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THE ROYALBRITISH LEGIONIN CUMBRIA 2012/13

Suggested Donation if sold –£1 in aid of the Poppy AppealRegistered Charity No. 219279

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CONTENTS

DISCLAIMERThis publication has been produced by the Cumberland and WestmorlandCounty Office of the Royal British Legion. Whilst every effort has been madeto ensure its accuracy we cannot be responsible for the consequences oferrors or changes of dates or contact details.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGIONROYAL BRITISH LEGION

COVER PICTUREPoppy Princess 2011, Jodie Vasquez whose family received

assistance from the Legion, with Poppy Man in Carlisle.

PASS IT ONWHEN YOU HAVE READ THIS MAGAZINE,

PLEASE PASS IT ON TO A FRIEND OR COLLEAGUE.

From The County Chairman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Poppy Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Plenty To Tweet About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Membership Of The Royal British Legion . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

John Edwards – A Standard Above The Rest . . . . . . . . 11

Come And Meet The Legion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

The Great Cumbrian Poppy Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 & 15

The Vital Call For Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Do You Know Anyone Who Needs AssistanceFrom The Royal British Legion…? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Cumbria Poppy Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

The Lancashire And Cumbria Gunners . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

A View From Afghanistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 & 25

The Women’s Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

54 ROYAL BRITISH LEGIONROYAL BRITISH LEGION

FROM THE COUNTY CHAIRMANWelcome, Members and Friends, Have you ever wondered“What’s the Legion all about”?

When I joined the Legion many years ago, I can honestlysay that I knew little about what the Legion did for somany serving and ex-service personnel and their families. Iwas reluctant to join because I had the impression thatthe Royal British Legion was for old men, with cloth capsin clubs drinking beer. How wrong I was then and I canassure readers that that image does not apply today.

The Royal British Legion in Cumbria and beyond is onegreat family looking out for everyone and making surethat help is given to everyone in need of assistance.Membership of the Legion means comradeship andfriends for life – something missing in many parts of

today’s community. Our common bond is our time in the Forces or our links andinterest in the Services. There are three groups within the Legion Family –Supporters, Volunteers and the Membership and paid Staff.

Most readers of this magazine will be supporters; once a year, or more often, asupporter gives a donation to the Legion, either during the Poppy Appeal or as aresult of organising a fund-raising event. Support also results from bequests in Willsand collections at funerals. All of this support is vital for the Legion’s work.

Volunteers are just as vital. These are the many thousands of people who roll theirsleeves up to assist with the Poppy Appeal, who become voluntary case-workers andgive their time freely to assist the Legion’s work.

Then there are the members who may also be Supporters and Volunteers and at thesame time, but have the benefit of the camaraderie that is The Legion.

In Cumbria we are blessed with the tremendous support received from the RidersBranch; without them, fund raising events and publicity would much more difficult;my thanks to them.

Holding this all together are the small band of Staff at our office in Kendal – theyprocess thousands of welfare cases every year, coordinate the Poppy Appeal,arrange events and undertake a mountain of unseen administrative work – we owea great deal to this brilliant team and I thank them profusely for their dedicationand loyalty in both good times and when things are difficult. I take this opportunityto thank everyone that is already involved for their hard work and loyalty to theRoyal British Legion and made it one of Cumbria’s success stories. If you aren’t asupporter, volunteer or member, then I hope that this Magazine will encourage youto come and join us in some capacity.

Phyll BoultonCounty Chairman

F o r S e r v i c e p e o p l e p a s t a n dp r e s e n t a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s

P PPY SUPPORT

COUNTY CONTACT POINTSwww.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/cumbria

COUNTY OFFICE3rd Floor, Station House, Station Road, Kendal LA9 6RY

County SecretaryTel/Fax: 01539 737381

Email: [email protected]

County Manager, County Welfare Officeand County Fundraiser

Tel: 01539 734411 Fax: 0203 20723093rd Floor, Station House, Station Road, Kendal LA9 6RY

