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Greater Manchester County Newsle er

March Edi on 2011

CADETS HONOURED FOR RECORD BREAKING POPPY APPEAL

CARING cadets from Manchester raised nearly £123,447.98 for the Poppy Appeal, which is a 10 per cent increase from the last year. The young sea, army and air cadets in Greater Manches-ter raise more than any other cadet force in the country gaining high praise from the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Colonel Warren J Smith. At a pres gious awards ceremony at Smokies Hotel, Old-ham, on February 17, Colonel Smith said: “Your efforts are a magnificent achievement considering the difficult financial climate that we in. This is the 90th anniversary of the Royal Bri sh Legion and it is amazing to see how the organisa on has grown. The Poppy Appeal is, perhaps, one of the most important and significant parts of Bri sh life." Two Army Cadets from Belle Vue, David Carney and Holly Ginder, raised an amazing £8,500 – 70 per cent of their unit’s total figure. Sea Cadet sisters Chloe and Jenny Lane, from Oldham, raised nearly £1,900 between them while Oldham Air Training Corps Cadet Ashley Millward raised £3,161.94 and ATC Sergeant Jonathon Barker, from Failsworth, raised £2,925.49. All said they received a tremendous reac on and support from the public as they sold

poppies outside supermarkets and in the town cen-tres. Leading Cadet Jenny Lane said: “We spent about three weeks collec ng on Saturdays, Sundays and a couple of days during the week. A lot of people said how nice it was to see us selling poppies and we had a massive response from people wan ng to buy the pin badges. Many people donated several

mes.” There was even a bit of celebrity help for Belle Vue detachment, the overall winning unit and most improved army cadet force having raised £12,415.50 – Peter Andre con-tributed to the cause while he visited Eastlands

13th November 2011 Remembrance Sunday 27th November 2011 Proposed ‘Night to Remember’ and Carol Service at the Monastery, Gorton, Manchester For further details please contact County Office: Office no. 0161-835-2611 Op on 1 Membership Op on 2 Fundraising Op on 3 Welfare & Other Ma ers To celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Royal Bri sh Legion the Poppy Appeal will run from the 1st October 2010 - 31st De-cember 2011 a 15 month year in which the Legion would like to try and raise £90 million for the Poppy Appeal, details of varies events around the country will be circulated. The County has produced a new Greater Manchester County

e with the 90th Anniversary dates on the bo om, which is on sale from the County Office priced at

£7.00 .greatermanchester-bri shlegion.org.uk all proceeds will go to the Poppy Appeal

90TH ANNIVERSARY

The following are events planned to celebrate the Royal Bri sh Legion 90th

Anniversary in Greater Manchester County.

17th February 2011 Lord Lieutenants Cadet Poppy Appeal Awards Presenta on Evening

10th March 2011 Black Tie dinner in Tameside College Ashton-under-Lyne Cost £20 per person

10th /11th/ & 12th June 2011 Gala Weekend –Imperial War Museum (North)

17th July 2011 Annual County Service—Manchester Cathedral 16th September 2011 Music Concert— Queens Division Band Manchester Cathedral 30th October 2011 Riders Branch Service and Greater Manchester County Poppy Appeal Launch followed by Halloween Party at Booth-stown RBL Club. 30th October/12th November 2011 Poppy Appeal

Cadet Carney, from Belle Vue, took the trophy for best cadet having raised the most. He said: “I worked really hard and would spend six hours a day selling poppies. Every-

one was really nice and wished me all the best.” Cadet Millward and Sergeant Barker said selling wreathes helped them raise such large totals. Cadet Millward said: “I worked hard in the local area and wreathes were a big seller.” While Sergeant Barker added: “I would spend five hours at a me col-lec ng and also took me off college to sell pop-pies.”

Greater Manchester County Manager for The Royal Bri sh Legion Jeff Harrison said: "We have 4,000 young cadets around the Greater Manchester Area and I am extremely proud of their efforts to raise money for the Poppy Appeal. “We have so many men and women currently serving abroad in Afghanistan and elsewhere. We should never lose sight of their dedica on they give to defend the freedoms that we enjoy. The money raised by our young cadets helps them in their me of need, the efforts of the cadets are very much appreciated.” In addi on to the money raised by the cadets, the Poppy Appeal has benefited from a further £8,072.31 raised by sixth form colleges and £3,445.05 from the Officer Training Corps adding up to a total of £134,965.34 from the young men and women of Greater Manchester. Na onally the Poppy Appeal has already raised £32.5million.

