July - August 2015 Edition 4/2015
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Patron: Her Majesty The Queen Page 9) LEGION LINCS www.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/lincolnshire Legion Contact Centre 0808 8028080 Newsletter of THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Lincolnshire County July - August 2015 Edition 4/2015 Lincolnshire honours Bomber Command The International Bomber Command Centre on Canwick Hill, Lincoln, last described in the Summer 2013 edition of LegionLincs, is coming to fruition. The centre is due to open in 2016 but a memorial spire has already been erected – on 10 May - at the site. The 30m, 55 tonne weathered steel spire will be surrounded by a "wall of names", recording the 55,573 men who lost their lives serving in Bomber Command. A third of all the UK's bomber stations were based in Lincolnshire Tony Worth CVO, Chair of Trustees for the International Bomber Command centre, said “It was a significant moment. It is a major step forward because it is providing a visible sign that we are serious about this project. We will actually get something that people can see and show this is really going to happen." Organisers want to invite every veteran who served in Bomber Command during World War Two to the unveiling on 2 October. They already have names of 900 veterans but believe there are more still to be identified. The spire being erected on Nicky Barr from the International Bomber Canwick Hill on 10 May. Command Centre says they have made some new contacts. "We've picked up thus far about 50 that come under that category. We suspect that there's probably, at an The spire is in line of sight with Lincoln estimate, another 100 out there." Cathedral, which was used as a landmark Anyone knowing of any for air crews during missions Bomber Command veteran is urged to register their names by emailing [email protected] or writing to The IBCC, 13 Cherry Holt Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9LA. Other elements of the centre will include an exhibition and education space called the Chadwick Centre, a Bomber Command Digital Archive, an amphitheatre and acres of landscaped gardens including a peace garden and walls installed with the names of all the servicemen. See also inside a new mem orial to a 97 … and a tribute to a Waltham Wellington Squadron Lancaster crew (page 10) crew (page 11) ‘Poppy Appeal Lincolnshire – A Winning Team 1 Safeguarding the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or who have served in H. M. Armed Forces Registered Charity No: 219279 County Patron: Mr A. Worth, CVO Mr S.R.Bonde, Editor President: Wg Cdr Simon Erskine Crum, OBE 31 Clare Close, Chairman: Mr A.R.P. Goodwin, BEM STAMFORD, PE9 2QA Membership Support Officer: Mr B. Mahoney Tel: 01780 757041 E-mail: [email protected] CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD Glorious summer. Well that is the theory but it doesn’t with Branch accounts it is not mandatory for the audit always work out that way. I have attended several Branch to be carried out by an Independent Examiner. We functions recently when the weather has not complied can accept an audit by a responsible person as we with that theory. However I am always amazed that our have always done. Branch members adapt very quickly and make the most of Members have been advised of the new methods of every opportunity to promote the Legion in the best light. paying Affiliation Fees now that payment by cash is Recently I was invited by the Horncastle Branch to join no longer acceptable. I am fully aware of the them and the Horncastle Fire Brigade to observe and join resistance to this in some areas however it has been in with the nightly ceremony at the Menin Gate. The Last decided that this is the new way of working and we Post ceremony is observed by the buglers of the Ypres all have to accept it. My experience so far in Fire Brigade and the event at Horncastle was to observe, Lincolnshire is that members are accepting that this is join in and mark the 30,000th time they had carried it out. the way forward and using the method of payment Filming of the ceremony was beamed by satellite that suits them. In discussion with the Director of throughout Europe, and Horncastle Fire Brigade together Finance only yesterday it appears that this is the with the Branch had arranged for it to be shown at the picture nationally too. Fire Station. The Senior Lincolnshire Fire Brigade Looking forward, the County Committee is planning Officers assembled together with the Mayor of Horncastle for our future events. Our Chairman and Secretaries and a good crowd of Legion members. Everything started Seminar at Donington on the 26th September will off well but the gremlins decided to interfere with the have the National Chairman as the guest speaker satellite signal and reception was very poor. However we together with a presentation on the Branch Welfare were all able to enter into the spirit of the occasion and Project and advice on how to apply for your follow the outline of the programme. credentials to be a delegate at the National Always adaptable the Horncastle Branch are seeking to Conference next year. However, I invite each Branch obtain a recording of the programme and intend to use it to fill a car to this event so that we can pass on the to promote a Social evening and raise funds for the Poppy information to as many as possible. Appeal. I recommend the programme to you all. The Poppy Launch at East Kirkby, the Standard Once again we have reached the end of the Legion Bearers Competition and of course our County financial year and every Branch should be working Conference in January are all in the planning stage toward producing their annual accounts. Indeed I am and your support is needed. aware that our MSO has already received them from two Enough from me for now so carry on with the good Branches. Great news but there will be others who may work that you are all doing and I will continue to fight struggle with their accounts. If that is the case in your your corner where and when I can. Branch then let us know and we can help. Please do not leave it until the last minute. Lincolnshire has a good Kind regards record so let us keep it that way. Also please note that Tony Goodwin Branch Chairmen & Secretaries’ Seminar 2015 A Branch Chairman and Branch Secretaries Seminar will be held on Saturday, 26 September 2015 at the Donington and Quadring Royal British Legion Club, 3 Malting Lane, Donington, Spalding PE11 4XA (Tel: 07518 811789), starting at 1030 hours. Mr John Crisford, the Legion’s National Chairman will be in attendance and will address the Seminar. Mr Crisford will also answer questions on the day but to enable him to give as comprehensive an answer as possible, questions should be put in writing in the space available on a pro-forma, available by e-mail from the Membership Support Officer – East Midlands This is an important annual exercise in communication with the membership and branches in Lincolnshire and the County Chairman and County Committee are keen that as many branches as possible are represented. Please note that in addition to the Branch Chairman and Branch Secretary, two further members of your Branch Committee are invited to attend. A buffet lunch will be served at the cost of £5.00 per head; cheques should be made payable to: ‘The Royal British Legion Lincolnshire County Committee’. Branches should complete the form and return it to the Membership Support Officer – East Midlands by Monday 7th September 2015. He is away on holiday from the 9 to 23 September so an early reply would be appreciated in order to give as accurate a figure as possible for the buffet lunch. Lincolnshire – A Winning Team 2 Safeguarding the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or who have served in H. M. Armed Forces Registered Charity No: 219279 National Annual Conference, Southport, 2015 The National Chairman has asked that the following letter be brought to the attention of all members- Editor Dear Chairman APPOINTED TRUSTEES 14th July 2015 You will, I’m sure, be aware that delegates attending the Annual Conference 2015 were invited to debate and vote upon Charter Motion 3 which called for the return of an all-elected Board of Trustees. The Motion was very nearly approved by the necessary two-thirds majority of Branch delegates present, entitled to vote and voting. This matter was debated at length by the Board of Trustees at its meetings on 17th May and 18th June 2015 respectively. Trustees were dismayed that Charter Motion 3 was felt necessary some 10 years after The Royal British Legion first appointed trustees to its Board, and it is no exaggeration to state that our appointed trustees were hurt by the closeness of the vote. The purpose of this letter, then, is to explain why The Royal British Legion cannot and will not return to an all-elected Board of Trustees, despite the argument in Charter Motion 3 to do so. Acting upon the advice of the Charity Commission, The Royal British Legion first adopted the policy of appointing trustees to its Board in 2004/2005. This decision was taken by the then Board of Trustees because it had identified the need to attract people with the breadth of skills, knowledge and experience that the charity needed as it grew in size, diversity and complexity.