Visit to Westminster Abbey 11th November 2009. A Service to Mark The Passing of The World War One Generation

On Wednesday 11th November 2009 my wife and I accepted an invitation to a service to mark the passing of the World War One Generation It was a most wonderful occasion to be invited to.

Those invited had to have a relation who had served in the first world war. My father served in that war and was at one of the first battles to take place at Nery in November 1914 and then Ypres and after all that survived the war.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were also there .

We Will Remember Them...

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Michael Emmett has passed away. He was for many years the Standard Bearer of our branch and he did so with honour and bearing attached to the position. He will be sadly missed by all.

The funeral service will take place at St Michael’s Parish Church at 2 pm on Tuesday 18th August 2009.
Family flowers only but donations can be made to The Firefighters Charity or the Calbury Unit at Weymouth Hospital.

Last Tommy Dies Aged 111

The last British Survivor of the trenches, Harry Patch, died at his care home in Somerset on Saturday morning. Harry's death comes just one week after the death of Henry Allingham and marks the end of an era in British history.

Only one other British survivor of World War I remains and that is Claude Choules who served in the Royal Navy and now lives in Australia.

Henry Allingham Crosses the Bar

Henry Allingham, the worlds oldest man and only one of two British survivors from World War One, died this morning at 03:10 hrs at St Dunstans care Home in Ovingdean.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror in 2006 , Henry was quoted as saying ...

"Whenever I saw people wearing poppies, it reminded me of my time in France when death and the fear of death was as near to me as the poppies growing in the fields.
Age has made my eyesight fail and I can no longer see the symbolic red flowers. But when someone near tells me they're wearing a poppy, I always ask if I can feel them. It's comforting to know that people are still paying their respects.
And that is all a poppy represents - respect. All this talk of wearing white poppies, red poppies and no poppy at all is getting away from the point. Pinning a poppy to your chest is a sign that you are remembering all those men who didn't want war, but volunteered anyway and had no idea of the horror and brutality they would face."

Henry, you will be sadly missed and although you wished for people to forget you I hope you will forgive us in paying tribute to you. You faced the same horrors as those who did not make it back and you kept their memory alive for future generations.

In remembering them...

We will Remember You.

Kitson & Trotman Support Armed Forces Day

Solicitors Kitman & Trotman are showing their support for Armed Forces Day by flying the new flag from their office in Lyme Regis. The flag was raised at 10:30 on 22nd June by Royal Marine Cadet Adam Figgins whose mother Sharon is a member of staff at the Lyme Regis Office. Adam is hoping to join the Armed Forces in September. Members of the Lyme Regis Branch of the Royal British Legion were also in attendance for the raising of the Armed Forces Day Flag.

The first UK Armed Forces Day will be taking place on Saturday 27 June 2009. It is an annual day to celebrate the work of the Armed Forces community.

Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for the nation to show its support for our Service men and women, whether veteran or still serving. It’s an opportunity to honour and celebrate the work they do in support of our country

Photograph courtesy of View From Publishing Ltd

Lyme Regis Branch Vice President - named in HM The Queen’s 2009 Birthday Honours List

You will by now, I am sure, have received the news of the award of the MBE to Bill Reed.I have given my thoughts to the Lyme Regis News and hope they will embrace yours as well. It is a great honour for Bill ,and his family, to have the highest recognition awarded for all the work that he has put in over the years for individuals, the community, the Royal British Legion and for many other organisations locally. He has shown sincere concern for the welfare of others in spite of his own disabilities. As his friends and collegues we share this opportunity to honour his achievements.

Ken Whetlor
Chairman
Royal British Legion. Lyme Regis Branch

2009 Annual Quiz

This year the Quiz was held in the Nag's Head. A good night was had by all and over £150 was raised. It was good to see the return of Rev John Harrission wha has been very ill for many months now.

Lyme Regis Branch ventures out!

Saturday 4th April saw the first outing for many years when 26 of the Lyme Regis branch attended the 70th Anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Armoured Corps at Bovington Tank Museum. In glorious spring weather, the group saw displays of tanks from all ages culminating in a parachute freefall display and a cavalcade of the most recent armour currently on operations around the world.

Future events will be published in the local press, Branch Newsletter and website as details become available.

New Legion Committee Appointments

The first General Committee meeting of 2009 was held on 5th February. This was precedeed by a meeting of the newly appointed Welfare Committee.

Royal British Legion welcomes new welfare secretary
The Lyme Regis branch of the Royal British Legion has a new welfare secretary, Ania Driver, who succeeds Bill Reed after over 50 years of service to the branch. Mr. Reed continues to play an important role in the branch as a valuable committee member, honorary Vice President and advisor to Mrs. Driver to ensure a smooth transition.

The Welfare secretary is arguably the most important position on the branch committee as the welfare of beneficiaries ie Service personnel, Veterans or dependant family members, is at the core of all Royal British Legion activity.

Ania herself comes from a military background in that she served with the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Navy Nursing service for four years and is the widow of Royal Marine Terry Driver who saw active service in the,Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

Should any beneficiary feel in need of assistance from the branch, Ania can be contacted by mobile on 07971 631380. There are a number of ways in which the branch can assist its beneficiaries including hospital transport, hospital/home visits, financial support and advice. Mrs. Driver’s cheerful determination will ensure that as much as possible will be provided to assist confidentially any beneficiary

The Branch welcomed guest speaker Beverley Harrison, the Dorset County Secretary. Beverley gave a summary of the the Dorset Annual Conference and presented the Medium Branch Poppy Appeal Cup to the 2008 Poppy Appeal Organiser, Angela Manners. The Cup is awarded to the Branch which has shown the largest annual increase in donations to the Poppy Appeal.