Overall Winning Unit – Belle Vue ACF Best New Unit – Saddleworth Detached Flight

Unit winners

Sea Cadet Corps 1st TS Onslow (Oldham) £8.321.12

2nd TS Tremadoc (Middleton) £4,400.28 3rd TS Scorpion (Bury) £2,497.81

Individual winners

1st Able Cadet Chloe Lane (TS Onslow) £949.48 2nd Leading Cadet Jenny Lane (TS Onslow) £896

3rd Junior Cadet Marcus Renshaw (TS Scorpion) £441.25 Most improved – TS Scorpion (Bury)

Army Cadet Force 1st Belle Vue £12,415.50

2nd Cheadle Hulme £6.010.66 3rd Bury £5,351.46

Individual winners

1st Cadet David Carney, Belle Vue, £4672.50 2nd Cadet Holly Ginder, Belle Vue, £3,817.25 3rd Cadet Jack Cromwell, Oldham, £1,560.47

Most Improved – Belle Vue ACF

Air Training Corps 1st 2200 Oldham Squadron £10,340.94 2nd 1263 Rochdale Squadron £8,086.16

3rd 1940 Levenshulme Squadron £6,896.18

Individual winners 1st Cadet Ashley Millward, Oldham, £3,161.94

2nd Sergeant Jonathon Barker, Failsworth, £2,925.49 3rd Flight Sergeant Thomas Carter, Rochdale, £1,328.79

Most improved – Oldham Squadron

BRANCH RETURNS In compliance with the Royal Charter, all Branches should have held their Annual General Mee ng within two months of the close of the Le-gion financial year. Branch accounts should have been forwarded to Head Office with a copy to County Office by no later than 31st December 2010. Branch informa on form MS1 should have been completed and signed by Branch Officials and Commi ee and returned to County Office by no later than 31st December 2010. Branch Membership fees were collected by Head Office on 1st March 2011. BRANCH RETURNS Outstanding Branch Accounts Broughton, Heywood, Pendlebury, Pendleton, Prestwich, Radcliffe, Stre ord, Swinton.

Interes ng Stories If any member would like to have an interes ng story or poem published please send it to the County Secretary for the next newsle er, as all sto-ries will be included. Photos can also be included if you so wish, it is up to you to make the newsle er more interes ng so please send in your stories for the next newsle er. Any forthcoming events, please let us know so we can circulate the details to all members in the County Standard Bearers Training Dates are being formulated to run another Standard Bearers Course for both Cadets and Branch Standard Bearers. The loca ons are in Bury on a Tuesday night and Ashton on a Thurs-day night If your Branch would like to affiliate to a Cadet Unit then Contact the County Youth Officer below Telephone David Brown County Youth Officer

TRAINING DATES

Branch Treasurers—April/May Branch Management—April/May Is there any courses that as members you feel you need, please contact the County Training Officer as courses can be delivered locally: Miss Karen Brooks on 07935312349

Any Ex Royal Ulster Constabulary GC inter-ested in forming an Asso-ciation or indeed anyone who feels would like to join the Association please contact D a v i d B r o w n o n 07745514939 or email medalchart@live.co.uk

Events and Adver sements Swinton RBL Tuesday Evening—Women’s Sec on Bingo Night commencing 9.00pm. City of Salford RBL Every Saturday and Sunday night—live ar sts’ Bingo plus Play your Cards Right Polly’s Prize Bingo every Thursday a ernoon 2.00pm—All welcome City of Salford RBL Club have now got a web site were the func on room can be hired directly by filling the online form h p://www.salford-rbl.org.uk/ Secure parking—£5.00 is now available at the City of Salford Club on Manchester United match days. For further informa on please contact Mr Alan Mo ershead on 0161-872-3390.

WEB SITE We now have a Greater Manchester County Web Page—

Mr David Brown is our Web Master. If any Branch has informa on, photographs or anything of interest please forward to

County Office. The website address is h p://www.bri shlegion.org.uk/coun es/greater-manchester

or the other website is h p://www.greatermanchester-bri shlegion.org.uk/

ROYAL MARINES Former Royal Marines are invited to join the Manchester & Salford Branch of the Royal Marines Associa on. They hold their mee ng on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 19.30 hrs at the TA Centre, 215 Upper Chorlton Road, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 0BH, telephone number 0161-862-9220. This Barracks is also home to The Manchester Detachment of the Royal Marines Reserve Merseyside, Heavy Weapons. The nearest Metro sta on is Trafford Bar on the Altrincham Line. For further informa on please contact: Mr Stan Hocking 01617479741.

