Minutes of the Toddington Branch of The Royal British Legion

Committee Meeting 7.30.p.m. on

Tuesday 19^th March 2024

 1. Present

 Kelly Grumoli, Pippa Brazier, Debbie Gibbons, Graeme Kelly, John Wood, Bill Levinson, Melanie Parker, Lee Stone

2. Apologies 

Shaun Prior, Nigel Washington, Linda Washington, Glen Gadsden,

3. Silent Tribute.

4. Exhortation

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

we will remember them.

5. Previous Meeting – Committee Meeting 29^th November 2023

The minutes were read and agreed to be a true report of the last full committee meeting. 

Proposed – Bil Levinson

Seconded – Pippa Brazier

6. Chairmans Report

Member Donation.

I received an email from the daughter of one of our members who has recently lost his wife, there was a collection at her funeral with the proceeds being split between Harlington Methodist Church and Toddington Royal British Legion, we have received a very generous donation of £271.00 from this collection, I have sent a thankyou card to the member, and offered him any assistance from us if he should require anything.

Parish Council Grant Award.

Toddington Parish Council has awarded our branch a grant of £400.00 towards the costs of hosting our two D-Day events, The Parish Council will be holding a presentation of these grants on Tuesday evening 9^th April at 8pm in the Village Hall, I would like as many of us as possible to attend this presentation to show our appreciation of their generosity.

D-Day Events.

The two D-Day events are fast approaching, we need to confirm who will be taking on which roles on the two evenings, we have contacted Reverend Linda Washington about the two services, the band has been booked along with the Ice cream van and the scouts who are doing the hot food on the 8^th June.       Graeme has been working on a D-Day beaches poster, that I will order as a plastic sign to display as a centre piece on the 8^th June.

I have received confirmation from the Lord Lieutenants office that Air Commodore Gordon Moulds CBE and his wife will be attending the service and beacon lighting on the 6^th June, we need to provide him with a reserved parking space near the green.

The new Village Magazine is due to go into print very soon and should be distributed around Toddington by the 1^st April, we have a full-page advert/poster in the new magazine which will be a great way of letting all of the village know about the two upcoming D-Day events as well as any future events.

The RBL are hosting two D-Day events for WW2 and Normandy veterans this year, the first is  on 5^th June at the Bayeaux Cemetery for WW2 veterans, the second will be at the National Arboretum on 6^th June for Normandy veterans.

Heath and Reach RBL.

Heath and Reach Chairman, Mr Steve Mash has replied regarding our branches supporting each other, Steve has said that he and some of their members will try to attend our D-Day event to meet up with us.

RBL email addresses.

Clare Pillinger has emailed regarding Branch officers not using RBL email addresses.

I have emailed Clare to Confirm which of us should use an RBL email address rather than our personal ones, and it is the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

7. Reports

• Treasurer – Debbie Gibbons

No changes to our finances this month

• Poppy Appeal Report – Melanie Parker

2023 Poppy Appeal - Toddington

No changes so far to the poppy appeal this year. The figures stand as at last month.

• Local figure - £13,898.05
• Luton schools - £19,449.21
• Overall total - £31,765.07

Revised

£20 has been donated from a pot found, making the figures as follows:

• Local figure - £13,918.05
• Luton schools - £19,449.21
• Overall total - £31,785.07

• Membership Secretaries Report – Bil Levinson

From the membership list on 16^th March 2024, we have 61 members. This is a drop of 2 members since the last committee meeting. Details have been sent to John and Kelly.

Web Site Report

The web site is up to date as far as I can tell.

• Standard Bearer – Pippa Brazier

Our Standard Bearer, Pippa Brazier, continues to go to various Funerals, events, and parades that she is requested to attend, the most recent of these since the last meeting are set out below.

• 3^rd March 2024 @ 3pm – Civic Service for the Town Mayor of Dunstable @ Priory Church

8. Correspondence

All items of correspondence are now sent out via email to the committee members prior to the meeting taking place, so that they can be read beforehand and discussed as necessary during the meeting. If any member would like a copy of any correspondence item, please contact John Wood or Kelly Grumoli (details at the top of these minutes) and we will get copies to you.

• Air Commodore Gordon Moulds CBE
• Toddington Parish Council Grant Presentation
• RBL National D-Day events for Normandy and WW2 Veterans
• Heath & Reach, RBL
• County Bulletin – No.17

9. Future Events – Memorable Dates

• 6th June, D-Day Commemoration and Beacon Lighting on the Village Green
• 8^th June, D-Day event on the Village Green
• 22^nd June – Toddington Village Fete.
• 26^th June – Coffee Morning

10. Next Meeting

 The next meeting will be at 19:30 on Tuesday 16^th April 2024 and will be in the top bar of the Social & Services Club, High Street Toddington.

If any member would like to attend a committee meeting, please contact John Wood or Kelly Grumoli and we can send you the details.

The meeting was closed at 20.17 pm