CARLISLE AND STANWIX BRANCH – “We don’t do things by halves!”
BRANCH RAISES £614,000 FOR THE POPPY APPEAL IN 8 YEARS!!
There can be few Branches that within 10 years of their formation, can better the achievements of the Carlisle and Stanwix Branch in north Cumbria.
When two Carlisle Branches amalgamated in 2006, there was much speculation as to whether a completely new team would be able to sustain the Branch and move forward through the new Millennium. Carlisle and Stanwix Branch emerged from the former Carlisle Branch and the Stanwix and St Ann’s Branch, initially with a total of about 140 members and a combined Poppy Appeal income of about £36,000. Since then the annual total has increased year on year with the current total for the 2014 Appeal exceeding £90,000 at the end of February 2015. However, the total raised since the new Branch formed is over £614,000, masterminded by Branch Chairman Mrs Margaret Wadsworth and her husband Colin. This achievement has been recognised by the City Of Carlisle with the presentation of a Civic Award by the Mayor of Carlisle Steven Bowditch on 26th March.
The Carlisle and Stanwix Branch members and many other organisations respond well to assist with the annual Poppy Appeal. Thanks to the generosity of Virgin Trains, a large Poppy Store has been established in a basement area below Platform 3 at Carlisle Railway Station. Its cavernous proportions allow the Branch to retain over 800 Poppy Collection tins and Poppy Boxes, together with all the associated materials and fund raising items that result in the Branch raising vast sums of money each year.
For the record – the year on year figures are:
2007 - £55914
2008 - £63363
2009 - £71689
2010 - £76421
2011 - £83419
2012 - £84985
2013 - £88505
2104 - £90,000 …………… with more to come!!!
Meeting Monthly in the local ex-Service Club, the Branch has no involvement in the Club and is therefore not diverted away from the primary tasks of Welfare, Remembrance, Membership, Fund Raising and Fellowship. The Branch has gone from strength to strength and has earned a good reputation amongst the local community. Membership has increased to over 210 members, about 30 members join together for the monthly Branch Meetings and there is a varied social programme. Whilst there is always room for improvement in the Branch’s involvement in Welfare and Casework, members are kept informed of events by email, the Branch Website and Newsletters.
Remembrance is marked in many different ways in Carlisle and Carlisle and Stanwix Branch is involved in the planning and execution of all local events During 2014 a new Garden of Remembrance was established in the grounds of St Cuthbert’s Church near the City Centre, so that those that wish may place their Remembrance Crosses in a quiet and tranquil environment. Each year, in addition to the traditional services on Remembrance weekend, a special service is held at the City Memorial on Armistice Day to which all 40 or more schools are invited to attend and lay their own “tokens and tributes of Remembrance”.
We don’t do things by halves here in Carlisle!!!
Photo – The Mayor of Carlisle, Councillor Steven Bowditch presents the Civic Award to Margaret and Colin Wadsworth – 26th March 2015
