Royal British Legion Rolleston-on-Dove Branch
http://www.britishlegion-northstaffs.org.uk/branches/3158/index.htm

Anybody interested in becoming a member or requiring information should contact Andy James (secretary) on 810347.

Autumn 2007 News

On the 9th June the branch was out and about at the Community Day in Rolleston. Thank you to those of you who came to the caravan and had a look at what we have to offer. We have had a new member join us and we would welcome anybody else who would be interested. The branch is holding a quiz and buffet night in St Mary's old school room on the 22nd of September at a cost of £5 per person. You can get tickets for this event from Andy James on 01283 810347. If anybody would like to help out on the Poppy Appeal in November please get in touch. The next meeting of the Branch is on the 20th August at Rolleston Club, 7pm start.

Andy James
Secretary Royal British Legion
Rolleston Branch

Spring 2007 News

I have been asked to put an article in the Rollestonian by the members of the Royal British Legion As this is my second year as the secretary of the branch. We, as a branch, meet in Rolleston Club on the first Monday of each month at 19-00hrs (7pm).

At this present time we are recruiting new members for the Men and Ladies Sections of the Branch. If anybody is interested in becoming a member you can contact me on 01283 810347. You no longer have to have served in the H.M. Forces to qualify because there is just the one membership now. 

We are also looking for a new Standard Bearer for the Ladies Section as the last one retired due to ill health. So, any young person who feels they would like to give it a go, please get in touch. I am sure the standard bearer for the Men’s Section will be prepared to help with any training. 

Even though it seems a long way off we would appreciate anyone who is willing to help during the Poppy Collection Week. Please get in touch even if you can only spare a few hours to help.

Our next meeting is on 12 March 2007

Andy James (secretary)
Rolleston Branch 
Royal British Legion

Autumn 2006 News

Once again the Royal British Legion has been busy. A card was sent to Her Majesty the Queen on her 80th birthday. It was designed and a verse written by the partner of one of our members – Sheila Maria Robinson. A reply was received from Her Majesty, thanking Branch members.

Some members of our Branch joined with the Burton on Trent Branch and the Staffordshire Association for a very enjoyable visit the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgenorth. Members of the Women’s Section were invited to a rally at the Town Hall by the Burton Branch on the 75th year of their formation. It was most interesting and the Mayor and Mayoress talked to us about Burton and the regalia that they wore. We also attended Tutbury Church for the Mayor’s Civic Service which was very well supported.

The Royal British Legion Women’s Section has been formed 85 years this year and a party including Rolleston and Burton RBL travelled to York on Sunday July 23rd for a Parade Service in the Minster, Tea and Beat the Retreat.

I also attended the unveiling of a life size statue of an A.T.S girl at the Memorial Arboretum. The A.T.S was formed in 1938 and disbanded to form the WRAC in 1949.

The next meeting of the Royal British Legion will be held on Tuesday 29th August at 7.00pm in Rolleston Club. Please note CHANGE OF DAY. The Women’s Section is still on Monday 4th September at 2.00pm in the Club.

Please try to bring along some new members. The ladies need a new standard bearer! How about it?

S. M. Limbert (Mrs )
Membership Secretary.

Spring 2006 News

It is with great pleasure I can tell you that we now have a new secretary. He is Mr Andy James, originally of Rolleston, but now living in Hatton. Also in the next financial year his wife Jenny is to take over as treasurer. I shall remain as Membership Secretary for the time being. I would like to thank all who have helped me as secretary and hope you will continue to help Andy and start to recruit new members. For all members Mr & Mrs James’ telephone number is 810347.

During the last year we have had a kneeler made to remind us of Mr T. Woodward MBE. Two more kneelers have been ordered to keep the royal British Legion and Royal British Legion Women’s Section in the public eye and we hope to see more members coming back and new ones joining. Mr Featherstone remains as Chairman, and Mr Carruthers our Poppy Organiser. Many thanks to Rolleston Club for letting us continue to use the club.

A belated Happy New Year and our next meeting is on 3rd April.

Sybil Limbert
Membership Secretary

Winter 2005 News

By the time you read this the Rolleston Branch of the Royal British Legion will have held their Annual General Meeting. We have had a fairly quiet year and although we have lost one member we had two new ones and a transfer from Halesowen.

At the AGM the Secretary/Treasurer will ask for new officers for one or both of these positions and hand in her resignation for September 2006. Please can we have some new members who will be willing to take over one or both of these positions. She is 85 years old and by next year will be 86 and not in very good health.

