The Magazine of the Royal British Legion in Derbyshire February/March 2015 Incorporating the Derbyshire LegionLetter Newsletter Vol. 5 Issue 4 LIVE ON To the Memory of the Fallen and the Future of the Living Registered Charity No. 219279 Dedication of Ilkeston Branch Standard Left: the family of the late Mrs Brenda Baker,who’s wishes were that donations were made to the Ilkeston Branch which led to the purchase of the new standard. See page 8 Right: showing Malcolm Jarvis carrying the new Standard in for the dedication. His Worship the Mayor of the Borough of Erewash Cllr. Kewal Singh Athewell accompanied by his wife, his two escorts, Grace Broughton of the Long Eaton Sea Cadets and Rebecca Parr of 2195 Squadron Long Eaton Air Cadets and RBL Derbyshire County Chairman Mr. Bernard Page MBE. The bottom two pictures show the dedication and the newly dedicated Standard being carried out. The Long Eaton Standard carried by Claire Smith is on the right hand side ofthe picture. The Derbyshire Legion Page | 1 Chairman’s Commentary I have been asked by the Editor to write a few lines as I take up my new Office, so here goes. Hello, my name is Phil and I’m your new County Chairman. 2015 has already seen great changes within the County, a new Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer, new Officers and committee members. Many Branches are in the same position so “change” seems to be something worth writing about. The Legion has seen many changes over the last few years as it has progressed down the “Pathway to Growth” and has turned itself from a Membership organisation with a charitable element to a Charity with a Membership element. This refocusing has resulted in many changes some of which have not been well received by some members. Removing the ability to provide welfare at branch level has caused a deal of unrest, I can understand this but the new Contact Centre is providing us with some first class statistics which confirm we are helping more people, more quickly in a more efficient manner. This, along with the continuing roll out of the Pop In Centres greatly increases the visibility and availability of the Legion and the services it can provide across the nation. This can only be to the good. Although the Branch Welfare role has diminished, the new roles of Branch Visitor and Branch Ambassador will give you all ample opportunity to foster strong associations with local schools, cadet forces, youth groups, care and nursing homes as well as other likeminded charities within your area thereby raising the profile of your Branch within your community. As the needs of our beneficiary’s change we must change and adapt the support we give them. Embrace the changes, grasp the opportunities those changes present and look to the future, not to the past. A couple of things in conclusion; I intend to host a couple of seminars for branch Chairmen and their Secretaries during the next twelve months to stimulate discussion and to give everyone an opportunity to exchange opinions and ideas. It is likely one will be held in the north of the County and the other in the south. I will keep you posted. Our County Training Officer works hard to provide you with the training you have requested. Please support her. If you sign up for a course, do the course. 2015 awaits, let’s have a great year. Philip A Skawski Derbyshire RBL County Chairman Editorial Welcome to this the last Derbyshire Legion edited by me, after four years I am standing down. My apologies for it being late due to the report on the County Conference. John Cam the County Treasurer wants to hand over his role to someone else and I said if we could find a new editor for the magazine I would take on the role of County Treasurer, subject to County Committee approval. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and this magazine since September 2010 when I created the first Derbyshire Legion. It has been good to report all your activities since then, but feel it is time for someone else to take over and freshen it up. Nigel Winn from Belper Branch has volunteered to be the new editor, subject to County Committee approval. It is your magazine please support him and it. John P. Irwin, Editor th The next Derbyshire Legion will be published on the 25 March 2015 Please send your contributions to Nigel Winn [email protected] by the 15th March for inclusion. If it is received after this date it might not be included. Editor John P. Irwin Nigel’s mobile no. 07792843434 The Derbyshire Legion Page | 2 County Conference 2015 The Derbyshire RBL County Conference was held on the 24th January at The Strutts Community Centre Belper. After the entry of County Standards, the Act of Homage and Kohima Exhortation, the County Chaplain, the Rev Dr