County TreasurerFor Donations to the Cumbria Benevolent Fund

Mr B E Wood-Jacks3 Green Square, Town End, Kirkby Lonsdale LA6 2BU

Tel: 01524 274357

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PLENTY TO TWEET ABOUTCalling all tweeters, taggers, add(ers),

pokers, like(ers) and bloggers?(Keep up to date with the Cumbria Poppy Appeal)

The latest information about the Cumbria Poppy Appeal and thewider work of the Royal British Legion is on Facebook and Twitter.This is great opportunity to get up to date news on a daily basis of

what is happening across the organisation in our county.Why not send us your news of Poppy Appeal fund raising events

and activities so we can post it on our pages?So far, we have an audience of over 500 and this is growing all

the time so come and join our social networks today andrecommend us to all your own friends too!

www.facebook.com/cumbriapoppyappealwww.twitter.com/cumbriapoppy

Our Main website iswww.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/cumbria

LOCATION OF BRANCHESWe have Branches in the following towns and Cities:

Appleby, Arnside, Backbarrow, Barrow, Brampton, Bransty (Whitehaven),Carlisle, Cockermouth, Dalton in Furness, Egremont, Gosforth,

Grange over Sands, Great Broughton, Harrington, Hawkshead, Kells,Kendal, Keswick, Kirkby in Furness, Kirkby Lonsdale, Langdale, Milnethorpe,

Millom, Penrith, Seaton, Sedbergh, Stavely, Tebay, Ullock, Wath Brow,Ulverston, Wigton, Windermere, Workington.

DETAILS OF MEETING TIMES AND BRANCH CONTACTS ARE AVAILABLEFROM THE COUNTY SECRETARY

Tel: 01539 737831 or Email: [email protected]

BRANCH IN BOLD AND UNDERLINED HAVE LEGION CLUBS

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MEMBERSHIP OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

The Royal British Legion invites all supporters and volunteers of the Legionto join as members. Youngsters can join as Youth members

or can sign up as full members at the age of 17.

Everyone is welcome to join the Legion regardless ofwhether or not they have a Service background. As a

member you will receive a free subscription to TheLegion Magazine which is published six timesannually and is loaded with information about theLegion’s work throughout the country and abroad.Members can take part in social and sportingactivities, become involved in ceremonial events,

for example indirectly through your entitlement totickets for the Festival of Remembrance, or directly by

becoming a Standard Bearer.

As a Member you have a voice in the organisation and you can influencethe future of your local Branch. With our large membership, the Legionmaintains a high profile in the public eye; this can influence Governmentpolicies and decisions. As the nation’s custodian of Remembrance yourmembership of the Royal British Legion ensures the continuing memory ofthe sacrifice made by our Service personnel.

HOW TO JOINThere are Branches throughout Cumbria and the UK. A list of the Locationof Branches is elsewhere in this magazine. To join, either contact a knownmember of the Legion or contact the County Secretary on Tel: 01539737831 Email: [email protected] can also join on-line at: www.britishlegion.org.uk/membership/join-us

SUBSCRIPTIONSLegion Subscriptions are currently subject to decisions at the 2012 NationalConference, but are not expected to exceed £18 per annum plus a smallaffiliation fee of £1-00. All new membership subscription payments shouldbe made by Direct Debit.

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JOHN EDWARDS – A STANDARD ABOVE THE RESTFOR a quarter of a century, Egremont’s JohnEdwards has been the town’s standard bearer onRemembrance Sunday. “Over the 25 years I can onlyremember three Remembrance parades inEgremont which have been cancelled due to theweather. I always remember the first time I carriedthe standard; I was very nervous. However, Ibelieved it was a great honour to carry it for allthose who gave their lives.’’

John, joined the RAF in 1967 as a painter andfinisher serving 2 tours in the Middle East. He wasinvolved in painting the Jet Provost which PrinceCharles used to complete his flying training at theRAF College Cranwell. John received the Queen’sSilver Jubilee Medal in 1977. After leaving the RAFin 1979, he worked at BNFL for 29 years. He joinedthe Royal British Legion in 1979 and became

standard bearer in 1986. “In 2002 I was very honoured to carry the standard at theFestival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall,’’ John said. “We practised for fourhours, did a matinee performance at 2pm and the evening performance in thepresence of Her Majesty.

