JUNE 2012

IN THIS ISSUE

POPPY APPEAL REPORT …………………… 2POPPY AWARDS ….......................................... 2ROYAL CHELSEA HOSPITAL VISIT …......... 3SENIOR CITIZENS SOCIAL …........................ 4FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE …................ 4WELLINGTON BOMBER MEMORIAL …..... 5POPPY FACTORY VISIT …............................. 6DERBY DRAW ….............................................. 7BRANCH WEBSITE …..................................... 7ARMED FORCES DAY …................................ 7BENEFITS FOR OLDER PEOPLE ….............. 8HAVE A LAUGH...…………………….……… 9BRANCH COMMITTEE …………….............. 11DIARY DATES ..……………………….......... 12

THE EXHORTATIONThey shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morning

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Bodicote Branch

NewsletterIncluding

Balscote & Shutford

We will remember them

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POPPY APPEAL REPORT

This year we are going to set a new record. Since the 1st October 2011 we have raised £13,640.60 some £880 more than last year. Most of this increase is credited to Balscote and Shutford whose total went from £2,463.73 to £3,304.37 an increase of £840. One of the main contributors to this was Debbie Harvey who held a vintage tea party and raised £325 so well done Debbie and Balscote and Shutford.We have a winner!How many times do you hear “I never win anything in raffles or draws” Well I am pleased to announce that Robert Measures of our Balscote sub branch won £100 in the RBL Poppy Appeal 2011 Christmas raffle. The drinks are on Robert if you can catch him before he spends it all. Well done Robert.

John Mills, Poppy Appeal Organiser, Tel: 265629

POPPY AWARDS

Mrs Pam Hobday receiving her 30 Year Award

An awards ceremony to honour those Poppy Appeal Collectors that have given their time and effort over the past years in collecting money in the annual Poppy Appeal was held in Bodicote Church Hall on 2nd May with

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22 Bodicote collectors receiving their awards. The awards were presented by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Col John Bridgeman CBE TD,DL.

Our thanks is expressed to the ladies for the fine spread of refreshments that they provided after the ceremony.

The following collectors received awards:

30 Years - Pam Hobday25 Years - Eric Kaye, Mrs Spiers, Frankie Thomas 20 Years - David Barlow, Margaret Mills, Mena Pegram15 Years - A Holmes10 Years - Georgia Davies, Anne Dawson, Stuart Dawson, Barry Hobday,

Graham Hope, Eric Woodhouse5 Years - Dina Bentley, Margaret Bristow, Damian Nelson, Sue Pye,

Tom Robinson, Mr Spiers, Mrs P Stellmacher, John Wells

Well done and thank you all. It is hoped to arrange an awards ceremony for our Balscote & Shutford collectors in the near future.

ROYAL CHELSEA HOSPITAL VISIT

We are arranging a day out to visit the Royal Chelsea Hospital and the National Army Museum in London on 29th August 2012. Because of the two venue visit a departure time of 8.30 is planned.Because of entry restrictions to the Chelsea Hospital we are limited to a maximum of 30 and the cost will be £17.50 which includes the price of the hospital tour and a small donation for the coach driver. The day will start with a visit to the National Army Museum and the tour of the Chelsea will start at 1.30pm. The Hospital visit is a walking tour so visitors require a basic level of mobility as some stairs and narrow corridors have to be negotiated. Both venues have eating facilities that provide light meals and refreshments.This is a self funding trip so if anyone who has booked is unable to go a refund can only be made if we can find a replacement. As there are so few seats we have to restrict bookings to a first come basis, so call soon.Maggie Mills. Tel: 265629

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SENIOR CITIZENS SOCIAL

Mrs Fathers cutting the Celebration Cake

The Senior Members Social was held in Bodicote Village Hall on Friday 18th May 2012. Approximately 60 members attended. The theme of the Social was to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.The hall was decorated will Union Jacks and other bunting relevant to the Jubilee, Ruth Grant baked a celebration cake with the Queen’s photograph printed on the icing. The cake was cut by Mrs Fathers who is shortly celebrating her 101st birthday, congratulations!Brian Gardner opened the Social with the prayer for the Diamond Jubilee and grace. The ladies then served their usual delicious afternoon tea.We were entertained by Bill James playing music and singing songs from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s interspersed with a few ‘jokes’. The evening finished with a sing-song of wartime and other patriotic songs. As the members left they were given a slice of celebration cake.Thanks to everyone who help to make this a very enjoyable evening.

