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BENIDOLEIG & DISTRICT SUMMER 2014 NEWSLETTERFrom your Chairman, Patrick Scully.I start this Summer Newsletter with serious concerns about the future of the Benidoleig & District Branch of the RBL.My doubts are shared with other Members of the Committee. We now enter the summer recess, followed by the lastquarter of the RBL year. With the AGM in November it is then time to form a Committee that will steer the Branchthrough 2014/15.I have informed the Committee and notified District North Secretary of my intention to stand down as BranchChairman at the AGM. We already have a vacancy for a Branch Secretary, and the Branch Treasurer will also standdown after 3 years in office. The role of Vice Chairman, was filled at the AGM in November 2013 by Peter Tomlin.However, Peter Tomlin left the committee in February 2014. This position has been temporarily filled by Peter Smith,currently Recruitment Officer. Peter Smith will not be standing as Branch Vice Chairman.To form a Branch Committee, the 4 Executive positions are required;- Chairman, Vice Chairman,Treasurer andSecretary. As Chairman, I have complied with the Hand Book. Section 7-2, states that if a Branch believes it is indanger of closure the Chairman should notify the District North Secretary as early as possible. This has beencommunicated.The decision for me to stand down after 4 years’ service is not an easy one, but at long last I have to listen to soundadvice reference to health issues, although I would still like to stay on as a Committee Member to help as and whennecessary.There is still time for the Membership to come forward or nominate others. Please let us talk or meet up. There may besomeone out there who would like the challenge of taking the Chair and forming a Committee to take us through2014/15.It is ironic that this year we have just celebrated the 70 year Anniversary of the D Day landings, and the Centenary ofthe start of the 1st World War, and in all that time the Royal British Legion has maintained its pledge to providewelfare and support for all of its Armed Service personal, past and present, through the Poppy Appeal.We will continue to work towards another bumper year of fund raising through our Social events, and the PoppyLaunch in Oct/Nov. The total amount of money raised by the Benidoleig & District Branch since 2009/10 for thePoppy Appeal amounts to nearly 37,000 an amazing amount, all of which stays in Spain for the welfare of those inneed. The Welfare Helpline Central Office in Alicante (tel. 913344765 or 676451780) is open Monday to Friday09.00 and 16.00 hrs. All calls will be answered.The last date for nomination to join the Committee in any capacity is 3 weeks before the AGM which this year is onTueday November 18th at 7pm. 2014. WE NEED YOUR HELP!The great man said "We shall never give in." and neither should we. Let us pull together and keep the Benidoleig andDistrict Branch open.Regards to all,PatrickPatrick Scully, Chairman.

SOCIAL REPORT FOR 2014 TO DATE:Once again we had a successful social year marred by a small hic-up on the St Valentine Dinner & Dance which we quicklycorrected, but overall a most enjoyable years entertainment.Our St. George’s Day and the D Day Do Dinner Dances easily outshone all previous ones, with many letters, emails and phonecalls of congratulations, which were very much appreciated by your committee. We still have our Gala Ball to look forward towhich over the last two years has been the best money raiser of the year, our Flag Ship so to speak. Let’s hope our Gala Ball inNovember will be the same. This year we slipped in an evening of fun with a game of Military Whist (a game of whist but with atwist) which we played on 24th June at El Cid. We had 5 tables of 4 players. The result – people asking please can we do itagain? We had such a super night. Well done Sheila, our organiser, for the evening and for raising 102 towards our PoppyAppeal. Watch out for news of the next event.One disappointment I have to report, is that at our functions we do not get the support that we would like from our Members.Roughly, 35% of tickets sold go to Members with the remaining 65% to outsiders. So come along Members, pull up your socks.This is your Branch. Remember all profits go to the Poppy Appeal.Ron Clements.Social SecretaryEVENTS HELD SINCE THE SPRINGThis year we held a celebration for St George's Day on Saturday 19th April in El Cid Restaurant.Charlie