Sandbag - Wincanton RBL Newsletter: November 2011
Download the full edition (PDF)
Summary
Editor Tony Goddard - 01963 824193
Secretary Arthur Pickup - 01963 32952
Branch Meetings for 2011 and 2012 - Wincanton Memorial Hall - Monday at 7 p.m.
19th December CANCELLED
16th January
Trips and Events for 2011
19th December - Pre Christmas lunch and Poinsettia Trail at Ottery St. Mary.
We will leave Memorial Hall Wincanton at 9.00 a.m. to enable us to take the behind-the-scene tour, viewing the Poinsettia Trail and the Christmas atmosphere. Then we will have a pre-Christmas lunch in their excellent restaurant. We will leave around 3.00 p.m. But it could be later, depending on demand on the day.
Cost of the coach is £10 as usual and payment for the dinner will be on the day.
New members
We welcome two new members, Trevor Richadom and Evelyn Mant
War Memorial gets its Sword
It was the intention of the original War Memorial committee to have an Excalibur sword on the memorial of the type seen on all British War Cemeteries. When we requested the stonemason to carve the sword we were told it was impossible in the soft material of the memorial but he could carve a sword of a different type on it. We all opted for the alternative but when the memorial was delivered the sword hilt came away on delivery. It was repaired but once frost got into it, it came away several times more and it was decided to leave it as it was because it was not really noticeable. When we went to the unveiling of the new Old Faithful memorial at Snag Farm in the summer, Piers Ostroumoff (who is a blacksmith) told us how he could make an Excalibur sword in either bronze or resin. We decided on resin as bronze is vulnerable nowadays and commissioned him to make it. I am very pleased to say the new Excalibur is now in the process of being installed.
The photo shows Piers starting to remove the old sword and the new sword should be in place for 11th November.
Remembrance Time 2011
Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Time 2011 got off to an excellent start on Saturday 29th October. Our Coffee Morning was extremely well supported with an estimated 70 people attending. Steve Lee and Roy Glennister held an exhibition of local people involved in famous actions, highlighting Charlie Lodge who was at the famous Incident at Nery when the old regular army of 1914 clashed with the Germans north of the River Marne on 1st September 1914.
Our exhibition was also supplemented with a diorama of a battle scene of the First World War and along with it were battlefield artefacts found in Flanders, Loos and the Somme. Items included a shell case recovered at Leipzig Redoubt, British and German bullet heads, shrapnel balls and even pieces of German beer bottles.
The evening was absolutely fantastic when a Gala Concert was given by Wincanton Silver Band. The band's new conductor, David Bertie, was with the band for the first time. David, who was an army musician, presented the concert which covered music from the 90 years of the Royal British Legion including the Royal British Legion March. There were lots of nostalgic songs including White Cliffs of Dover and We'll Meet Again and the finale included that lovely patriotic hymn, I Vow to Thee My Country followed by the Last Post, when Ray Whitehead brought in our new Union Flag and dipped it for the Last Post. Everyone present agreed it was an exceptional evening.
We raised well over £1,000 for Poppy Appeal over the whole day, which was an excellent
start.
Commando Helicopter Force at Christmas
Last year our sister organisation - Wincanton Supports Our Troops - sent a cheque to help pay for the Commando Helicopter Force Christmas Party in Afghanistan. Declan Farrell also baked a large supply of Christmas cakes which were sent out. We have again decided to do the same and Declan has again been baking! We have also got together another £1,000 and Declan will hand this over on our behalf with his cakes during December. Feedback we have been given from the CHF indicates they are very well received.
On 2nd November Karen Dunsford held a bingo for the troops and she raised £151.60, which is most gratefully received. Thanks Karen.
Thanks also to Brian Sweet who has been selling books throughout the summer. Well done Brian.
Comments
Login to comment!