ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

POWICK AND CALLOW END BRANCH

OUR meeting in September was very well attended and we had the pleasure of greeting two new members for the first time in Keith Richardson a long standing member who has recently transferred to our branch; and a completely new member in our new vicar the Rev Gary Crellin who has honoured us by accepting the title of Branch Padre, this gave us the opportunity to install Rev Gary with the official branch RBL regalia.

A very big welcome to you both.

We were also grateful that our branch meeting was attended by our county chairman Dave Waldron and his wife Jean, thanks to you both for your company and contributions.

During the Exhortation we remembered with sadness and gratitude two members who have passed away since our last meeting in the persons of Steve Gandar of this branch and our county president Ken Draper. To both families and their friends we send our sincere condolences at this sad time.

Our meeting was convened especially to outline to the membership new regulations of governance that have been introduced since July this year and which affect the way our committee must now be constituted and that at this time we are informed that we do not fully comply.

Following long and serious discussion at our meeting we hope we have laid out ways to keep the branch functioning within the community as it has in the past and for the foreseeable future, any fine-tuning will take place at out AGM in November when the annual AGM voting forms will be available to members.

Our next meeting in October will be the last before Remembrance Sunday on November 11 and we will be making our final arrangements for the services at Powick and in Callow End at that time.

As always we anticipate good support from the other uniformed groups in the community and they are all cordially invited to attend, we are also hoping to have a much more positive involvement from both Callow End and Powick Schools this year, a year of very special Remembrance.

As always we continue our work to support those who have served us but now need our help in return so if you feel inclined to give us a hand ‘in any way’ please contact John Mason on 01905 830682 or look at our new ‘Facebook’ page.

The next branch meeting will be at Madresfield Club on Tuesday October 9 at 8.15pm and everyone is welcome.

JOHN MASON