On October 13th,Veterans (persons who were born before 1926) and served in the forces were invited to the National Arboretum, Alrewas, for a photo shoot by the National Lottery. I represented Rolleston on Dove and the A.T.S. Some 3000 photos were taken and when we get the photos I will make sure they are available. A Roll of Honour of all veterans is being printed. 

A bit early, but a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Sybil Limbert
Secretary, Rolleston RBL

Autumn 2005 News

In this year of VE and VJ end of war celebrations, members of Rolleston RBL and Women’s Section decided to make a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. It was a very wet day, but we hade a good guide who took us into the chapel and explained all the fittings, altar seats, lecterns, font and sculpture. Some of our members braved the rain and went round the new Women’s Section Memorial Garden which had been opened and dedicated by HRH the Princess Royal on June 6th 2005.

Everyone then went into the restaurant for refreshments. While in there one of our members Mr Alan Elsby of Beacon Road was presented with his Veteran’s Badge by Mr Graham Nolan, one of the curators of the Arboretum. Despite the rain members and friends enjoyed themselves.

Now that the remembrance period is on the horizon, please come and help us as Poppy Collectors. If you can help in any way contact Mr G. Featherstone on 814503 or Mrs Limbert on 534921 as soon as possible.

The next Royal British Legion and Women’s Section meetings will be held on September 5th – Women’s Section 2.00pm and Royal British Legion at 7.00pm in Rolleston Club.

S.M.Limbert
Secretary R.B.L.

Spring 2005 News

We started the New Year with the unfortunate loss of our oldest member. Mr J.T. “Tom” Woodward MBE passed away on January 8th 2005 aged 96.

Tom, born in Ripley, joined the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1926, serving in Gibraltar, Palestine, Northern Ireland, India and the Far East. He was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major in 1942 and in 1948 came to Burton to re-form the 5/6 North Staffordshire Territorial Army. In 1952 he was awarded the MBE for his services. After 26 years in the army he joined the War Department Constabulary, working at various depots including Branston. On retirement, in 1971, he came to live in Brookside for many years. He was a staunch member of the British Legion until his death.

If there are any old soldiers out there, you can now receive a Veteran’s Badge for service in the Forces, if you were born before 1926. Contact the Secretary Mrs S. Limbert (Tel: 534921) who will fill in your details, no charge.

We are now preparing for the 60th Anniversary of VE Day. The R.B.L. will be leading the Parade and full details will be issued in due course.

We are once again holding our meetings at Rolleston Club on the first Monday of most months. The next meeting is on March 7th and we hope to see some new faces. The Women’s Section meets on the same date, but at 2pm, again new faces would be welcome.

Thanks to all who helped with the Poppy Appeal last year. The total collected to date is £3630.98 which is an increase on last year. I hope that you will all help again next year and bring some new collectors with you.

S.M.Limbert.

Summer 2004 News

A Local Anniversary and a Special Lady

2004 is the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Rolleston on Dove Royal British Legion Women’s Section. At that first meeting there were quite a few ladies, and one of them was Mrs J. Faint of Knowles Hill, Rolleston on Dove. She is the only founder member left and celebrates her 90th Birthday on June 28th.

She has held several official positions in the Legion, the first being in November 1960 as a Committee Member. She was voted as Treasurer in 1961 – a position she held until 1989.

In 1964 she was also voted on to the Service Committee and relinquished her post when she became Secretary to the Branch in 1989, and she still holds that position today.

She received a Merit Award from the North Staffs County on 2nd March 1994.

The Branch awarded her a Certificate and Brooch for her work as Poppy Collector and Treasurer.

At the moment, with her daughter, Elizabeth Whitlock, she keeps the Branch alive with a small weekly Bingo at the Rolleston club.

Her daughter Janet North is also a member of the Branch – she joined in 1959 and helps with transport to the meetings at her own expense. She also helps at the Bingo and is a Poppy Seller.

When the Branch first began, the meetings were held in the Girls’ School at the rear of the Spread Eagle. A record player set fire and the Branch moved to Ivy House on Chapel Lane the home of the President, Mrs Maud Welch. We were there 2 – 3 years and then moved back to the School room which had been taken over by the Royal British Legion. We had to move out when the Hotel changed hands from Bass’s and in the meantime the floor had collapsed at one end.

The meetings are now held at the Rolleston Club where Mrs Faint still remains supreme and all the members thank her.

