BITTON and Oldland Branch of the Royal British Legion held their annual Thank You evening for all those and others who had given up their time during the last 12 months, and some over many years before, to help the branch in a number of ways, and in particular the annual Poppy Appeal.
This year the branch raised a record amount of £43,000.12 toward the national appeal. This is largely due to customers of Asda in Longwell Green who regularly visit and support the Poppy Stand inside the main doors. The Bitton and Oldland Branch are very grateful to Asda, who for many years have allowed us to have the stand during the annual appeal. We also would like to thank local traders, including local pubs, clubs, post offices and The Sir Bernard Lovell Academy for collections raised by them.
The evening was held at the Golden Valley Farm Shop and Cafe in Bitton courtesy of Charlotte and John House. Bitton and Oldland Branch is a small branch by membership numbers compared to the bigger cities. Nevertheless we have a healthy membership and our oldest member Eddie Hawking in March celebrated his 100th birthday. However we are always looking for new and younger members. Annual membership remains at £22. If interested, please contact our Membership Secretary Cathryn Short on 07800 690339.
Should anyone want to help on the Poppy Stand at Asda during late October to early November, even for an odd hour or two, please contact our Poppy Appeal organiser Dawn Harrill on 07966 267959 or email dawners@btinternet.com. The branch is also actively seeking knitters to help knit poppies to form a cascade to be hung from St Mary’s Church in Bitton during the Remembrance celebrations. If you like knitting and are able to help, then please contact Dawn who will give you further details.
The Bitton and Oldland Branch was founded on the February 22, 1927, and next February will celebrate 100 years of raising monies to help the Royal British Legion support its help and assistance to military personnel and their dependents.
In August members of the Branch Committee are due to visit Dunkirk Memorial House, a Royal British Legion Home in Taunton to see how monies are used in helping dependent military personnel, whereby another cheque for £500 will be presented
There were near 60 people attended the Thank You evening, but it ‘clashed’ with the England v Argentina World Cup Football on TV and some 20 apologies were received
Dawn Harrill presented awards and certificates to several of those present, and special thanks were accorded to four children aged seven to nine who with their parents regularly attend and help at many fund raising appeals, the youngest being Dawn and George Harrill’s grand daughter Ellie, aged seven. Also present were members of the Bristol Army Cadet Force, who attend many events supporting the Poppy Appeal. They raised £6,000 and were presented with a certificate and each cadet a small gift in appreciation of their efforts
During the evening, we heard from the Branch President Lt Col KCR Gibson TD, DL and the Branch Chairman and Secretary S.Ldr J.F.Dando RNR. The highlight of the evening was a talk from Capt George Harrill (Rtd) about “A History of Remembrance”. Capt Harrill is a ‘military historian’ of renown. In early June he presented a talk on “D Day and the Normandy Landings” at the Church Hall in Bitton and raised £223 for the RBL. Louise Dolen, who is the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Manager for Bristol and South Gloucestershire, also came along to offer her thanks to everyone present for what she described as a ‘magnificent effort’ for a small branch. She said that the National Poppy Appeal this year has raised £54.1 million pounds
Roger W Blake (Committee Member Bitton and Oldland RBL Branch)