Minutes of the Toddington Branch of The Royal British Legion
Committee Meeting 19:30hrs
Tuesday 3rd November 2026
1. Present – Lee Stone, Lynda Bryant, Debbie Gibbons, Pippa Brazier, Graeme Kelly, Melanie Parker, Bil Levinson, Glen Gadsden, John Wood. Ellie Nellis.
2. Apologies – None
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 – 13th October 2026
Proposed – Melanie Parker
Seconded – Graeme Kelly
6. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising were discussed at the meeting.
7. Deputy Chairmans Report & Correspondence
1. Lee welcomed Ellie Nellis to attend our meeting. She is Membership Engagement Officer for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
2. Lee thanked all those that supported the coffee morning. Which followed with John doing a debrief of the morning. Numbers were down on previous years, which could have been due to the weather, which in fact didn’t deteriorate until the afternoon. We had plenty of cakes and choices for everyone.
3. John has written to the Social Club asking if we could have a cabinet to display memorabilia gifted to us by some of our members. The Club has had a meeting, but we have not had a reply yet.
4. Melanie has received emails from Bedfordshire Police and Fire Brigade, who will both be laying wreathes on Remembrance Sunday.
5. Lee is looking at the dates of Training Days next February and the Annual Conference, if anyone else would like to be involved with either of these.
6. Lynda has received an email from the organizers of the Poppy Prom, held in Leighton Buzzard on 17th October. This event has raised £3,290.97.
8. Future Events
8th November – Remembrance Sunday.
Lee passed round a jobs list and timings for setting up and following the morning’s service.
Checked that everyone is available to help as they did last year.
11th November – Armistice Day
Again, we went through timings from the list for the Green and Thorn Springs and to see who will be attending.
28th November – AGM
Calling Notice is being sent out this week. A discussion on the food being provided for lunch. Lee is buying this. Lee, Debbie and Lynda will have a meeting nearer the date to discuss everything needed. Emails will be going out to all committee members after Remembrance.
28th November – Toddington Christmas Event
We have decided not to have a British Legion stand or involvement at this event.
12th & 13th December – Christmas Tree Festival
As always this is being held in Toddington Parish Church. We will book a space for a tree. This year will decorate with poppies and the RBL logo as the theme. Set up date is 10th December between 10am & 4pm. Details will be worked out nearer the time, by email.
19th June – Toddington Village Fete
26th June – Armed Forces Day
For future discussion as to whether we hold a service in Toddington.
September 2027 – Visit to the Royal British Legon National Remembrance Gardens.
We need to decide on a date to work to. This will be discussed again at our February meeting.
9. Reports
9.1 Poppy Appeal Update – Melanie Parker
Has some new volunteers for collecting. Everything is going very well with collections.
9.2 Treasurer – Debbie Gibbons
There are no changes apart from a small outstanding amount. Will update the figures for the AGM.
9.3 Membership Secretaries Report – Bil Levinson
No changes to membership this month. Bil will let Lynda know whenever there are any now we have the membership lists updated.
9.4 Branch Website Report
Nothing to report.
9.5 Standard Bearer – Pippa Brazier
24th October. I attended the Poppy Launch at the Harpur Centre, Bedford. (R.A.F.A.)
1st November. I attended the Highland Division Service at Foster Hill Road Cemetery. (R.A.F.A.)
2ND November. I attended the Remembrance Service at St. Pauls Cathedral, London. (R.A.F.A.)
Future Events:
5th November. Assembly at Leagrave Primary School.
8th November. Toddington Remembrance Sunday Service on the Village Green.
11th November. St. Georges School Assembly.
13th November. Funeral at Norse Road Crematorium for Mr. Dave Harmon. (R.A.F.A.)
15th November. A.J.E.X. Service at the Cenotaph, London. (R.A.F.A.)
9.6 Branch Community Support – Lee Stone
I have not been asked to support anyone.
9.7 Branch Facebook Page – Graeme Kelly
Followers have increased to 39 at the time of this report.
We have continued with mix posting from Remembered with Honour, Poppy Appeal volunteers, history of Bedfordshire regiment, poem and putting out information for Remembrance.
An updated poster has gone out for the 3 Remembrance Sunday services and Armistice Day.
Better than normal views on these postings which may have helped with the increase in followers.
Graeme suggested a concert in the church with the RBL Band commemorate the Falkland’s, to be held on 12th June 2027. Graeme to contact band re possible idea, costs, availability, etc.
10. Any other Business.
Pippa strongly objected to the Branch not having placed poppy crosses this year on the War Graves and on other non-service graves in the Cemetery, which had been a change from previous year. However, Lee confirmed that each War Grave had had a poppy wreath laid on it as per last year and on each grave of a known ex-serviceman we had placed a poppy cross. The reduction in placing poppy crosses had come about after a conversation between John and Lee when John presented Lee with an invoice for £210 for 70 poppy crosses, 3 times higher than last year. Lee also stated that his personal view was that the Branch should not place poppy crosses on non-service graves and invited comments from the rest of the Committee. There were no opposing views.
However, Pippa’s view was that we should still place poppy crosses on all the graves that had previously had one, and in objection stated that she would not be attending either the Chalgrave service at 2pm or the Tebworth / Wingfield one at 3pm.
Post meeting, Lee, Lynda and John had discussed the issue further and concluded that at our next branch meeting in February, we should discuss what to place on the various graves, vote on it and have it minuted, ready for Remembrance 2027.
11. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be the AGM at 12.00 pm on 28th November 2026.
If any member would like to attend a committee meeting, please contact Lee Stone or Lynda Bryant and we can send you the details.
