …...I am very of the public hopeful that the final total at the end of the financial for their year will exceed £520,000.' I can tell you that we are support. This already over the £531000 mark. This is magnificent and year’s Poppy a real testament to the continued enthusiasm and hard Appeal was work by the organisers and their volunteers. We could the best ever. Frank Lloyd who, after 9 years organising not do this without you. THANK YOU !! One and All. the appeal, has also retired handing over to Colin There seems to be a real possibility of more to come. Bamber. Please see the events lists further down. Door to door fundraising. Awards evening. Lottery Post codes LL15 - 21 The Community Awards evening will be held again this There are 200 cash prizes each week up to £2,000 and year at Rydal Penrhos School, Colwyn Bay on 23rd there are quarterly draws with first prizes of £15,000 or April. The Poppy Appeal Organisers who had the £20,000. assistance of cadet units, student groups etc have already been informed of the details and should have All fundraisers will be carrying an ID badge and received their invitation. This year we have a joint paperwork which relates specifically to the Legion and overall winner : Poppy Lottery; they will give their names and show their ID cards upon request. No 418 (Aberconwy) Sqn, ATC and Rossett Pl. ACF. Each entry to the lottery costs £1 per week.

Kevin Forbes [email protected] M: 07876 476790 Page 1 NORTH WALES DISTRICT LOCAL NEWS

Planned events Quiz night to commemorate VE Day Llay RBL Friday 8th May 7.00 start at the Strawberry Fields THE THIRTY FIRST ANNIVERSARY Restaurant, Bellis Bros, Holt Tel:01829 270302.Tickets from K Forbes 01978 754593, "OPEN GOLF TEAM COMPETITION" Email:[email protected] or VENUE: GOLF CLUB all details on the virgin money giving site. Monday 29th June 2015 Donate for your tickets via Main Competition: Team Competition to consist of 4 http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/VE_Day_Fun_Qui players z_Night or tinyurl.com/kcfttsh (for short) Applications to Secretary GG Walley, 7 Fford Gwenllian, . Llay, Wrexharn LLl2 OUW TEL 01978 853278 All proceeds to The Poppy Appeal. Normandy Veterans

Coastal Walk A local group have said 'On 4th May 12-4pm we are holding a VE day commemoration in Bellevue The walk organisers Angie and Elaine (sometimes Park,Wrexham with The Normandy Veterans'. This is known as A &E) say not a fundraising event just an opportunity to say thank you. This years walk is along the Gower and Camarthen sections of the Wales Coastal Path. 100 miles from Oxwich on the Gower to Amroth on the Pembroke VE Day Lapel Pins Camarthen border (where we started last year). We will These will be available soon on request. Please try to walk over 11 days. We leave Friday 5th and return assess how many you might need and Friday 20th June. Sponsors are invited. Please contact for what purpose. All proceeds to Poppy Angie Parry at [email protected]. Appeal.

Sunday 21st June we have organised a sponsored Running /Cycling Poppy Honour Walk from Llandudno Cenotaph on the North Shore over to the Conwy Cenataph in Bodlondeb We have two entrants for the Conwy...... approx 5 miles. Times for this walk have Half Marathon 17th May. There will be not been finalised yet but we're looking to start this walk running vests available and there will be artound 11.30am. Then meeting for a well earned drink a few more places. Anyone interested please contact in the Conwy Legion. There will also be a grand raffle. me. Our aim this year is to raise over £3K from both walks Forthcoming events include bringing the Conwy Poppy Appeal total for this year to North Wales half marathon 26th July, Snowdon run £20K. 31st May ,Conwy Half marathon 22nd Nov. A Choral Evening To Etape Cycle race 2015 Date TBC Commemorate Gallipoli Poppy Seeds

A 6 choir festival I am informed that the programme with B &Q will run Friday 12th June, Bangor Cathedral at 7-30, £10 per again this year So far over £62k has been raised. ticket. Experience last year showed that a very fine tilth is The evening is held to commemorate the Welsh needed . We also found that seeds germinated and Divisions who participated in the Gallipoli campaign. grown on in pots transplant in clumps successfully Donation to the Poppy Appeal (Llanfaelog). The proceeds will be divided between the Poppy Appeal Kids Packs and the Cathedral. These were highly successful in 2014 and now is the Contact John Hall by email : time to think about the number of schools in your district and the quantities required. If you have a large school you may need more than one box.

