The Magazine of the Royal British Legion in Derbyshire February/March 2014 Incorporating the Derbyshire LegionLetter Newsletter Registered Charity No. 219279 Shoulder to shoulder with all who serve Vol. 4 Issue 3 County Conference Edition County Chaplin Rev Dr Jocelyn Lewis, Jessica Lee MP, County Vice-Chairman Philip Skawski and John Cam County Treasurer The Derbyshire RBL County Conference 2014 was held at Wirkworth Townhall on 8th February attended by 1Guest Speaker, 17 Delegates, 23 Visitors, 22 Officers/County Committee, 1 Women’s Section, 3 Standard Bearers and 2 Conference Committee making 69 people. The Standards were paraded on and the Act of Homage and Kohima Exhortation were pronounced. County Chaplin Rev Dr Jocelyn Lewis led the conference in prayers. After the welcome by Mr T. Hall Chairman of Wirkworth Branch, the County President Bill Else gave his address in which he mentioned the work by Legion Members in the County and thanked them for their hard work for Welfare and the Poppy Appeal. In place of the Chairman’s Address, Bill Parkin member of the Board of Trustees gave us the Corporate Message which included Property trusts and why at the moment they are frozen while a survey is carried out. He also gave us an update of the way Welfare is being delivered following “Pathway for Growth” Jessica Lee MP told conference the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence Anna Soubry who is also MP for Broxstowe has particularly welcomed the new Ambassador role in the Legion and has promised to work with the Legion in promoting WWI commemorations as well as our welfare work. County Conference 2015 will be held at Belper Chairman’s Commentary Continued on page 6. The Derbyshire Legion Page | 1 Chairman’s Commentary Although I didn’t give a formal Chairman’s Report to Conference at Wirksworth I made reference to a major event that is taking place at 2pm on 2nd November in the Derby Assembly Rooms. I said that if Branches are holding WW1 Commemorative Events and wish to have County representation then; “If you ask, we, the County, will be there.” I followed those words with, “I hope that when I ask you will be there.” It is important that Derbyshire Royal British Legion is seen to be in the forefront of all Commemorative events that are taking place during the next four years. I will try and make sure that all Branches are aware of County events in order that they can be represented and that their Standard is “On Parade” if requested. To say that I was disappointed by the number of Branches attending Conference is putting it mildly - The attendance by 17 out of our 50 Branches means to me that two thirds of Derbyshire members are disenfranchised by this non representation. Noting what I say above, I hope that this is not a sign of support to County events during the coming months and years. Delegates and visitors at Wirksworth heard from Bill Parkin, who is a member of the Board of Trustees, giving the Corporate Message which updated the audience on where we are and where we are going from a Head Office point of view. This was enhanced by the new Area Manager when answering questions from the floor about Derbyshire Welfare and how this is developing as we go forward with the new method of working. I anticipate that the Area Office, which will include the County Office will be moving to new premises more in the centre of Derby later this year. I will advise when the location and timescale becomes firm. Derbyshire RBL County Chairman Bernard Page MBE Editorial This Edition of the Derbyshire Legion is late because we wanted to cover the County Conference which is usually held in January but this year was not held until this month. After the great response for items to go in the last edition I have not had much for this one, but it is the quite end of the year. As this year is full of anniversaries for both world wars, Branches must be planning to hold events to commemorate them. Please take photos and send them to me with a few words to explain what you have been up to. I cannot produce a magazine without your support. I record Long Eaton Branch activities in words and pictures all through the year so we have a record for future generations to see what we did as a Branch. I am trying to do the same for Derbyshire County RBL. I have created a supplement to go with this edition with some important information in it please circulate it around your branch members. John P. Irwin, Editor th The next Derbyshire Legion will be published on the 25 March 2014 Please send your contributions to me by the 15th March for inclusion. If it is