“It was a very moving experience, but after we had finished at 11pm, I drove hometo Egremont so I could be standard bearer at the town’s remembrance parade. I canassure you that was as moving as the previous evening and I was just as proud.’’John, along with members of the British Legion, has also travelled to TheNetherlands for parades at Arnhem to remember Operation Market Garden. “Thereall the young children lay flowers on the graves,’’ he explained. “There are few dryeyes around when they are doing that.’’

This year, the group attended a service and parade at Armsfoort. “We were the firstBritish Legion Standard to be on parade,’’ John explained. “We were madeextremely welcome and looked after and will be returning next year. “During my 25years I have met many standard bearers. We always meet with a handshake and Ikeep in touch with them,’’ he said. John is also invited to attend funerals in his roleas standard bearer.

“I remember marching behind a RAF band a few years ago at the WhitehavenMaritime Festival. The emotion you get when everyone’s clapping, you feel 20 feettall and have a lump in your throat,’’ he said. Having thoroughly enjoyed his quarterof a century as Egremont’s standard bearer, John joked: “It’s the next 25 years thatwill be a challenge!’’

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COME AND MEET THE LEGIONWe plan to have a presence at various events in

Cumbria during the year, giving you the opportunityto meet members, have a chat, enquire aboutMembership or Welfare matters or perhaps

donate towards the Poppy Appeal.

At the time of going to Press, we hope to be at:

2nd, 3rd, 4th June The Cumbria SteamGathering –Rickerby Park, Carlisle

Saturday 9th June The Cumberland Show –Carlisle Race Course

Sunday 17th June The Karrimor Great NorthTrail Challenge –Fitz Park in Keswick

Saturday 30th June Armed Forces Day –Carlisle City Centreand in Penrith

Saturday 11th August The Dalston Show

Thursday 13th September The Westmorland Show

Friday 14th September Kendal Torchlight Procession

27th and 28th October Great Cumbrian Poppy Ride


The Great CumbrianPoppy Ride

COMING TO A TOWNNEAR YOU

On Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th October

PLEASE COME ALONG, MEET THE RIDERSAND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS YEAR’S APPEAL.

Further Details: [email protected] Tel: 01539 734411

CUMBRIA POPPY APPEAL

Registered Charity No 219279

THEPOPPYAPPEAL

2012

During the weekend tour of Cumbria To launch


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THE VITAL CALL FOR ASSISTANCE –a typical welfare case

John left the Army after 10 years service, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.Reaching the rank of Corporal, he thought that with a successful career behind himand his various qualifications, he would easily find lucrative employment.John is married with 2 children and his wife Maria was a fully qualified hairdresser.However, once the children arrived and after 4 moves in 3 years it becameimpossible for Maria to continue with her hairdressing career.The family wanted to return to Cumbria to be closer to Maria’s parents. John andMaria had saved all they could, hoping to buy their own home as soon as John leftthe Army. However, they rented a house in the Carlisle area whilst John tried to findemployment. After many months of responding to job advertisements and sendingoff his CV to companies in the area, John started to feel inadequate. Then theflashbacks and nightmares started and all John wanted to do was to stay at home ina darkened room.Savings had disappeared and debts were mounting. Maria couldn’t understandwhat was happening to her once positive and cheerful husband. Arguments startedand Maria threatened to leave. Even Maria’s hairdressing qualifications were out ofdate and they couldn’t afford the cost of retraining.The greatest shock was the arrival of an Eviction Notice! Hearing about this, a friendsuggested they make immediate contact with the Welfare Staff of the British Legionat the County Office in Kendal.Being a proud ex-serviceman, John was reluctant to make the vital telephone call.However, after a visit from the Bailiffs, Maria made the call. She was deeplydistressed and very anxious. Her whole world was falling apart; she couldn’t financethe debts, pay the rent or buy food and replacement clothing for the children.This was an emergency situation; one of the Legion’s volunteer caseworkers visitedJohn and Maria within 48 hours, completed an assessment form which arrived in theCounty Office the next day. Eligibility was proved via the Records Office in Glasgowand food and clothing grants were sent immediately. An appointment was madewith a Benefits and Money Advisor working in partnership with the Legion. Letterswere sent to creditors asking them to desist from action until a full financialassessment could be made.John was referred to Combat Stress who wasted no time in assessing his problems.John and Maria were advised to contact “Civvy Street” to investigate help withretraining and as renting accommodation was no longer sustainable, they wereadvised to contact Cumbria Choice about social housing.With the help of CAB, priority debts were cleared by a grant from the Legion. Non-priority debts were rescheduled; help was given by Combat Stress and the Legionhelped with retaining grants. John’s Regimental association helped with fundingfurniture and electrical goods for a new house provided by a local Housingassociation. The marriage held together, both have full time employment, remainingdebts are paid and the children are doing well at school.