There are only 9 members in the Branch at the moment, but we are hoping when you read this that more will join to keep the Branch alive.

Sybil Limbert, Secretary

Spring 2004 News

The next meetings of the Royal British Legion will be the Women’s Section 2.00pm, Men’s Section 7.00pm on Monday 19th April 2004.

The Chairman wishes to thank the Poppy Organiser, Mr A. Carruthers, Mr G. Featherstone, Mr Denis Wright and all helpers for the poppy distribution and collection 2003. The current total is £3328.94 with some more to come in.

Is there anyone in Rolleston who would be willing to help, if only for an hour; putting labels on, filling Poppy boxes and helping to deliver them to shops, pubs etc.? Please contact our Chairman Mr G. Featherstone. It is a little early, but we start in June getting them together.

There will be a Church Parade on 6th June to celebrate D-Day, please support this occasion.

Sybil Limbert, Secretary. 

Autumn 2003 News

Advance notice
The Remembrance Parade and Service will take place on Sunday 9th November at 10.00am in Rolleston and 11.30am in Anslow. The Parade for Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies and other uniformed organisations will start from the Scout HQ at 9.30am, unless notified differently.

The Two Minute Silence will be held at the Lych Gate on 11th November, meet at 10.45am.

Reminder - subscriptions for both RBL and Women’s Section are due on 30th September.

S. M. Limbert (Hon Secretary)

Summer 2003 News

Meetings to be held in Rolleston Club at 7.00pm on 2nd June, 4th August and 6th October (to arrange poppy distribution & Remembrance Day service)

LADIES SECTION, Rolleston Club 2.00pm
12th May, 2nd June, 4th August, 1st September, 6th October and 3rd November (AGM)

Please try to attend relevant meetings so that we can arrange some events.

S. Limbert - Secretary RBL & Chairperson Women’s Section.

Spring 2003 News

The Royal British Legion meetings recommenced on February 3rd 2003, from now on they will be held every two months on the first Monday in the month except July when there will be no meeting.

The Women’s section hold Bingo every Tuesday evening at the Club and all are welcome. It is a Prize Bingo, not money and it is a Button Bingo.

We are still looking for new members, men and ladies and the next meetings will be on April 7th – Ladies 2pm, Men 7pm in Rolleston Club. Thank you for your interest.

People to contact are Mr George Featherstone, Chairman RBL (tel.814503) and Mrs Sybil Limbert Secretary RBL & Chairperson Women’s Section (tel. 534921).

Thank you - 

·  To you all for your presence at the Remembrance Service at St Mary’s on Sunday 10th November. It was so rewarding to see all the different groups with their Standards and so many other people as well.
·  To the Rector and the Methodist Minister who gave such an enlightening service.
·  To the 40 people who attended the Two Minutes Silence at the Lychgate on Monday 11th November.

From 2nd December the meeting place for the Royal British Legion and ladies will be Rolleston Club. Meetings will be held on the first Monday of the month, Women’s Section at 2.00pm and Royal British Legion at 7.00pm. Men and ladies, both young and old, are invited to join.

If you would like any more information on any aspect of the Royal British Legion please contact Mr George Featherstone (tel 814503) or Mrs Sybil Limbert (Women’s Section, tel 534921) We look forward to building up the Branch now that we have a settled meeting place and we wish to thank Mr John Edwards and Mr Terry Whitlock for helping to bring this about.

Mrs Sybil M Limbert
President, Rolleston Branch
Chairman, Women’s Section

All members of the Branch wish to say thank you to everyone in Rolleston who turned out on Sunday 10th June to support the No1 Group, Burton and District Annual Parade.

It was wonderful as we paraded by to have the support of the villagers.

It was a wonderfully memorable day for all of us and, I hope, for Rolleston Church and village too.

Joan M. Taylor (Hon Sec.) 

SUNDAY 10th JUNE 2001 at 2.30pm 

The Parade, led by the Band of the West Midlands Regiments will assemble at Rolleston Scout Headquarters and leave at approximately 2.30pm, marching via Station Road, School Lane, Beacon Road, Beacon Drive, Burnside and Church Road to St Mary's Church, where a service will take place, led by Rev. Ian Whitehead - all are welcome.

After the service there will be a Salute and March Past to the Rolleston Commemorative Club for dismissal.

Please join us on this important occasion to celebrate 80 years of continuous support to the Ex-Service Community and their dependants by THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION "A CARING FORCE FOR THE FUTURE"

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