Ruddington & District Branch of the Royal British Legion launched its 2013 Poppy Appeal with a coffee morning and stalls at St. Peter’s Rooms on the 26th October.
Ruddington RBL Chair Ken Hicks told us “Each year we manage to raise around £10,000 locally to help provide financial, social & emotional care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces – past and present – and their families. This is through the Poppy Appeal, donations and a few legacies. We hope residents will give generously again this year. As well as the collection boxes we’ve distributed to 40 local businesses, airforce cadets will also be selling poppies around the streets of Ruddington on Saturday the 9th of November.”
The Legion is, of course, the national Custodian of Remembrance and will be holding two local services at the recently refurbished Ruddington War Memorial. Sunday the 10th of November sees the main event with uniformed brigades marching from the Co-op, along Church Street, to the memorial for the act of remembrance. This includes a short outdoor service, wreath laying, a bugler and the two minutes’ silence at 11am, followed by a full service in St. Peter’s Church. There will also be a bugler and a two minute silence on Armistice Day itself, Monday the 11th, at the same time.
Ken adds “We’re always looking for new, younger members. A lot of people don’t know that you can join us from the age of sixteen and don’t need to have served in the Forces.”
Ruddington & District Royal British Legion meets on the first Thursday of every month, at 8pm in St. Peters Rooms, and everyone is welcome. The local branch is also online at http://branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/ruddington and on Twitter @RuddBritLegion.
By Graham Wright