Royal British Legion Lyme Regis Branch AGM.

Last evening the AGM of the Lyme Regis Branch was held at the Woodmead Hall. All details of the elected members of the committees and vacancies will be put up here as soon as possible . Including the minutes etc.

Remembrance 2008

11:00 Saturday 8th November at the Polish Airmen's memorial in Anning Road.

Cancellation

It is with much regret that the Lyme Regis Branch of the Royal British Legion has cancelled its Festival of Remembrance service for this Sunday evening.

Noteable Dates
Details of our upcoming events can be found on our information page

Pilgrimage to Belgium

Dave Humphrey and his partner Tracy Hodder, also a Legion member, recently had the opportunity to tour some of the battlefields of Flanders. Dave was able to trace a number of the graves of Lyme Regis men and paid his respects by placing a cross at their last resting place. Dave and Tracy were very moved by their visit and hope to revisit next year.

Remembrance Day will soon be here

Skittles

The skittles season is once more upon us and the Legion team have got off to a good start winning the Cornish Cup match against "Clueless" on Wednesday 10th September at the Ship Inn.
The final score was "Royal British Legion" 383, "Clueless" 378.
Our highest scoring player this week was Bob Kendrick with 74.

Our next match is on Friday 19th September in the Pilot Boat where we will be playing against the "No Hopers".

If you wish to come along and support us please do. The match starts at 20:00.

We Will Remember Them

James Edward Hogg
13th August 2008
Aged 79

Meeting 4th September 2008 Request

To all members

At the quarterly meeting last evening I was requested by the members to draw up a three year plan prior to the next AGM.It will be quite easy to review of what we have achieved and what we are good at but I would like members views on what we need to improve and the branch objectives for the future.

Kenneth Whetlor Chairman

Walking in the Footsteps of Heroes

Please click on the above article for an account of how a designer from the Royal Mint found inspiration on the First World War battlefields when designing a commerorative coin set for the 90th Aniversary of the end of World War I.

Disclaimer. This article is reproduced for information only. The Royal British Legion is in no way connected with the manufacture or sale of these coins.

For all members please try and support this event

The New Vice President of the Lyme Regis Branch Royal British Legion Mr Bill Reed

At the last committee meeting it was unanimously decided to make Mr Bill Reed, an outstanding member of the branch, a Vice President. With his work for the Legion over the years and the welfare support he has given to others it is a most deserved honour. Congratulations Bill

Veterans Evening at the Pilot Boat.

Some of the legion members who were presented with their well deserved badges

Some of the branchCommittee photos by Francesca Evans

This evening was a great success.

Howard Fairman, our guest of honour, was surprised by the numbers present and was sure that next year there would be even more. The top photo shows the people who were presented with their badges on the night. As remarked by our events manager " a pleasant evening of good old fashioned camaraderie and inter-service banter/baiting. Just like the old days !

Major Stuart Buckland late of the Cheshire Regiment Vice President of the Lyme Regis British Legion passed away this day.

Major Buckland's Funeral will take place on Thursday 19th June at 14:00 hrs in St Michael's Church Lyme Regis . The Lyme Regis Standard Bearer will be in attendance at the church.

Quiz night 2008

A well supported quiz this time and a very enjoyable evening was had by all . All monies taken going to the poppy

appeal

Blessing of the Boat Ceremony

This is an annual event organised by the RNLI which takes place on Rogation Sunday.

Members of the Committee were in attendance including the Deputy Standard Bearer who was making his first public appearance since taking up the post. Our Chairman was also present despite recovering from a recent hip operation.

Our President and Deputy Standard Bearer Pictured with members of the RNLI

We Will Remember Them

Col. D Fenner Rtd
10th April 2008

Polish War Memorial Anning Road in full bloom.

A presentation of medals

Wearing his medals with pride.


Proud veteran of WWII Burma Bill Kenely of Staples Terrace was
re-presented with his service medals at a short ceremony at the Royal British Legion Meeting on Thursday.

Events Co-ordinator for the Legion David Manners noticed last Remembrancetide that Bill’s Burma Star medal was attached to his jacket by only a small piece of black cotton tape.

My first thought said former RNR Lt.Cdr Manners was “here’s a man who saw active service in the far east and his medals have seen a lot better days. So I decided, with Bill’s consent, to get his medals re-ribboned, cleaned and mounted.”

Bill served for two years in India and Burma and is the fourth generation of his family to have served in the British army. Bill was with the Lancashire Fusiliers.

“Some people may think nowadays why bother to rejuvenate such medals after 63 years? I have no doubt in my mind having seen Bill Kenely on Thursday. He is proud of what he achieved, full of painful, sad and sometimes fond memories and determined to wear his “new” medals with the dignity they rightly deserve.

In conclusion Mr. Manners stressed that the task was paid for privately and did not involve Royal British Legion funds.

Photos: Fusilier Bill Kenely receiving his medals for a second time presented by RBL President Cecil Quick.

The Burma Star and the 1939-1945 war medal.

..............Please read below the Photograph...........

Dear Mr.,Ms.
In Margraten (Holland) is a large WWII cementry. In 2005 I adopted the burial place of Orson Wareham of 1st divison 16th infantry. Mr. Wareham entered the war in 1942 and died in Germany on the 8th of April 1945. Naturely I have become interested in the 16th infantry and try to collect infomation to see whether it is possible to know more about Orson Wareham. I know that Orson Wareham was of the first Battalion (C Company) and was therefore stationed in Lyme Regis. I contacted the family in America and got a picture of Orson. I included it in the e-mail.

I am planning to visit Lyme Regis during the Eastern holiday. I bought a book written by Robin Pearce. I read in it:

C Company was billeted in houses and hotels in the town. When they first arrived they spent two weeks in tents. The headquaters of C Company were on the corner of Silver Street and Woodmead Road. The house now has a plaque on the wall which was placed there by John Bistrica from Youngstown, Ohio, and Frederick Erben from Lindenhurst, New York. They had both become very attached to the people of the town and still exchange visits.

Maybe I was hoping you can get me in touch with local people still in touch with some veterans in America. I am therefore most thankful to you for any information. I send you a copy of certifacte of the burial place as proof and a picture of the burial place.

Kind regards,
Patrick Wouters

Royal British Legion Lyme Regis Branch AGM. Presentation

Jack Loveridge Trophy

Our Annual General Meeting was held on 10th Jan. Each Year The Jack Loveridge is awarded to an individual for their services to the Legion. This Year the trophy was awarded to Pip Evans, Publisher of the "View From Lyme Regis" Newspaper. Pip has been a staunch supporter of the Legion for many years and has publicised the work of this branch regularly in his newspaper as well as compering the Annual Festivals of Remembrance held each November.