ROYAL BRITISH LEGION NEWS - February 2013

War Memorial

Villagers in the Cookhams may be interested to know that plans are being made to carry out major repair work to the War Memorial on the Cricket Common in Cookham Dean The overall responsibility is with the Parish Council who are preparing the necessary documentation, with help from local specialists, for submission to the War Memorial Trust who can make awards of up to £30,000. Part 1 of the Application has been submitted. Local organisations, including the Legion, may be asked to contribute up to 25% of the cost in due course.

Poppy Appeal

As is well known, apart from harassing the Government to maintain and improve the military covenant, our main occupation, to which we devote all our energy, is raising money for the Poppy Appeal, something we have been doing here in the Cookhams since 1929. These days much of the money raised goes out to support those injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. For three years running we have collected over £20,000 and during Remembrance fortnight 220 collecting tins and poppy boxes are distributed to house-to house collectors, schools, shops, supermarkets and pubs.

Future of the Branch

But your local Branch has a problem. The average age of the current committee member is 78 and some of us are running out of steam. Unless we receive an urgent injection of one or two volunteers , initially to attend our bi-monthly meetings and later to take over roles as they become available, then the Branch is unlikely to be able to continue for much longer and our annual £20,000 contribution to the Poppy Appeal will cease. CAN YOU HELP? Previous military service is not a requirement. Brian Shephard (Chairman) would like to hear from you, lady or gentleman. Telephone:01628 472035.

Meetings

Alternatively why not come along to one of our Committee meetings (Elizabeth House, 7.30pm for 8pm), meet us and see how we organise our money raising activities: Fetes, Military Speaker Evenings etc. Dates for 2013 are: 11 th April, 13 th June, 12 th September, 14 th November and 12 th December 2013. Contacts