Maggie Mills

FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE

Would anyone who has reserved seats for the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall please confirm with Mina Pegram (Tel: 26335) as soon as possible.

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WELLINGTON BOMBER MEMORIAL

A memorial to the airman who died in the crash of the RAF Wellington Bomber on 28th December 1942 just to the west of the village was unveiled in a dedication ceremony on Saturday 2nd June.The memorial ceremony arranged by Bodicote Parish Council was attended by some 100+ people on what was a dry but overcast afternoon and included members of three of the crew's families. In attendance were the Standards of the Bodicote Royal British Legion and the Banbury Royal Air Force Association.The unveiling was performed by Sqn Ldr Graham Wyeth RAF together with Mrs Beryl Sydery (widow of the pilot), Mrs Ann Beaumont (Sister-in-Law of AC2 Beaumont) and Mrs Karen Purdy (Great Niece of AC2 Broadhurst). After the unveiling the memorial was blessed by the Vicar of St John's the Reverend Ben Phillips. Following this members of the crew's families each gave a short account of their respective relatives who lost their lives. Sqn Ldr Andrew Ouellette, Officer Commanding No. 78 Squadron from RAF Benson gave a fitting tribute to the airmen on behalf of the Royal Air Force.The ceremony continued with the laying of wreaths, the Legion Ode, the Last Post and one minutes silence, Reveille and the Kohima Epitaph.During the ceremony a lone Supermarine Spitfire from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performed a low pass over the site in tribute.6

POPPY FACTORY VISIT

On the first of May a group of members took a trip to visit the Royal Britis Legion Poppy Factory in Richmond, Surrey. Due to the forecasted adverse weather conditions the proposed stop at the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede was felt to be unsuitable. Following research, Notcutts Garden Centre near Marlow agreed they could accommodate the coach and 33 passengers. They were extremely helpful and put on extra staff in the coffee shop and garden centre so that all passengers could be served in a reasonable time.We arrived at the Poppy Factory just before 1 o'clock and most people took this opportunity to have their lunch. Before the tour we were given a talk on how the Poppy and the Poppy Factory came into being. We then went into the factory were able to talk to the factory staff and watch how the humble Poppy was produced piece by piece by severely handicapped workers. An amazing 50 million are produced in this factory each year.A donation of £70 was made to the Poppy Factory, given by the group and a small donation was given to the coach driver. A small profit of £38 was paid into the Branch General Account.

Maggie Mills, Tel: 01259 265629

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DERBY DRAW

The Branch annual Derby Draw held on Monday 28th May and the lucky winners were:1st Prize £50 Mr F Jarrett Camelot2nd Prize £25 Mr J Giddings Main Sequence3rd Prize £10 Mr J Kerby Astrology4th Prize £5 Mr F Askew Thought WorthyLast past the Post £5 Brig F Henn Cavelero

BRANCH WEBSITEWe are in the process of setting up a Branch Website in conjunction with the Legion. This will enable us to provide more up to date information and news about our Branch. As in all things technical it is taking a while to get to grips with, but it should be online within the month. So keep a watchful eye open for its appearance.

You can access the website via:

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/membership/branches/#B

Click on Bodicote and all will be revealed. As our website manager I will be responsible for keeping the site updated, so if you have any items you feel would be of interest let me know.

John Wells

ARMED FORCES DAY

Armed Forces Day is this year being celebrated on Saturday 30 th June from 0930 until 15.30.The Parade will form up in Banbury Market Place ready to march up Parsons Street at 11.30am. From the top of Parsons Street the Parade will turn left into Horsefair, left at Banbury Cross into the High Street and finally be dismissed in Broad Street near the Town Hall. There will be Stalls and displays outside Banbury Town Hall, Bridge Street and in the High Street Band Stand from Banbury & District Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, Air Training Corps Cadets, Kineton Barracks, SSAFA, RBL, RAF Careers.

