THE Beckington & District Branch of the Royal British Legion is preparing for a busy year ahead.
Secretary for the Beckington & District Branch of the RBL, Barry Davies, reports, “The Beckington Branch was formed on 31st March 1930. Since then, it has participated in the annual Poppy Appeal and other fundraising events in support of the RBL’s many charitable activities as well as offering support to individuals and families through its welfare officer.
“There have been coffee mornings, quizzes, raffles, and an annual dinner. Over the past two years most of these activities have been in abeyance but with the turn of the season, your local branch is springing back into action.
“Last year we were able to resume our annual observances on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday as a fitting tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of and for the preservation of the freedom we enjoy today.
“Our own Roll of Honour commemorates those from Beckington and Berkley who lost their lives on active service: 26 from the First World War, 17 from the Second World War, one from the Falklands War and one from the Iraq War. We seek to honour their memory and to do all we can to support members and veterans of the armed services and their families today.
“We shall be holding a commemoration service to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands Campaign on Sunday 12th June at 4.30pm at St George’s Church, Beckington.
“In the autumn, we hope to arrange a dinner as a belated celebration of the centenary of the RBL, 1921-2021. The details will be published later in the year.
“We are always pleased to welcome new members. You do not need to have served in the armed forces to join the RBL, so if you would like to support our work, please contact the chairman, Ben Richards on 01373 831304, the secretary, myself (Barry Davies) on 01373 831344 or any member of the committee known to you and we shall be pleased to hear from you.”
About the work of the Royal British Legion, Barry explains, “For most of us, the Royal British Legion is best known for its annual Poppy Appeal and the national commemorations at Westminster Abbey, the Albert Hall, and in Whitehall on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday; but there is far more to the RBL than just these very public manifestations.
“In the present climate, it seems unfashionable to express pride in anything even vaguely patriotic or British, but the RBL operates throughout the year, not just in remembrance-tide, in an understated, low-profile style, which might be termed typically British.
“It offers a network of support to serving and former armed service people and their families. It provides help with rehabilitation and mental health, with the transition to civilian life, with the adaptation of homes for people with disabilities, with managing finances and avoiding homelessness, and much more.
“For older veterans, it provides care homes for those unable to live alone, and support for independent living for those able to remain in their own homes. The RBL has links with a broad network of other charities so if it can’t help with a particular issue, it knows a charity that can.
“The RBL celebrated its centenary in 2021 but celebrations were curtailed owing to the Coronavirus pandemic.”
Pictured above: The Beckington & District Branch of the Royal British Legion’s Wreath Laying Ceremony on Remembrance Sunday 2021 with Chairman, Steve Jenkins, Standard Bearer, Andrew Smith and Chaplain, the Revd Michael White.
