The Royal British Legion East Riding of Yorkshire County Newsletter Issue 2 May 2011 Welcome to the Second edition of the County Newsletter 2011 County President: Jack Ford. County Chairman: Alan Higbee. MBE. County Vice Chairman: Harold Milner. County Secretary: Kimberley Thornton. County Treasurer : Valda Eldin. Community Fundraiser : Liz Hughes County Manager: Chris Cunningham County Welfare Officer : Beverley Davies. County Welfare Officer: Ian Poole County Managers Assistant: Louise Beilby. County PA Co-ordinator: Ernie Oldfield . County Standard Bearer: Barry Moody From the County Chairman: As hard as we try and improve communications between County and Branches, it is still proving an uphill climb. We communicate, but very little comes back, consequently trying to find copy for the second edition of the County Newsletter has been hard work for Kimberley. Apart from a few snippets from some branches, we have had to go out to find copy. I know that there are some events in the pipeline out there, PLEASE SOMEBODY let us have details so we can publicise them. The Membership Council has approved the plan to amalgamated North and East Yorkshire Counties. A small steering committee comprising members of the executives from both counties has been set up. Their first meeting was on Saturday 10 th April. Further meetings are to be held on 7 th May and 7th June. There will be a Special Joint General Meeting of both Counties to elect a County Chairman, Officers and Executive members, on Saturday 23 rd July 2011, at the Easingwold. Kimberley will be sending out details and nomination forms to branches. It is hoped that the new County and Youth Standards will be dedicated in time for the SGM, so they can be presented. Those elected will serve until the first County Conference, which will be held January 2012, when a Chairman and Officers will be elected for a three-year period. The Executive Committee will be elected, serving in the first instance for periods three, two and one year. The number of individual votes cast for each person will determine the respective terms. Arrangements for 90 th Anniversary events being arranged by the County are well in advance. With regard to the 90 th Anniversary Parade & Service, on the 15 th May, at Beverley Minster, it is essential, so seating arrangements can be finalised, that branch secretaries inform us if their standard bearer is attending, also, if possible the number of branch members who will be coming along. Details are given within this newsletter of all our events and further details will be sent out to branches. Considerable work has and is still being put into these events, we are receiving considerable support from the military within the county, so please make a note of the dates and venues and turn out in force. Best wishes to you all. Alan. J. Higbee. MBE. Your County Committee Russell Smith, Market Weighton ; John Forrester, (CWAC Secretary) Driffield; Jim Hansford, (Chairman CWAC) South Cave ; Ken Green, Patrington; Eddie Large, (County Parade Marshall/Youth Officer) Bilton ; David Poole, Beverley ; Jean Oldfield, Chairman Women’s Section ; WO2 Geoff Horton “B” Co Cadet Force Rep ; “A” Co Cadet Force Rep, Barry Moody Bridlington; Alex Morriss Bridlington Several members of Hedon & District branch visited DST Leconfield at Normandy Barracks Leconfield on Monday 11th October 2010. The visit was arranged between the Branch Secretary Mr Gordon Lane an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) instructor at the camp and the Camp RSM WO1 Mr John Ford. This followed several requests from branch member who were keen to see more of Leconfield after seeing just some of their vehicles at the Armed Forces Day held in Beverley earlier this year. On arrival at the camp the members were treated to tea and toast in the WO and Sgts mess, they then went to Saint Martins on camp and were given a lecture and tour of the garrison church by the padre Maj MacGregor, the majority of the fixtures and fitting came from Longmoor Military Railway Camp in Hampshire, there are several priceless stained glass windows commissioned by the various Railway companies such as GWR, LNER and LMS. There is also a memorial to HMS Lancastria, the ship that was sunk in World War 2 with the loss of 6500 service personnel, just after the Dunkirk rescue. The visit continued with a stop at the war memorial made from parts of the old hanger no 4, the silhouettes of all the aircraft types based at RAF Leconfield were made from the blast doors from hanger 4 many had bullet holes in them from German raids during the 1939 - 1945 conflict. The site of Normandy Barracks has been part of