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BENEFITS FOR OLDER PEOPLE

Benefits when you are over sixtySome of the rules about benefits depend on your age. In many cases, the rules change when you get to state pension age.For example, after you reach state pension age, it may no longer be a condition of your benefits that you have to be looking for work. You may be able to get Pension Credit to top up your income without having to look for work.State pension age is the age when people can choose to start getting their State Pension. State pension age used to always be 60 for a woman and 65 for a man. However, state pension age is changing for most people.If you are a woman born on or after 6 April 1950, you will no longer be able to claim a state pension at the age of 60 and if you are a man born on or after 6th December 1953 you will no longer be able to claim a state pension at the age of 65. If you fall into one of these groups of men or women, the age when you can claim your state pension depends on your date of birth.Along with the changes in state pension age, there will be gradual changes to the age when you become entitled to some other benefits.Benefits affected by the changes to state pension age include:

Pension Credit Winter Fuel Payments Income Support.

If you are already getting benefits and you are approaching the age of sixty, you might need to consult an experienced adviser about how the different benefits work together. If you have a choice between different benefits, an experienced adviser can help you choose which is best for you. If you are over state pension age and are finding it difficult to manage your finances then do not feel that you have nowhere to turn, there is expert advice aplenty, all you need to do is ask.You can consult an experienced adviser, for example, the Legion's Benefit and Money Advice Service or the Citizens Advice Bureau. For completely free, confidential and impartial advice contact the Legion at our Thame Office on 01844 216961 or Banbury Citizens Advice on 01295 221448.

Remember, you are not on your own. Help is only a phone call away.

John Wells, Welfare Caseworker.

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HAVE A LAUGH

The NHS is priceless.These are sentences exactly as typed by medical secretaries in NHS Greater Glasgow.1. The patient has no previous history of suicide. 2. Patient has left her white blood cells at another hospital. 3. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days. 4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night. 5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year. 6. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared. 7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed. 8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993. 9. Discharge status:-Alive, but without my permission. 10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful. 11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch. 12. She is numb from her toes down. 13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home. 14. The skin was moist and dry. 15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches. 16. Patient was alert and unresponsive. 17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid. 18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce. 19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our care for physical therapy. 20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation. 21. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized. 22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function. 23. Skin: somewhat pale, but present.24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor. 25. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall. 26. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.27. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.

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28. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of fuel and crashed.29. Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant. 30. She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December. 31. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Smith, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree. 32. The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stock broker instead. 33. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.

For the sake of your health - stay away from hospital

Remember... Once you get over the hill, you'll begin to pick up speed.

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HELP HELP HELPWould you be willing to have future copies of the Bodicote Newsletter sent by email? This would help us keep the production and postage costs down and will enable us to devote more funds to our welfare causes.

If you would like to receive subsequent editions by email please send your email address to the editor at

jtwcomerce@talktalk.net

Please specify in what format you would like to receive your copy – MS Word or PDF.

THE COMMITTEE

President John Giddings

Chairman John Mills

Vice Chairman Barry Hobday

Secretary John Wells

Treasurer Sue Pye

Membership Secretary Mina Pegram

Newsletter John Wells

Standard Bearer Ray Harden

Balscote & Shutford Bob Jesson

Welfare Members John WellsBarry Hobday

Members Margaret BristowStuart DawsonMaggie Mills

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DIARY DATES

Saturday 30th June Armed Forces Day

Wednesday 29th August Visit to Chelsea Hospital

Monday 1st October Legion Membership Fees Due

Saturday 10th November Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall

Sunday 11th November Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service

Next Issue: October 2012

KOHIMA EPITAPH

When you go home tell them of us and say -For your tomorrow we gave our today

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Please Note

If you have any articles or items for the next newsletter in October 2012 please let me have them by

Saturday 22nd September 2012

My thanks for all contributions for this edition.All contributions will be most welcome, so come on let us

all share your tales of daring-do or otherwise.

Thanks

John Wells

Please Note

If you have any articles or items for the next newsletter in October 2012 please let me have them by

Saturday 22nd September 2012

My thanks for all contributions for this edition.All contributions will be most welcome, so come on let us

all share your tales of daring-do or otherwise.

Thanks

John Wells