History
as of August 2025
Our Portishead Branch was founded on 7th July 1921 and celebrated its centenary in 2021.
Written details of our history would appear to be lost in the annals of time and we therefore appeal to anyone to let us know of any errors or additional details that you may have. (verbal/written and/or pictures). We can then add those to the website for all to see and for them to be remembered.
The 1945 Peace Parade marking the end of war WW2 in Europe. Opposite the White Lion/Old Mill and in front of the Methodist Hall in the High Street
Notable persons (that we know of) are listed below.
They may have been President and/or Chairman, or have been involved with something noteworthy.
John Joslin Chairman
(1926 - 5/4/1998 aged 72) Joslin’s school report said that was “so backward he would end up clearing the drains”. It was in fact the beginning of a 44 year career with the local authority in Portishead. He became Superintendent of the Works and Highways department of Portishead Urban District Council and this brought him into close contact with many Portishead locals.
John joined the Army in 1944 and served in the 1st Devonshire Battalion in the Far East before being demobbed in 1947. John enjoyed his bowls and was a founder member of the Portishead RBL Bowls Club and its president from 1978 until 1985. In 1995 he was President of the City and Council of Bristol Bowls Assn.
He gave talks of his Portishead experiences and wrote two excellent books on “Old Posset - Portishead people and places.” still available today on Ebay etc for just a few pounds. He was one of those Posset characters he wrote about.
Sqn Ldr Tommy Broom DFC ** President
(1914 - 2010) aged 96) Tommy was our Portishead national hero having been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross three times, one of only 42 so awarded in the whole of WW2. After leaving Slade Road school at 14 he applied to join the RAF as soon as he was 18 in 1932. He started right at the bottom, mopping floors. Ambitious for advancement he trained as an Armourer for the aircraft of the time, mainly biplanes of various types. He was first posted abroad in 1936 to Khartoum, Sudan prior to transferring to the Arab/Jewish war in Palestine. After more training he qualified as an Observer for reconnaissance and with the outbreak of WW2 war was posted immediately to support the British Expeditionary Force to northern France. When Germany attacked France the BEF were rapidly being forced to evacuate via Dunkirk. This option was not available to the RAF and much equipment was destroyed or flown back to the UK. Tommy had to travel across France under attack to St Nazaire to evacuate by ship, but the Germans sunk SS Lancastria which terminated that. Finding another route led to more travel by cattle train to Cherbourg with only hours to spare before the Germans seized the port. The Battle light bomber was phased out in favour of the latest Blenheim and Tommy returned to service by attacking German occupied targets. Now a navigator, on one operation they were hit by shrapnel, were losing fuel, diverted from their home base and now out of fuel, all had to bail out near Stockport. After another period of training new navigators, the new Mosquito, twin engined, super fast, multirole aircraft was introduced. On one of their first operations, when flying at low level, they hit a pylon in Belgium crashing at 250mph. Both he and his pilot survived, but how to get back to Blighty? Make contact with the Comete escape operation, travel all the way through occupied France to the Pyrennes, cross them on foot into hostile Spain and down to Gibraltar to catch a ship. Easier said than done? But very risky, dangerous and putting your life into the hands of foreigners who disagreed with occupation, but if caught, would be shot by the Nazis!! The most intense part of his career was when he was teamed with his new pilot, Ivor Broom, becoming known as the Flying Brooms. They flew over 58 operations together and Tommy logged 83 by the time his service life was completed. At his leaving do, now as a war hero, he was celebrated in the same room that he mopped as a raw recruit. A fitting tribute to just a lad from Portishead. Space here cannot do him justice - you must read his book - “Squadron Leader Tommy Broom DFC**”
John Carey - President 2006
John worked for PUDC and later was Manager of Somerset Hall. He was member of the well known local family. Involved with the Portishead Summer Show, specifically for the "John Carey Memorial Trophy" which is awarded for the best exhibit of beans. He is also associated with the Tree of Light display in Portishead, where individuals can dedicate in memory of loved ones.
Tom Parry Evans President 2008 - 2009
(1925 - 2019) Tom was one of the first teachers at the Gordano School (1956-1981), a long time stalwart of the cricket and the bowls clubs. Close friend and the biographer of Tommy Broom. He was born in 1925 he died on 18th November 2019 aged 93 years. Head of Evans House Gordano School and much loved, respected and missed by his pupils
Close friend of Tommy Broom, he authored the book “Squadron Leader Tommy Broom DFC** - the legendary Pathfinder Mosquito Navigator” still available from booksellers.
Keith Van Hagen President 2010 - 2013
With permission from his next of kin, L/Sig Keith Van Hegan sadly Crossed The Bar on 21 Jan 23. Keith served on HMS/S’s Tradewind, Seadevil, Scorcher, Trenchant, Solent and Scythian. Rest your oars now shipmate,
Neil Parsons President 2013 - 2017
Neil served in the Royal Navy aduring Operation Grapple Atoll tests involving the Royal navy when the UK conducted nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific, specifically at Malden Island and Christmas Island (now Kiritimati), during 1957 and 1958.
Passed away 26th December 2017. Husband of Thelma. Funeral service was hald st St Nicholas Church, Redcliffe Bay, Portishead on Tuesday 23rd January 2018 at 1.30pm.
Brian Clayton President 2017 - 2020
Brian joined the Royal Navy as Boy in 1958 and served for 11yrs leaving as Acting Petty Officer having been involved in 1961 in Operation Vantage in protecting Kuwait against territorial claims by its neighbour, Iraq. as well the Far East Confrontation in 1965, known as the Indonesia-Malaysia conflict.
He joined our branch RBL in 1998, shortly after moving to Portishead and quickly became involved as Poppy Appeal Organiser until 2007, then his wife, Carol, took over as PAO for the next 12 years. Vice Chairman from 2002 - 2006. Chairman from 2006 - 2017. President 2017 - 2020. Represented RBL at County and National level in a variety of roles and received several awards for his service. Altogether a very active member of RBL.
During the Covid restrictions of 2019 he presided over the use of a pop-up shop in the Morgan Westley book shop for the Poppy Appeal. see link https://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/news/20407418.morgan-westley-store-turns-poppy-shop 2019
Derek Wilks President 2020 - present
Secretary 2004 - 2020, ex-Royal marine Derek was a Member of the Portishead Town Council committee that created a new digital Book of Remembrance on the council's website and a physical book that is displayed in the Library
