March Newsletter 2022

Firstly, I apologise for the delay in creating this newsletter; once again as we are now opening more and restrictions have been lifted, or changed into guidance, I am hopeful that there will be more news to report, especially in this year of our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The pandemic is not over, and it is up to every one of us to take whatever steps that we feel are necessary to keep ourselves and others safe.

Keep well and Stay Safe.

In your newsletter this month we feature:

Membership
- Renewal Information
Annual Conference 2022
Message from our County Chairman – Paul Sawford
County Event Calendar
- Bedford River Festival
Poppy Appeal
- Current Poppy Appeal Totals
Report on Virtual Annual Conference 2021
John Seamark Recognised with Gold Badge Award
Covid-19 and latest advice
Around the Branches
- Clapham Branch
- Sandy and District Branch
- Leighton Buzzard Branch
- Bedford and Kempston Branch

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Membership

Renewal Information

Please note that general membership queries can usually be answered by our MSO.

Please note that due to COVID-19 the Membership Applications department are still operating with a reduced service.

The opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm. They are no longer open at weekends.

Membership Helpline:

UK: 0800 307 7773 (free from UK landlines and main mobile networks)

Republic of Ireland: 1800 911 936 (free)

Overseas: +44 (0)207 191 1091 (full rate)

Membership Services email address: membershipservices@britishlegion.org.uk

Membership payments are divided into four parts:

Membership Fee - £18 from 1^st April 2021.
Branch fee (if applicable) – this is a fee set by the branch to support its running costs.
General fund donation – a voluntary donation used to support membership activities.
Benevolent fund donation – a voluntary donation used to support our beneficiaries.

The Legion strongly discourage members from using cheques this year due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. Contactless, automatic payment methods (such as card and Direct Debit payments) are much safer. Additionally, as we operate reduced service, cheque processing might take much longer than usual.

A renewal reminder will be sent to members a month or two before their membership is due, explaining their current renewal method and detailing the options available.

Every member should receive their membership card within approximately 10 working days of the payment being cleared by the bank,

Unpaid members will receive a renewal reminder a month or two after their renewal date - this will include the lapsing date Please note that as per the Royal Charter, members must pay their fees within 3 months of their renewal date – if no payment is received, they will be removed from the membership lists.

Should you require more information regarding this year’s renewal process, please contact your branch membership secretary.

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Annual Conference 2022

Annual Conference this year will take place at The Queen Elizabeth’s Conference Centre in London on 13^th – 15^th May.

To attend Annual Conference, you must register in advance All applications must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 1 April 2022 and we will not be able to accept late applications.

Please note, we cannot accept forms sent in through the post.

Branch Delegates

Your branch has the opportunity to play a key role at Annual Conference, acting as the voice of its members in our decision-making process. For your branch to be permitted to attend it must be compliant. Compliant branches are those that have submitted its annual accounts on or before 30thSeptember 2021 and your signed and completed MS1 form must be submitted to your Membership Support Officer (MSO) by 31 December 2021.

How to Register

Branches can use the online application form available through the Membership Administration Portal (MAP). Alternatively, please ask your MSO for an electronic copy of the form. This form will need to be submitted to the Annual Conference Co-ordinator by email to

Annualconference@britishlegion.org.uk

How to Register

Please use the online application from available on MAP. Alternatively, please ask your MSO or the Annual Conference Co-Ordinator for a digital copy of the form. This form will need to be submitted to the Annual Conference Co-ordinator by email to annualconference@britishlegion.org.uk.

Visitors

Anyone can attend the Annual Conference as a visitor, but they won’t be able to propose or second motions nor vote.

How to Register

All visitors must register before the Conference using the online application form on the RBL website. It can be accessed at:

www.britishlegion.org.uk/membership/annual-conference .

Alternatively, visitors can ask their MSO or the Annual Conference Co-Ordinator to send a digital copy of the form.

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How to Register

Annualconference@britishlegion.org.uk

How to Register

Visitors

Anyone can attend the Annual Conference as a visitor, but they won’t be able to propose or second motions nor vote.

How to Register

All visitors must register before the Conference using the online application form on the RBL website. It can be accessed at:

www.britishlegion.org.uk/membership/annual-conference .

Alternatively, visitors can ask their MSO or the Annual Conference Co-Ordinator to send a digital copy of the form.

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County Event Calendar - 2022

Bedfordshire County will be attending the Bedford River Festival on the weekend of 23^rd and 24^th July 2022.

As ever, County will have an Advice and Information and Recruitment table typically manned by our MSO and assisted by County Committee Members. The Poppy Appeal Table will be manned by Michelle French, Bedford Poppy Appeal Organiser.

Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for a fun filled weekend with lots of money raised.

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Poppy Appeal

Please see below the QR code that can be scanned using your mobile phone or other suitable device, it will allow you to connect to the Legion secure website and donate to the Bedfordshire Poppy Appeal; you will need some form of QR code scanner, and these are readily available to download to your device.

This QR code is still active, and you can still donate to the appeal, the funds received from the main Poppy Appeal are very much down this year as expected, so every penny counts.