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http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/ve-day Our aim is to encourage communities throughout the UK to participate in similar VE Day events and to salute not only veterans, but all those who also served the war effort at home—a challenge that we hope will be accepted by staff, members, volunteers and supporters across the Legion family.

Sainsburys were massive supporters during the 2014

Appeal In addition to the £6 million raised in donations to collectors in store, the corporate partnerships raised Plans are also under way to mark the final cessation of another £1 million. hostilities and the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on 15 August. If you have any plans please let me know and contact the web page below [email protected]

Moel Famau A few pictures of the charity fun run. There were 9 people involved and it took us 7 hours to complete about 12 miles, Loggerheads to Moel Famau.

Iceland have also been huge supporters both locally and nationally. They have supported local events.

One member of staff has organised an Honour walk Coleg Cambria College based around Llangollen Sun 21st June. More details later or on request. A group of students in the 'Life Skills' classes produced some Thank you for your continued efforts so that we can help excellent displays our beneficiaries depicting home made poppies and artefacts from WW1. They raised £519 for Poppy Appeal.

Well done!!

Page 3 NATIONAL NEWS

Summer Thames Boat Cruise If you would like to find out more about gifts in Wills, please contact Liz Fredericks, Legacy Manager Thursday 2nd July (T: 020 3207 2259, [email protected]) or Lauren Barr, Legacy Marketing Coordinator (020 3053 7007, [email protected]). Or alternatively, visit http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get- involved/legacies/leave-a-legacy . Aylesford Update 2015 poppy pins are in stock and can be ordered via PAOs Regional Administrators, but please only order what you require for now and any events through the summer. Aylesford are now in the construction phase of their As summer gets underway, we will be cruising along the online ordering programme for PAOs. There are a Thames for a fabulous summer party. The Legion has number of PAOs that are assisting with this and they will chartered the stunning Silver Sturgeon, one of the most also be helping as Aylesford progress to the testing luxurious Thames cruisers, for a chance to party under phase. Ray Sheppard Head of Poppy Appeal will the stars whilst enjoying the gentle pace of the river. ensure that all PAOs are kept up to date as they move After being welcomed on board with champagne, join us through the project and it is hoped to have some of the for an evening of relaxing fun and dine with us as PAO volunteers online by the next Appeal. London’s amazing skyline passes gently by. Corporate Partners Activity for VE Day After dinner, there will be time to dance the rest of the night away to music from the Central Band of The Royal British Legion and take your chances in our floating casino before it is time to return to Westminster Pier and dry land. Tickets £250 each with tables of 8 or 10 available as Coventry Building Society, Warner Hotels and Marks & well as cosy booths for 6. Spencer have all kindly agreed to make VE Day pins Contact Rebecca on 020 3207 2272, available. They will be asking for a suggested donation [email protected] of £2 with 100% of the proceeds coming to the Legion. Online booking: www.britishlegion.org.uk/thamescruise Johnston Press, one of the largest local media Gifts in Wills companies in the country, will be making a VE Day In 2012/13, 895 supporters generously left gifts in their supplement for all readers during May. Wills. This generated an amazing £11,931,000 for the eBay, will be encouraging donations at checkout from Royal British Legion. This income can be broken down the 4-8th of May. There will also be a banner advertising amongst the regions as follows: VE Day celebrations on eBay's homepage on the run up to the appeal. Warner Leisure Hotels will be hosting VE Day celebration parties at their 13 country and coastal hotels across the UK. Guests will come together to join the celebration with great food and entertainment, but most importantly to raise funds for the Legion. Westminster Collection, a long-term partner of the charity, will be launching a free VE Day medal (above), with £1.50 post and packing, and will donate 50p to the Legion for each medal that’s claimed. Available from the end of April, for details visit www.freevedaymedal.co.uk Gifts in Wills are extremely important for the Legion and we would love your help in promoting the importance of Wild and Wolf will be hosting a staff party at their Head this method of giving amongst our supporters and Office in Bath and staff will be getting dressed up 1940’s volunteers. style. They will also be selling their ‘Home Front’ range and emailing all buyers with information on how to get Gifts in Wills help the Royal British Legion to plan for the involved. future and although we don’t know what challenges we will face, we have confidence that we can continue to In the lead up to VE Day more corporate partners will be improve the lives of thousands of serving members of announcing their plans to commemorate the the Armed Forces, ex-Service men and women and anniversary. For any questions please email their families. [email protected].

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