Jocelyn Lewis led conference in prayers. Councillor John Walker, Mayor of Amber Valley, welcomed Delegates and visitors to the Strutts Community Centre and wished the conference well. County President’s Address The County President Bill Else welcomed all to the conference including honoured guests Mr David Coleman QPM, DL, Councillor John Walker, Mr Bill Parkin (Board of Trustees), Mr Stuart Allen (Membership Council - East Midlands), Mrs Angela Swift (County Chair Derbyshire County WS), Mrs Linda Flecknell (Area Manager). Sincere thanks were expressed to all for having made the journey and hope that everyone enjoys their time at conference. Reading reports of county activities makes good reading and it is felt that Derbyshire is on top of its workload. Welfare is still a top priority and branches have continued to donate generously while good work has been done by the branches and individual welfare workers. Tribute was paid to CPAC, Mrs Margaret Topley and all are asked to continue to support her in her endeavours in the coming year. Tribute was also paid to the recruiting teams under the recruiting team for their continued work in bringing more members to the Legion and to the County Training Officer and County Web Master for their vital contributions. He finished by saying that he is optimistic for the future for the Legion in Derbyshire. County Chairman The County Chairman Bernard Page MBE took over the running of the conference at this point. After some housekeeping information instead of giving an address handed over to Board of Trustees Member Mr Bill Parkin who gave us the Corporate message. After which he urged the membership to continue to move forward in the coming year. Treasurer’s Report Mr John Cam presented the County Annual Financial Report, there was on query from the floor which was soon cleared up. He then proposed they be accepted, the proposal was seconded by Nigel Winn from Belper Branch. It was carried unanimously. John then announced he was stepping down as County Treasurer, someone has volunteered to take over subject to County Committee approval at their next meeting. The Election of County Chairman Secretary: The vote count in the Derbyshire County Chairman’s election took place in the presence of Mr Stuart Allen of the Membership Council, on Tuesday 9th December 2014. The candidates were: 1. Mr George Wharmby – Glossop Branch 2. Mr Phil Skawski – Swadlincote Branch 3. Mr Terry Whittaker – Heanor Branch Mr Phil Skawski had the highest number of votes and therefore is elected County Chairman of Derbyshire County with effect from close of this County Conference for a period of three years. In accordance with the Membership Handbook 2.1.1 para 3.14. If a vacancy arises for the office of County Chairman or Vice Chairman, the next highest placed candidate in the latest election is to fill the vacancy. Therefore the office of County Vice-Chairman goes to Mr Terry Whittaker who will assume the duties of County Vice Chairman with effect from the close of this conference for a period of two years. The County Plan Although no specific Derbyshire County Plan has been prepared, it has been agreed that the Key Priorities in the East Midlands Area plan are attainable at Branch level and which the County will support. With the East Midlands Area now firmly established, it is hoped that the Derby “Pop-In” Centre will be open in February 2015. The Derbyshire Legion Page | 3 Objectives as stated in the EM Executive Summary. • To energise Local Authorities to deliver on local community covenant commitments. • To inspire and support Branches to deliver the Legions’ Comradeship work. • To use the WW1 centenary to galvanise urban communities awareness of the Legion to recognise those communities’ ownership of their veteran community. • To deliver, measure and publicise our service promises. An outline plan to achieve these objectives has been prepared and will be implemented over the coming weeks once the Legion volunteers and ambassadors are in place to support the plan. Guest Speaker Mr Coleman thanked the Chairman for his invitation stating that as a Legion Member (Crich Branch) and someone whose father’s uncle, Cpl Luke Coleman, was killed in France during WW1, hoped to be permitted to make a few observations about Legion issues. Mr Coleman welcomed the re-introduction of the Ripley Branch now with 60 members. He then went on to describe the High Sheriff’s role and explained that it is the oldest secular office in England, introduced in Saxon times and he is the 950th person to hold the position which is the Queen’s representative within the county for Law and Order, welfare of judges, support of courts, the police, the legal system and to encourage the voluntary sector.