Outstanding MS1 Broughton, Farnworth/Kearsley, Heywood, Lees & District, New Moston, Pendlebury, Prestwich, Radcliffe, Stre ord. Please be aware even If your Branch Officials have not changed since the previous year the MS1 form must be completed and signed by all Branch Officials and Commi ee acknowledging the responsibili es of Trustees as contained in the Royal Charter. As these documents are now two months overdue it would be appreci-ated if you could treat the above as a ma er of urgency and forward to County Office immediately. To those Branches who have complied we extend our thanks for your co-opera on. CARD RETURNS Membership cards not renewed should have been returned together with form MS6 to: The Royal Bri sh Legion, CDI, 69 Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9DF by no later than 1st February 2011 by Recorded Delivery. Cards re-turned a er this date will be charged to the Branch. Please note: Card returns cannot be ac vated at County Office.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION Mr Dick Southern is the County Principle Recruitment Officer (CPRO) who desperately needs people who are willing to assist with recruit-ment. We have an impressive Royal Bri sh Legion Marquee which can be used for events in your local area. Please contact County Office if your Branch has Members who would like to a end a RA Course or would like to use the Marquee. Four new members were recruited at Gorton Monastery open day and with two new County Recrui ng Officers, this can only be added to.

GIFT AID We urge all Branches to encourage Members to gi aid – all it takes is a ‘ ck’ in a box on the applica on form for new Members or on the card carrier for exis ng Members if they have not already gi ed aided their subscrip on. Gi Aid on Membership subscrip ons can increase the General Fund by £2.80 per Member, every year, at no cost to anyone but the Inland Revenue who treat the Gi Aid of subscrip ons the same as they do for dona ons.

Club News If your Club is experiencing problems and you need advice and guidance we can arrange for Mr Geoff Morrey, the Club Business Advisor (North), to meet with the Club Officials and Commi ee. Arrangements to be made through County Office. Data Protec on Please be aware that the Club Management has a duty to comply with the Date Protec on Act 1998. This requires that personal informa on they hold is used only for the proper administra on of the Club. There are instances where details may be made available in accordance with the registered Club rules, and Club applicants should be aware of the Club rules before they join so that they know where their details may be divulged and for what purpose.

NORTH WEST REGIONAL STANDARD

BEARER COMPETITION Mr David Brown – Greater Manchester County and City of Salford Branch Standard Bearer won the N.W. Regional Compe on on Saturday 26th February 2011 at Longridge Civic Centre, Preston. John Thornhill (Bury 1036 ATC) Greater Manchester County Youth Standard Bearer also won the N.W. Regional Compe on. Our Congratula ons to both David and John and Good Luck in the Na-

onal Compe on.

RADCLIFFE BRANCH PRESENT CERTIFICATE

Mr John Graham receives a cer-

ficate of apprecia on a er 58 years service to the Royal Bri sh Legion held at the Branch office in Radcliffe on the 14/02/11.

EVENTS AROUND BURY SATURDAY 11TH June 90th Anniversary Coffee morning at the Fusiliers Museum 10-4pm. East Lancashire Railway Events 2011: May (Bank holiday) 28/29/30 1940S WEEKEND SUNDAY 29th parade through Ramsbo om with cadets from around the region. June 11/12 Edwardian Weekend (suffrage e anniversary) period dress and transport.

90th Anniversary Material

The 90th Anniversary promo onal items and the GPPW party packs are now available… For the poppy party packs and it's contents www.poppyshop.org.uk OR the 90th promo onal items to order from

www.bri shlegion.org.uk/about-us/publica ons

Please use this informa on to respond, direc ng them to our online resources. Like so :-

"The Poppy Party Pack contains the following items:

1 x Table Cloth 1 x T-Shirt 6 x Glasses

6 x Invita on Cards 1 x Packet of Napkins

1 x Frisbee 6 x Balloons 1 x Booklet

1 x Money Box

Retail price £9.00 + P&P from the Poppy Shop www.poppyshop.org.uk

Or 2 . Addi onal items such as bun ng, handheld flags and balloons can be obtained (in limited quan es) from the Poppy Appeal in Aylesford, email request in to order these promo onal items using the publica-

ons catalogue link on the RBL website www.bri shlegion.org.uk/about-us/publica on

BOOTHSTOWN CHRISTMAS LUNCH

On December 9th the Boothstown branch club hosted a Christmas lunch for the serving and ex-serving members of the community, plus the residents of Broughton House that were able to make the journey to the club. The lunch was preceded by a piper who played the popular tunes and then joined the short remembrance service with our

Standard Bearer Mr Michael Cassidy, Bugler Mr Ken Smith and myself giving the Exhorta on. There were approximately eighty people at the lunch which was completely free, all food and wine was provided by dona on, in fact the only expense for the day was a large sack of carrots as the store from which they were bought would give neither a dona on nor a discount!