All this assistance is readily available to those entitled to assistance –all it takes is that vital first call to ask for help.

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DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHONEEDS ASSISTANCE FROM

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION…?

The Royal British Legion can provide assistance with sourcing awhole range of needs such as:-

• Clothing and Footwear • Electric Riser/Recliner Chairs• Electric Stair Lifts • Priority Debt• Electrically Profiling Beds • Electrically Powered Scooters• Household Goods • Other Mobility Aids• Holidays • Walk-in Showers• Property Repair Loans • Careline Telephones• Training Grants • Bath-lifts• Support, advice & funding • Wheelchairs

to run a small business

This list is not exhaustive and is worth discussing any problems withThe County Welfare Officers. If you know of an ex-Service Person ora dependant of one, including the widow/widower of an ex-ServicePerson, or dependant children up to the age of 18, TRBL may beable to help.

If you feel that TRBL may be able to offer you any assistance thenplease contact:

Mrs Amanda Lean – County Welfare [email protected]

Mrs Carole Knowles – County Welfare [email protected]

THE COUNTY OFFICE3rd Floor, Station House, Station Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 6RYTelephone: 01539 734411


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CUMBRIA POPPY APPEAL“Of all the things I have ever

volunteered to do this has beenthe most rewarding”

(This was a quote from one of our new volunteers afterthey had taken part in the Poppy Appeal 2011-12).

Without our volunteers, the Poppy Appeal wouldn’thappen. For this year’s appeal we had 55 PoppyAppeal Organisers covering every single postaldistrict across the county. These Organisersoversee 1412 volunteer collectors of all ages andbackgrounds.

As well as street and house collections we had staticcollection points in over 1600 location includingretail outlets and shops, pubs and clubs, postoffices, schools, garages and filling stations, hotels,

banks and building societies, supermarkets, motorway services, a power station anda shipyard!

Last year 2010-11 over £400,000 was raised in Cumbria for the first time. This yearonly just half way through the financial year we are close to last years total already.

We need your help during the summer months to raise a few more pounds andbeat last years total of £409.000!

For more information about the Cumbria Poppy Appeal and how you can getinvolved and ‘do your bit’ please contact: Alan Whitmore (Community Fundraiser)on (01539) 734411 or email: [email protected]

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“THE LANCASHIRE AND CUMBRIA GUNNERS”LINK WITH THE LEGION

The only Regiment remaining in theBritish Army with “Cumbria” in its titleis No 12 Regiment of the Royal Artillerybased at Thorney Island nearPortsmouth. In recent years elements ofthe Regiment have attended variousevents in the North West and a fewyears ago No 12 Regiment washonoured with the Freedom ofBlackpool.

Within the Regiment, 5/8 Battery hasassociated itself closely with the City ofCarlisle, attending on Armed Forces Dayand at Remembrance events –somehow by finding a training exerciseto latch onto and taking theopportunity to “stay over”.

The Battery Commander is Major Andy Taylor; after last November’s RemembranceSunday Parade, he announced that 5/8 Battery was being deployed to Afghanistanin Spring 2012. Hew offered to take the City of Carlisle’s Armed Forces Day Flag withhim and to tour it to the various locations where 5/8 Battery would operate.

