National Memorial Arboretum 1st October 2024 After a 3 hour journey by minibus some eleven members visited the arboretum near Lichfield. We were disappointed that the weather rained for most of the day, but we were grateful for our informative road train ride around the memorials. There was extensive flooding which curtailed walking, however there were compensations in the restaurant and the exhibitions that we enjoyed. Our thanks are due to Nailsea and District Community Transport and to our volunteer driver, Hugo, for taking us there and bringing us back safely.
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Sunday 3rd November 2024 At the RBL breakfast Chairman Berkeley presented an engraved vase to Robert McDonald in recognition of his services to the RBL as Somerset County Chairman over the last 9 yrs. Robert will still stay involved with the RBL in a welfare role.
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Sunday 10th November 2024 This special 80th D-Day Remembrance Sunday was commemorated by the reading of the names of the Fallen by Sadik Al Hassan, our new MP, Catrin Battista, Headteacher - St Peter’s CofE Primary, and WW2 veteran Arthur Oborne who had hurried back from performing at the previous nights Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall where he gave his memories of being saved.
Our thanks are due Portishead Town Council for arranging the logistics, the Christmas Lights Committee and others for the road closure control, the Police, Fire, RNLI, Services, Veterans, Air Army Sea Cadets, Guides, Scouts and others and everyone else who helped to make the event a success. The weather was good; the crowds lined the streets and the Salute was taken outside Tudor Garage. The Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing - RBL Chaplain from St Peter’s Church presided over proceedings and conducted the service in the church.
The following day, Monday 11th November - Armistice Day was commemorated at the Waitrose Piazza.
D-Day 80 Events
D-Day 80 Breakfast June 2nd Members dressed with medals for the breakfast at Posset Cup to commemorate D-Day 80. Arthur Oborne was interviewed by BBC TV before he was about to leave the next day to meet the King at Portsmouth. The following day he set sail for Normandy with the RBL.
D-Day 80 in Normandy 6th June 2024 Our local branch D-Day veteran aged 100, Arthur Oborne, attended the 80 year Commemoration in Normandy at the Ver de Mer Memorial. At that event he met many dignitaries including King Charles III and Queen Camilla and broadcast his personal account of his experiences to the assembled audience and received a standing ovation. Arthur volunteered to join the Army at age 17, against the wishes of his parents and his employer, Bristol Aeroplane Company. As he was too young to fight he had to wait and was then transferred to the Duke of Wellington regiment for training for the invasion. Aged 20, he landed on D-Day +3 and proceeded to battle inland, their objective being to eject the Nazi troops out of Caen. Unfortunately the bocage territory, consisting of a maze of deep lanes with high hedges, slowed their progress and made ambushes a frequent threat. On July 16th in the vicinity of Tilly-sur-Seulles Arthur received a sniper bullet through his lung. The prompt actions of his friend and colleague L/Cpl Walter Gummerson in giving him immediate aid and then evacuation saved his life. Walter returned to his unit, but tragically they were all ambushed and killed the next day. In his speech at the Normandy Commemoration, Arthur paid tribute to Walter with “I wish I could tell him that I have never taken his sacrifice for granted and will always remember him and our friends. So Gummy, thank you, my old friend.” He also added: “I had no problems talking but it was a bit emotional, I was a bit upset and teary. I think everyone did well at the service. I was a bit apprehensive at the start, but I wanted to speak.”
D-Day 80 Commemoration at Portishead Lifeboat Station At 11.30am on June 6th 2024 a large number of people, including school children, gathered at the Portishead Lifeboat Station to remember the fallen of 80 years ago. The service started with a short address from Portishead RBL President, Derek Wilks, and the service was conducted by Rev. Rob Eastwood Dewing, the Portishead Rector and RBL Chaplain.
D-Day 80 Celebration on Saturday 8th June We took to Portishead High Street with our wonderful Portishead Town Band. The music echoed along the High Street and included famous WW2 songs and many more. Thank you to Impero Lounge for hosting us and for providing teas and coffees. All of the staff are very supportive of RBL.
D-Day 80 Two Soldier Silhouettes were erected on the Boat Roundabout at the entrance to Portishead for a few days to celebrate the event, with the cooperation from Portishead in Bloom.
The 24th of January 2024 was a special day for one of our RBL members, Arthur Oborne. It was his 100th birthday. He celebrated with an early morning unaided walk from his home to the Impero Lounge in the High street for his breakfast. Many local persons lined the street clapping and greeting him with renderings of ‘Happy Birthday’. The BBC and ITV were there to interview and film him. Supported by his daughter, Elizabeth, he revealed details of his D-Day experiences, when he was shot through the lung. With his typical modesty he explained, “I’m no hero, the lads I left behind are the real heroes”. Later on in the evening he attended the Branch RBL dinner in Bristol and was entertained by the Royal Marines band. He gave a speech detailing some of his life's events.
December 29th 2023 - The Portishead branch of RBL affiliated with 2494 (Portishead) Squadron of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets at The Sqn Ldr Tommy Broom DFC** Cadet Centre in Station Road.
Chairman Berkeley Harris is shown shaking hands with Fg Off Peter Doyle M.A. (Mngt); MIoD; MRAeS; PgC Edu & Training, who kindly exchanged certificates with Portishead RBL to confirm the affiliation. 
Our Branch 2023 year finished with a meal at Impero Lounge. After our meal we were treated to a surprise visit from Santa who gave out the Raffle prizes. Unfortunately our Chairman, Berkeley missed him as he was busy helping with the washing up. Thank you Berkeley.
Rotary President, Tim Mason, presents Berkeley Harris with a very kind and generous donation of £1,500 as RBL was one of Portishead Rotary's chosen charities for 2022.
Yeti Tools of Old Mill Rd., Portishead, presented RBL Branch with a unique plaque that they had designed for display at Remembrance events.
On 3rd October 2023, a ceremony of Affiliation between the Portishead Branch RBL and Army Cadet Force took place at the Cadet Centre on Station Road. Framed Certificates of Affiliation were presented to SSI Nick Broderick, OC Portishead Platoon, Somerset Cadet Battalion (The Rifles) and to Branch Chairman Mr Berkeley Harris. The presentations were made by Major (ret’d) R McDonald BEM, County Chairman, Somerset Royal British Legion.
RBL Members and Friends celebrate the King's Coronation with breakfast at Posset Cup
Jasmin Duffy was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her individual efforts in raising funds for the 2022 Poppy Appeal. She is shown here receiving her award from Chairman, Berkeley Harris and Poppy Appeal Organiser, Sue Quinn.