A er the meal which was served to the guests by members of the Boothstown community centre, we were treated to a selec on of carols sung by members of the local primary school choir from St. Andrews which is located almost directly opposite the club. A er the carols, the children filed off the dance floor and were given a selec on box each before mingling with the assembled company and wishing each and every one a happy Christmas. As men oned previously all the food except the carrots were donated, and below is a list of those who very kindly helped towards the re-sounding success of the day by providing everything needed for a tradi onal Christmas lunch, an event which Boothstown hopes to repeat next year. Our very sincere thanks to: Costco, Gabbo s Farm, Lars Zollinger (Roe Green Butcher), Red Lion Foods, Greenhalgh’s Bakery, Holt’s Brewery, and Branch member—Jimmy Cro who supplied the second of two turkeys.

Dick Southern - Branch Secretary

SQUADRON AIR TRAINING CORPS 70TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION The 430 (Droylsden) Squadron ATC will be celebra ng its 70th birthday

in 2011. To recognise this achievement we will be holding a 4 course dinner and dance on Saturday 11th June at the Masonic Hall in

Audenshaw M34 5GB. Please reserve your ckets by calling in at the squadron or call us on either Monday or Friday evenings 1915-2130 or telephone 0161-371-0664. Tickets are £25 and musical entertainment provided by the four piece band “Jog The Memory”.

PLANNING A VISIT TO THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM? If your Branch or any associated Services Organisa on is planning a

visit to the Na onal Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire you would receive a very warm welcome by the Members and Steward at the nearby Alrewas Royal Bri sh Legion Club.

The Alrewas RBL Clubhouse is situated within one mile of the Arbore-tum on the A38 with easy access and parking for both cars and coaches. The Clubhouse has a comfortable furnished lounge, a fully stocked bar with compe ve priced drinks; the Club can also offer a full catering ser-vice from light snacks to a three course lunch, all freshly prepared in their kitchen.

The Club Steward, Jayne Deverall will be happy to discuss any individu-al requirements your party may have, please do not hesitate to contact her on 01283-791686 or by email at arblclub.gmail.com.

SPECTACULAR MILITARY BAND EXTRAVAGANZA

As an individual or collec ve group, who have on one occasion or an-other, enjoyed the services of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusi-liers from Bury, it is my pleasure to advise you of a Fund Raising event which will take the form of a Military Band Concert.

This will take place on Saturday 29th October 2011 in the Castle Ar-moury TA Centre at Bury and commence at 7.30pm. The cost of the

ckets will be £10.00. You will be entertained on this auspicious occa-sion by the Regular Army Heavy Cavalry and Cambria Band who are

based at Ca erick in North Yorkshire and our very own Volunteer Band of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Lancashire), together with our fa-mous Corps of Drums.

Colonel Brian Gorski MBE, Chairman of the Board of Directors, is most anxious that this event is well supported to maximise funding for our Museum, hence this early no ce. I would be most grateful if you would make an early entry in your 2011 diary of this special event.

For the third year running the Inter Services Twenty 20 Cricket

will be showcased at Lords Cricket Ground, on Tuesday 28th June 2011.

Gates open at 0900hrs and the first of three matches starts at 1000hrs.

If you have never been to Lords, the home of English Cricket, then this is a golden opportunity to visit the world famous arena, have a great day out and show your support for our Armed Forces of today. Your support will also enable us to put The Royal Bri sh Legion and the Membership back on the map and show Serving and Ex-service men and women, and the general public that we are an organisa on they would be proud to join.

It would be wonderful if each County could organise a Coach trip for it's members to a end this pres gious event. Please inform your respec-

ve RPMO of your plans so that we can meet you at the entrance to the ground and point you in the right direc on. This is a great day out for all the family, don’t miss it!

Tickets are available from today, either online (www.lords.org/ist20)

or by telephone (020 7432 1000) and cost of £14 for adults, £7 for over 65's and £5 for U16s.

For coach par es of 50 or over, a further discount of 10% for those

over 65 (must be an RBL member) will be granted, reducing the cost of their cket to £6.30. However, in order to obtain this discount the groups ckets must be purchased centrally through your respec ve RPMO.