crown property for many hundreds of years as King Henry 8th use to hunt on the grounds were the former air base was built. We moved on to a talk by WO2 Huggard (Huggy) on the new armoured wheeled vehicles that our troops are trained on prior to deployment to Afghanistan, these included the Mastiff 1 and 2, Ridgeback, Wolfhound and Husky. All are fully armoured to withstand Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) attacks as well as those fitted with bar armour to defend against Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) We were all amazed at the modern facilities in the gym, no longer do the troops throw medicine balls about and go for log runs, there are scores of state of the art fitness equipment which actively encourages the troops to stay fighting fit. We had a drive round tour of some of the 16 km training area, where the Tri Service personnel from 50 countries are trained to drive Large Goods Vehicles as well as coaches and many new MAN trucks that have replaced the old Bedford's and DAF trucks. Moving on to the junior ranks mess facilities we given an insight in to how the modern army is fed and watered in a large clean open plan "cook house". Before returning to the WO and Sgts mess were we were treated to a hot and cold buffet and the RSM bought us a drink from the bar. A thoroughly enjoyable day, all the members that went on the visit are still talking about it and are the envy of those who could not attend. Our thanks go out to the RSM and all his staff who made our visit so rewarding. "Alderson House welcomed members of the Bridlington Branch TRBL on Sunday 13th March 2011 to witness the unveiling of their new bar bell. Thanks to a very generous legacy from Mr Albert Higgins (RN), who was a member of the Bridlington Branch and a large donation from the members of Chesterfield Branch, Alderson House has a wonderful new bar facility for their guests to enjoy". As a way of showing their appreciation the new bar bell was inscribed with their names, and hangs proudly in the Alderson House bar area. WILLERBY KIRK ELLA & ANLABY BRANCH Holding their Annual Garden Party with Afternoon Tea to celebrate the 90th Birthday of the Royal British Legion on Saturday 11th June 2011 1pm to 4pm in the garden of 401 Beverley Road, Anlaby. Admission Price: Adults £4, Concessions £2 to include sandwiches, scone and drink. The proceeds will be shared between Branch Funds and the 90th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion. There will be Long Service awards presented by the County Chairman, Mr Alan Higbee MBE and we will be having various stalls and entertainment. We hope many Branch members and friends will be able to join us. For further information and directions please contact the Branch Secretary on 01482 652274, After 6pm please Mobile: 07951 218026 or e-mail her at [email protected] SOUTH CAVE 90 th Anniversary Church Service, All St Church, 2:15pm. Music by TA Band and all Standard Bearers welcome. DRIFFIELD BRANCH Now has a branch website which can be located at http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/driffield Should any other branch wish to have their own Branch Webpage, please make contact with the County Secretary for further details. Please be aware that the webpage will have to be administered locally. BRIDLINGTON RALLY This years Rally is taking place over the weekend 2 – 4 th September 2011, with the Kings Division Band Friday Evening is Big Band Dance Weekend Tickets booked in advance £18.00 each from the Spa Booking Office 01262 678258 or from the event organiser Mr Barry Moody 01262 676622. Parties of 10 or more to book through Mr Moody, for a reduced rate . The Royal British Legion said today, 16 March, it was "delighted" that Her Majesty the Queen has bestowed a Royal title upon the town of Wootton Bassett in recognition of its efforts to honour the UK war dead. To be known as Royal Wootton Bassett, it is the first town in 100 years to receive such a distinction “Youth Standard presented to Cadet CSM J. Egan, winner of the Youth Standard Bearers Competition for 2011/12 at an open evening held at Middleton Barracks on Thursday 24th February 2011. CSM Egan was unable to receive the Standard at the County Conference in January, due to attending a training session at the Driffield Cadet HQ that weekend. He will be joining the Regular Army this autumn. I am sure you will all join me in wishing him all the best in his chosen career". The price of Gold Badges has risen to £168.00 per Badge due to the increased cost of gold A BLAST FROM THE PAST As the County enters into a new era with the amalgamation with North Yorkshire moves forward.