2021 MARCH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY NEWSLETTER County Chairman, Jackie Robertson with James Luke. Welcome to our new monthly newsletter! I hope that this newsletter finds you international conflict that claimed Women’s Day as groups come well. This is a new initative to bring nearly 500,000 lives. The trauma still together to celebrate achievements you news from branches, from your affects some of those that fought. or rally for women’s equality. In county committee and to also share We remember what happened in particular the achievements of in a laugh or two! Operation Granby and all those who women in the armed forces, with all were involved. We remember the 47 roles now fully open. Although we are not able to do British personnel killed during and what we normally do, I know that the many more who were We can all choose to lots of you are active within your injured, physically challenge and call out communities, doing what we do best, and mentally. gender bias and inequality. supporting people. As the restrictions We can all choose to lift and the risks decrease we will Thank you to all seek out and celebrate be able to meet and attend events. the branches that women’s achievements. I look forward to seeing you around remembered. Collectively, we can the county and if you are planning help create an inclusive something, please let us know so we March 8th is world. can show you sopme support by International advertising and hopefully attending. Women’s Day and I look forward to seeing you very Commonwealth Day. Both are days soon! On 28 February I laid a wreath that celebrate the diversity in our at Chipping Sodbury Memorial country and in our armed forces. to mark 30 years since the Significant activity is witnessed end of the Gulf War, the worldwide for International Jackie Number of active branches in Amount raised locally in 2020 for Members in 52 Gloucestershire £690,394 the Poppy Appeal 2796 Gloucestershire An update from your MSO Thank you Ian (our new publicity officer) for (BCS) training and have begun rolling this out across putting together this fabulous newsletter, I am sure the county. If your branch is providing BCS and has not you all agree that this is a great way to pull the heard from me, please get in touch so we can make county together and share news and stories with sure you have the relevant training and most up to date each other. information. I hope this will grow and develop over the coming I am sure by now you will have seen the news of the months and become something we can all be really proud pathway to lockdown lifting that will be happening across of, and you all want to be part of. So, if you have a story the country in the next few weeks. I know this will be or some information you wish to share, please send them exciting for many of you, and scary for others, maybe a bit to my email - [email protected] of both, (this is the camp I fall into). At the moment there is no further update from Haig House on how the lifting During February I have been helping the new committee of restrictions will directly impact RBL life, other than no find its feet, we held our first committee meeting. We are change at the moment of course. As and when there are well and truly used to this virtual way of doing things now, changes, I will of course cascade these to you, but please, I am happy to see that we, unlike so many other people don’t jump the gun, stay safe and look out for each other. around the world do not end up with people dressed as cats for example! Stay safe and I will see you all very soon! I have also attended some Branch Community Support Emma PARNELL BOMBING 80TH MAR COMMONWEALTH DAY Members of the Yate and Chipping Sodbury branch and the Mayor of Yate joined in a socialy distanced service to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Parnell aircraft The UK armed forces have a diverse factory in 1941. personnel and the commonwealth nations have a deep history within. If you have any You can watch the service here - WATCH 08 stories, please let us know. County WANT Committee UPDATES? Next County Vacancies If you want to keep informed of what is happening around the We have several spaces on the Meeting county, we have a few options for county committee for interested you; members. 20 May 2021 There are also 3 spaces on Facebook - click here 7pm the Conference and Awards County Website - click here sub-committee. This is a great Yammer on 365 - click here opportunity to have input into next Microsoft Teams Regular emails from our MSO year’s AGM. Oh... and this fantastic If you would like to apply, please newsletter! CLICK HERE contact Emma Shepherd as soon as possible. Branch secretaries - please share all information with your 2 Please get involved; this is your members and supporters. county too! MEET OUR NEW CHAIRMAN A BIG THANK An update from your MSO Following the recent AGM, the Thornbury and District Branch of the Royal YOU British Legion has a new Chairman, Larry Cauchi. The chairman of the Yate and Chipping ‘‘I was in the RAF for 26 years and served in weekly calls to members to make sure they are Sodbury branch, Chris Boskett has Germany, the Middle East and the US as OK, and to provide those on well as at home. I trained as an aircraft their own some social exchange. thanked local branches for their support engineer and enjoyed all the many extra and friendship after they clubbed together ‘perks’ of service life – sport, travel A large part of the members to repay a loan to the county. and adventure. I was also fortunate time is centred on raising funds to be invited to Buckingham Palace to for the annual Poppy Appeal. In order to send their standard to GP90, attend a Royal Garden Party, which was During the appeal in 2020, the branch took out a loan from the something of a highlight. An important and thanks to the incredible county and have been struggling to pay it feature of my time in the service was generosity of the people of back since. After branches heard of this, the comradeship which is an intrinsic Thornbury, the branch raised they rallied together to support them. part of being in the military family. over £17,000 in just 9 days! ‘‘It was humbling to see the branches ‘‘Our branch normally meets on After leaving the RAF, I moved to Rolls stand up (virtually) and help the branch Royce Defence in Bristol and managed the last Sunday of the month in the Black Horse on Gillingstool at get rid of this historic debt, once and for the operations desk providing technical all. It goes to show that we are all part of support to Air Forces around the world.’’ 12 noon. Of course, this isn’t an option due to current restrictions. However, we a great family here in Gloucestershire.’’ Since the first lockdown, members have rallied to look forward to resuming these meetings as soon support each other. Thornbury have a team of as we can, and anybody who would like to join Hardwicke and District and Thornbury volunteers ready to help with shopping, prescriptions the branch will be very welcome.’’ and District each gave £100 while Stoke and the like, and the volunteers have been making Gifford donated £125. MAR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MAR UK CENSUS DAY Please be aware that this is the first time that the veterans question will be asked in the cen- We have some fantastic members - Have one of sus. The Royal British Legion has campaigned you got an incredible story to tell? Why not get long and hard for this to be included. them to send it in and we can share with the rest 08 of the county? 21 When the census arrives, please answer it. A BIT OF A JOKE STAPLE HILL IS ‘MOVING ON UP’ Since being they are keeping well What does the military during the pandemic. do when they find a reformed back in Most members just like scorpion in their tent? someone to chat with. 2019 In the Royal Marines, they kill The Staple Hill the scorpion. the Staple Hill and District committee cannot wait branch has been growing to get back to meeting In the Army, they call their CO year on year. This month sees physically and enjoying and report the presence of the a new Branch Community socials. It’s been almost scorpion. Support Officer join the a year since most committee, Jodie Chilcott. members have seen In the Royal Air Force, they Jodie carries on the legacy of each other and the call the front desk and ask why her nan, Beryl Chilcott who Pictured: Air Marshal Julian Young KBE speaking branch have many things there’s a tent in their room. was a very active member in with branch members and cadets. that they want to get involved the Legion locally for many active on the committee. I with. years. can’t wait to help the branch and my community.’’ Branch chairman, Ian Campbell If you have a joke, or perhaps a Jodie explains why she has said ‘‘I am delighted that the funny story from a one of your got involved - ‘‘The Legion has The branch secretary, Aileen branch has bounced back, virtual meetings, please let us always been close to my family Hulin has been very active the future looks bright for know.