Latest report from the branch is available here  You can click the photographs for a bigger picture which opens in a new page.

Our Chairman, Sir Nick Wright in conversation with Air Chief Marshall Sir Richard Johns with our Standard Bearer, Mark Gittins.

Standard Bearers in attendance.

East Knoyles Coronation Celebrations and report and pictures from the Coronation weekend. There is also a short report from Paul Naish on his day at the Coronation.

East Knoyle Book

Ron Clark has sent in details of a booklet available for members to buy with the full price of the booklet going to the RBL. Priced at £5 it is a story of a wartime plane crash with much research done and questions still to answer. Details of the book " The Cairn at Stourhead. The Making and Marking of a Disaster" by branch member Bernard Pike can be found HERE 

Latest News Letter from East Knoyle for March 2023 can be found HERE

Photos for the REME Museum trip the branch did on Feb 17th.

Ron has sent in the latest info from the branch AGM and other news. That can be seen here.

This is the new East Knoyle Standard Bearer Team, Mark Gittings and Helen Lever.

Ron has sent in a news letter with a report on the Westland event that took place recently. Details are available HERE

EKVN - RBL Report

September 2022

Mike Waterhouse

One event has overshadowed all recent Branch activities, that of the death of our Chairman, Mike Waterhouse, following a long, debilitating illness which he bore with his customary great spirit and humour.

An RBL member for nearly 40 years, his commitment to our village Branch, the work of the RBL nationally and sense of duty could not be disputed. Neither could his contribution to village life, amongst other things volunteering in the Wren Shop and running, with the assistance of Martin Snell, the Village Youth Club.

Mike was a leader who led by example, his even handed, diplomatic but no nonsense approach ensured that he got the best out of all of us. Positive to the end, he did not seek our plaudits but they are freely given, with fondness and gratitude. He will be sorely missed not only by the RBL but throughout our village community. A full obituary appears elsewhere in this newsletter. Our sympathies are with Gill and his family.

Mike receiving a framed picture of the actual Meteor that he flew as a RAF pilot from Wiltshire County President General Sir Jack Deverell earlier this year.

Pimm’s and Strawberry Tea

As has become traditional, our Branch took the opportunity to thank all the volunteers and supporters of the Poppy Appeal for their generosity throughout the year by holding its annual Strawberry and Pimms tea on the lawn of the village hall, making full use of the marquee used the previous day for the EKFV show - a most effective use of valuable village resources.

Ian Gurney and his team ensured that all the main ingredients flowed seamlessly throughout and a lively draw for the raffle, together with an auction of a particularly cherished bottle of wine, raised a total of £385. Many thanks are due for the use of the marquee and to all those who donated prizes for the raffle.

Head waiter Ian Gurney delivering the goods.

Poppy Appeal 21/21

The amount raised during the past year continues to climb and with just a few weeks to go we are close to matching our best ever total. As usual, this year’s fund has been considerably boosted by the well documented summer activities of Roy Halsall who has raised in excess of £3,000 to date, and now stands at £14,415.54.

Future Diary Dates:

4th October                 Branch Meeting

28th October               Poppy Appeal Launch

1ST November           Branch Meeting

11th November           Armistice Day

13th November           Remembrance Sunday

24th November           AGM

Ron Clark (Branch Secretary)

July 2022

Branch Activity

The 17th May saw the first of our summer visits with a tour, open to members and non-members alike, to the RNLI HQ and Training Centre  in Poole, kindly arranged by Paul Naish. Fully subscribed with a complement of 21 the party enjoyed a most informative guided tour of this impressive facility that covered all elements of the RNLI’s work followed by a buffet lunch in a private room. It was interesting to note that during the two hour tour several members of RNLI staff took time out to personally thank the RBL for the work that it does which illustrates the general regard in which both organisations are held. Hopefully the attached photograph of the RNLI workshops, courtesy of our critically acclaimed photographer Andrew Knight, illustrates the sheer scale of the work carried out on the site. Paul certainly picked a winner here and a visit is highly reccomended. .

To highlight our inclusive approach regarding participation in our activities, it is our Branch’s intention that as many of our future events as possible will appeal and be open to members, non-members and guests alike. To this end  research continues for a suitable such event in the Autumn.

Poppy Appeal 21/22

Roy Halsall’s busy summer schedule of events, which play such an important part in our fund raising activity, continues almost on a weekly basis. His commitment is certainly paying dividends with £980 raised in one week alone at the recent Chalke Valley History Festival, bringing his personal ‘tally’ so far this summer to £2,573. At the time of writing the total raised to date in the PA 21/22 year stands at £12,842 so we are on track to record one of our best

 totals.

Future Events

Once again the Branch is hoping to hold its annual Poppy Appeal ‘Strawberry and Pimms Tea’, at which we thank all our supporters for their valuable support, on the lawn of the village hall. Provisional date is the 14th August and more details are to follow. 

The next Branch meeting will take place at 6.30pm on Tuesday 2nd August, venue The Fox and Hounds.

Ron Clark

Branch Secretary (830354)

March 2022

Branch Events

HM the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year was launched in style on the 8th February when members of the Branch and EKWS held a joint lunch in the lower bar of the Fox and Hounds, festooned for the occasion with appropriate bunting kindly provided by Helen Lever. Principal guests were the Rector, Rev’d Kate McFarlane, who opened proceedings with a short prayer, and President of Wiltshire County RBL, General Sir Jack Deverell who proposed the loyal toast..

Given the special nature of the occasion the Branch took the opportunity to demonstrate its appreciation to two long serving branch members with the General presenting tankards (Georgian style, polished pewter) to two long serving branch members, Patrick Offord and Martin Snell, in recognition of their contribution to the Branch as Standard Bearer and Treasurer.

Special mention should be made of Murray and Feargal, together with their small but perfectly formed team, for providing a smooth and good humoured service.

Following lunch the County President then went on to visit our Chairman, Mike Waterhouse, to present him with a picture, kindly sourced and framed by Ian Gurney, of a Meteor Jet (the same version in which Mike flew and also trained new pilots in his RAF days) also in recognition of his special contribution to the Branch in a number of roles over the years.

Branch Meeting

At the last Branch meeting it was unanimously agreed that in response to a suggestion by a number of Branch members, from the 4th April and for a trial period of three months, the start time of the monthly Branch meetings should be brought forward from the traditional time of 7.30 to 6.30pm. By doing so it is hoped that not only would it prove to be a more convenient time for the majority of members and in doing so would possibly encourage greater attendance.

Future Social Events

We are also currently discussing possible venues to visit over the coming months. Under consideration, but not limited to, are: the RNLI in Poole, the Bombay Gin Distillery at Laverstock together with the Army Flying Corps and Haynes Motor museums to which non-Branch members will be welcome to join us. Further details in due course.

Ron Clark

Branch Secretary

(830354)