did us proud. The meal was well presented and of a good standard, suitably hot and everythingwas on time.Rob Sweeney provided a well-judged performance, quiet during the meal, followed by some quitemoving songs from the Shows and Singers repertoires. Rob played out the evening until aroundmidnight providing music to suit all tastes and most of us joined in to dance.A successful raffle helped boost our Poppy Appeal fund by over 460 . The MC for the evening, ActingVice Chairman Peter Smith, helped the evening to flow.Photos available to view on our web page rblbenidoleigpo@gmail.comOur Branch of the RBL were delighted to be approached byToni and Paul of Mambo’s café and restaurant, Calle Major,Orba, and asked if they could host a Pool Competition toraise funds for our Poppy Appeal.We are extremely grateful to Toni and Paul for theircontribution in running the competition which was a greatsuccess and raised a whopping 255 On Friday 6th June 2014 the Benidoleig Branch of the RBL once again hosted a fund raising event, a‘D Day Do’ to mark the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.The event was well appreciated by the 79 guests, some commenting ‘it was the best D Day Do ever!’Another successful Raffle helped to swell our Poppy Appeal by over 255 .James Hurst provided the music and we were treated to another amazing performance of "PoppsyWoppsy" by Candy WrightThe auction previously scheduled to take place in October has been cancelled due to the amount of work involved. However,some items have already been donated and these have been auctioned at El Cid with the proceeds going to the Poppy Appeal. Theamount raised was 49 . If you have any items you wish to donate we can make arrangements for them to be included in the usualFriday auction, again all proceeds to the Poppy Appeal. Please contact any committee member.

Benidoleig & District BranchRecognition for 25yearsPoppy Appeal volunteer forThe Royal British LegionIt was with great pleasure that Ron Clements, President of Benidoleig & District Branch of TheRoyal British Legion presented a ‘For Merit’ badge and letter of congratulations from theNational Chairman of The Royal British Legion to Aldona Wagrocka Stockbridge for 25 years asan RBL Poppy Appeal volunteer. The presentation was made at a Members meeting on Tuesday8th April 2014 at our headquarters, El Cid, Benidoleig.Aldona is one of our most successful collectors; a very loyal and keen supporter of the Branchalways attending Members meetings whenever she can. She also helps at the Poppy Appealcount each November. The Benidoleig & District Branch is very proud to have Aldona as aMember.Aldona first started volunteering to help with the Poppy Appeal 25 years ago, as her husband was in the Services and Aldona,from Poland, was so impressed with the work the Legion does she would have liked something similar to have been organised inher homeland. Aldona has a wealth of knowledge of the Second World War and is very interesting to talk with. Thecongratulatory letter and the ‘For Merit’ badge were awarded by the RBL Poppy Appeal in Aylesford.If there is any member who has given 5, 10, 15 or 20 years volunteering for the Poppy Appeal you will also be eligible for anaward for your service. Please contact the Poppy Appeal Organiser at the e-mail address or telephone number below.Those who work for the Poppy Appeal as volunteers become eligible for awards from the Appeal on a time basis. The criteria forqualifying for awards are:a. After 5 years: Certificate of Appreciationb. After 10 years : Certificate of Appreciation.c. After 15 years: Ladies Brooch or Gents tie tack. d. After 20 Years: Badge.e. After 25 years: 'For Merit' Badge.f. After 30 years: Long Service Medal/Brooch.g- After 35-80 years: Bars to LSIWBrooch.If you would like to help with the Poppy Appeal this November please contact Diana Faver, Poppy Appeal Organiserrblbenidoleigpo@gmail.com or 965 587 586RECRUITMENTOur Branch was pleased to be given the opportunity, by District, to host a Recruitment Advisers TrainingDay for Branches around our area. The attendees were from Gandia, Calpe, Javea, Benidorm with ourBranch being represented by Patrick Scully and Josie Creasey. It was a very informative and interesting dayand besides knowledge acquired, the day presented the opportunity to meet representatives from ourneighbouring Branches. The presentation was given by Peggy Wyatt, District Recruitment Officer andattended also by Chris Wyatt.