Poppy Appeal Totals National & Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire 2020/2021 £177,136.23

Bedfordshire 2021/2022 £238,953.78

National: 2020/21 £18,903,082.23

National 2021/22 £27,044,023.09

The total so far for the 2021/2022 Poppy Appeal is to be expected low until supermarket and contactless totals have been updated. These figures were taken on 20/01/22 at 1352hrs.

Please note, Supermarket money has still not been credited to districts. Contactless Devices: As mentioned contactless devices were a huge success in the 2021/22 Poppy Appeal. It was great to see again our PAO’s and volunteers adapt and use the devices in high income areas, such as supermarkets. The contactless devices also make it easier for the PAO, the money banked direct to the district making it easier for the PAO not having to collect large amounts of cash, count and bank.

The figures below show Bedfordshire’s contactless total and the top three Bedford districts contactless totals:

Bedfordshire contactless total £44,046.62

EAB10 Flitwick £11,464.00

EAD02 Dunstable £6,651.39

EAB27 Sandy £4,972.50

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Report on Virtual County Conference 2022

County Conference was held virtually this year and there were five delegates present who were able to vote - Clapham (Beds) Branch, Leighton Buzzard Branch, Sandy & District Branch, Stotfold & Arlesey Branch, Toddington Branch.

Our Guest Speaker was Phillip Moore – Board of Trustees, who gave us a review of the Legions activities of the last year starting with RBL 100, our centenary, but also went on to talk about One Legion our big strategic initiative. Some highlights for 2021. And another important strategic theme, diversity, and inclusion.

The accounts were presented by our County Treasurer and were accepted by all delegates. The treasurer also explained about the difficulties he had been having with Lomas and the depths he had gone to resolve the situation. This has been an ongoing situation for 3 years.

There was an election of one person to the County Committee – Roger Sparks.

The small Branch Efficiency cup was awarded to Sandy and District Branch

The 2023 Annual Conference be held on Saturday 4th February 2023 at 11:00hrs at Henlow Pavilion.

25 Members were added to the Roll of Honour.

The Conference closed at 11:46

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John Seamark Recognised with Gold Badge Award

Cranfield Branch received a surprise visitor at their November 2021 meeting. The County President turned up after the business for the evening had been concluded and explained to all gathered that his purpose for attending was to present Mr John Seamark with his well-deserved Gold Badge. Despite being Chairman of the Branch, John knew nothing about his award and explained that he was humbled by what the County President said and questioned how this had been put forward without the Branch Chairman’s knowledge. Eileen Cave must take the credit for keeping John in the dark during the application process. The photograph shows the County President presenting the Gold Badge to John.

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Covid-19 & Latest Advice

As almost all restrictions have been lifted, it is now up to individuals to be responsible for their own and others safety. The pandemic is not over, but cases and deaths do seem to be increasing at present due to the new BA2 variant, please take all reasonable steps to keep each other safe.

Around the Branches

This is where your Branch can have their say and let others know what you are doing.

Clapham Branch

This event took place in August 2021

Clapham

The photo shows the Clapham Branch stand which has been at the Keysoe Fete for the last 5 years.

The Lord Lieutenant for Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis came round the various stands and had a long chat with the Bedfordshire County Chairman, Paul Sawford, a member of our Branch, and other Branch members including Ro Haggerwood and myself who took the photo.

There was interest shown at our stand, by those attending the fete and there were complimentary comments about our display.

The MS Society were also on the Clapham RBL stand.

The weather was kind.

The fete opened at 2pm and closed at 5pm.

Phillip Kino

Chairman Clapham Branch

Sandy and District Branch

Back in August Cheryl Watkins and Haydn Stevens from our Branch organised the second “Poppies at the Mill” music event at Jordan’s Mill. The weather held out for most of the day, and it was very well attended; we raised £1,279 for the Poppy Appeal. I am pleased to say that Jordan’s have invited us back again this year (2022), more information on this will be provided later.

Sandy

Leighton Buzzard Branch

Leighton Buzzard held its first Breakfast Club today 12th March at the Swan Hotel Leighton Buzzard. We had 7 members attend and all had an enjoyable time.

Bedford Branch

The Bedford Branch are planning several events in the coming months:

Veteran’s Day, Saturday 14th May

Commencing at 1:00 PM till late at the Bear pub on the High Street in Bedford, there will be music and a barbecue at this event, and it is for veterans and their families.

Would veterans please wear something to show that you are a veteran, there will be collection pots for the Poppy Appeal.

2. Falklands 40th anniversary

This will be at the Standard pub on Bedford High Street and will be alongside Bedford Hospital Radio; it will be from 10:00 AM till 7:00 PM, please come along and show your support for our fallen, there will be live broadcasts throughout the day.

3. Armed Forces Day

This will be a procession down Bedford High Street followed by live music from solo singers and the Bedford pipe and drums, it will commence at 10:00 AM until approximately 4:00 PM

Please feel free to join our events in Bedford

Michelle French

Bedford & Kempston Poppy Appeal Organiser.

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