received after this date I might not be able to get it in. Editor John P. Irwin The Derbyshire Legion Page | 2 Derbyshire LegionLetter WE WILL REMEMBER THEM Branches have announced with sadness the following Members have passed away since the last Derbyshire LegionLetter. From 1st December 2013 to 12th February 2014 Mr D Davies Alfreton & District Mr G Powell Allenton Mr D S Wye Darley Abbey Mr K Thirkill Allenton Mr L Barnett Glossop Mr R K Horton Allestree Mr Eric Monk Hadfield Mr R W Mercer Bakewell Mr R Millhouse Horsley Woodhouse Mrs C P Wilson Belper Mr F White Horsley Woodhouse Mrs S Bainbridge Belper Mr T G Beamont Oakwood Mr R J Hartle Chapel-en-le-Frith Mr Tommy Pearce Spondon Mr G Bradley Chesterfield Mr Ray Land Spondon Mr H Jones Chesterfield Mr G H Hill Stavely Mr D J F Read Cresswell Mr N H Mountney Wirksworth Mr R Whitehead Cresswell Mr D Buxton Whitwell Wirksworth Standard Bearers School For Standard Bearers training sessions please contact Dilys Elliker on 01629 826617 or Email: [email protected] please do not give out Dily’s number to anyone outside the Legion. MS1s - Branch Information Form There are still eleven branches who have not yet submitted their MS1 the dateline was 31st December. Please send this in to the county secretary as a matter of priority. Thank you. 200 Club Draw December 200 Club Draw January 1st No. 31 Whitwell Branch £100 1st No. 62 Knowle Club 5 £15 2nd No. 91 Mr T Whittaker £50 2nd No. 152 Mr Bill Parkin £10 3rd No. 100 John Price £25 3rd No. 42 Wirkworth Branch £5 £ 5 £ 5 Derbyshire LegionLetter The Derbyshire Legion Page | 3 Derbyshire RBL Women’s Section Annual Conference Seventy members from the Branches of the Derbyshire Royal British Legion Women’s Section recently gathered at the Wallis Barracks, Boythorpe Road, Chesterfield for their Annual Conference on 23rd November, a new venue for the event. Conference opened with the entry of the Standards from the Branches of Bakewell, Belper, Ilkeston, Mickleover and Littleover carried by Mrs Lynne Pheasey, Mrs Valerie Halls, Mrs Karen McDermott Miss Louise Arnold and Mrs Eileen Smith who came out of retirement especially as she felt so terrible that the Branch had no Standard Bearer. Mrs M. Middleton MBE, the County President then welcomed everyone to Conference and asked all to stand for the Act of Homage and whilst standing in silence remember those members who had passed away since Conference 2012 especially The County’s Vice-President Mrs I. Rush who had passed away at the beginning of the year. Rev. Jocelyn Lewis of Whittington led Conference in prayers and Cllr Paul Stone, the Mayor of Chesterfield welcomed everyone to the town well known for its crooked spire. He hoped that people would come and visit again. Rev. Lewis (pictured left modelling the mask mentioned below) judged the Dorothy Underwood Cup for Crafts donated by Mickleover Branch in memory of Mrs Dorothy Underwood their past Chairman and County Chairman. The winning entry of a Masquerade Ball Mask was appropriately the Chairman of Mickleover Mrs Margaret Orme and the runner up Judith Twigg, the President of Bakewell Branch. The raffle was won by the following lucky ladies: Rev. Jocelyn Lewis and Mrs P. Lunn of Bakewell among many others. Cllr. Stone and the Mayoress Barbara Wallace took it in turns to present the following awards: The Middleton Rose Bowl for increased membership without an RBL Club – winner Bakewell; The Devonshire Cup Large Branch for efficiency and progress – winner Littleover and runner up Bakewell; The Devonshire Cup small Branch for progress and efficiency – winner Chesterfield and the runner up Allestree; The Barbara Knight Cup for increased membership with an RBL Club winner Chesterfield; The Sheila Pratt Trophy for the over 60’s for outstanding work by a member Mrs Dotty Wickes of Littleover Branch and the runner up June Bott of Allestree Branch. The County Presidents Trophy for continued progress went to Belper Branch. The inaugural presentation of the County Chairman’s Cup for outstanding service to Derbyshire County went to Mrs Mary Hollis of Youlgrave who has been Standard Bearer of the Branch for many years then Chairman and now President. The Per Capita trophies presented were as follows: The Myra Heathcote Tray for a large Branch with membership of 40+ members winner Belper with a per capita figure of £20.00, Melbourne being runners up and in third place Bakewell. The Dover Cup for a small Branch with a membership of 40 and below the winner was Spondon with 4 members and a per capita figure of £118.75, Ilkeston were runners up and in third place Glossop.