Duly, Major Taylor visited Carlisle prior to deployment, to meet the Mayor of Carlisle,Councillor Barry Earp and accepted safe custody of the Armed Forces Day Flag andundertook its safe return for the start of Armed Forces Week on 25th June.

The meeting with the Mayor was followed by with a visit to the meeting of theCarlisle and Stanwix Branch, where prayer was led by Rev’d Bob Batson for thesafety of all who serve in operations. Branch Chairman Mrs Margaret Wadsworthpresented Major Taylor with a Poppy Appeal Bear to go on operations with 5/8Battery and photographed wherever possible.

The bear was named “Barry” and on his return will be auctioned with his dossier ofphotographs to the highest bidder in aid of the Poppy Appeal. The members of 5/8Battery left at home in Hampshire are also entering a team for a Dragon Boat Racein Portsmouth Harbour with sponsorship money for the Poppy Appeal.

To bid for “Barry the Bear” on his return, please keep an eye onwww.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/carlisle and the Poppy Appeal Cumbria page onFacebook.


A VIEW FROM AFGHANISTAN

(John Thompson is a paramedic working for theNorth West Ambulance Service based in Carlisle.

He is a Reservist in the Royal Army Medical Corps anda member of the Carlisle and Stanwix Branch of theRoyal British Legion and is currently in Afghanistan).

Having been a serving soldier and officer for 29 years both as a regular and reserve, I’veseen operational service all over the world; but I’m sad to say that I have only been amember of the Royal British Legion (RBL) for 2 years. Perhaps this is due to ignorance as towhat the RBL does and who is eligible to join.

I am currently serving in Afghanistan in the Role 3 Hospital in Camp Bastion as theInfection Prevention and Control Practitioner - mobilised my day job as a Paramedic withNorth West Ambulance Service where I am the Specialist Practioner for InfectionPrevention and Control covering Cumbria and Lancashire.

During my military service, I have known and seen many who have suffered bothphysically and emotionally. It is no secret that more service people who served in theFalklands 30 years ago have died since then thandied during the Falklands Campaign; many havedied at their own hands. Since the early 1960's theUK armed forces have been on operationscontinuously from Aden to Northern Ireland andthe Balkans and latterly to Iraq and Afghanistan,with many service men and women serving inmany other places that may have not gainedpublicity. Yet the silent casualty figures are notknown. Much is now being done for those whohave been injured in recent years, yet this is the tipof the ice berg, with many soldiers suffering insilence with their illnesses and injuries from theirtime in the forces.

Here in Afghanistan I have come to realize theimportance of the Royal British Legion; here atCamp Bastion the RBL supports the 'welfare team'by providing first line support to troops comingthrough both battle injured and those with other

illnesses by the provision of small comfy items. This provision mainly comes fromdonations from individual branches. Many of the injured soldiers I see on their way homeare unaware that they can be RBL members as serving members of the Armed Forces.

Many see the RBL as just the 'Poppy Appeal' every October and November and ArmisticeParades; this is far from the truth and something that the Legion is striving to rectify sothat those going into action know that they have a welfare support organization availableto help them immediately, close to what we refer to as the 'point of injury'.

The RBL is working to support our veterans in many ways, most of which go unnoticed asthe RBL doesn’t shout loudly enough about its work. Conversely. Many of the proud

women and men who give themselvesselflessly to their country are too proudto ask for help. This also needs reversing.Many of the boys and girls returningfrom recent operations may not thinkthat they need help, neither did we whenwe were younger, time takes its toll andwe the members of the RBL will be thereto offer that support that we give now. Ithank Heaven every time I see one of ourheroes return home that the RBL is thereto support them and their families.

THE WOMEN’S SECTIONThe Women’s Section of The Royal British Legion is open to all women. It is a country-wide network of over 1,100 branches with a membership of 52,500 women. You canbecome part of a group of women of all ages (upwards of 16 years), background andinterests, who come together for social and other support, fundraising events and helpingthe serving and ex-Service community.

Further information is available from:Ms K Beck - Tel: 017687-75803

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