SUMMER 2004 NEWSLETTER
In this edition...
 Dear Member,
I hope this edition of our newsletter finds you well and that plans for your summer are well underway.
For myself, this has been a mixed time. You may be aware that after 30 years with Safeway, I took the decision to retire from the newly combined company of Safeway and Morrisons. This was partly due to the fact that I agreed to stay on after my original retirement date, to support the Safeway team through what has proved to be a difficult time.
I have also recently had an operation, which I'm glad to say has been a great success and I'm back to full fitness.
You may also be aware that I have recently become a non-executive director with Christian Salvesen, a company with strong links to Safeway over the years... and in a strange quirk of fate, named after a man from same the town as my father in Norway!
I would however like to re-assure all the members that these changes and events have not impacted on my desire to remain, at least in the short term, as Chairman of the Safeway Branch of the Royal British Legion, a post that I feel honoured to hold.
NEWS FROM THE CENTRE
Branch Future
As indicated in the Spring newsletter, your committee have been looking at ways to keep the Safeway branch alive, irrespective of what should happen to the company.
We have been advised by both the Royal British Legion and Safeway solicitors, that we can retain the branch, as the Safeway name is not being used as a brand and we are already registered as the Safeway Branch, with the Legion.
We will therefore remain as the Safeway Branch of the Royal British Legion.
As regards funds, Safeway have always been very generous in terms of the use of Head Office facilities and we have agreement that this can remain as long as Safeway Head Office remains in Hayes. Going forward after closure, the local Hayes & Harlington branch have very kindly offered use of their facilities for Committee meetings.
Unfortunately the Safeway annual grant to the branch has now been cancelled, which will mean changes to the way the funds are managed (see Subscriptions below).
Also, with the current redundancies in Hayes, fund raising in the form of quizzes, cycle rides and Derby Draws has now stopped. This is because of dwindling numbers in Hayes and also the loss of administrative support, so vital to our efforts.
Whilst all the above changes do seem sad, we are pleased that we are able to state that the Safeway branch will not close and your committee are committed to retaining a living branch, albeit on a smaller scale, going forward.
We are also committed to enrolling new members to keep the branch alive and to continue to raise subscriptions for the Legion.
Further news regarding a website (see below) called www.safewayrbl.org.uk will hopefully demonstrate this commitment!
Membership Subscriptions 2004-2005
 As advised in the Spring Newsletter, subscriptions must rise, to allow the Branch to survive, without the generosity of Safeway in future. We did advise that subscriptions would rise to £11.50. Unfortunately following a review at the recent committee meeting, this sum has risen to £12.00.
As stated in Spring, all members were also asked to transfer their subs to payment by Direct Debit, in order to further reduce costly admin for the branch. To date, we have transferred 130 members onto this form of payment. A further 100 remain outstanding. Could we urge you to respond as soon as possible? As advised, these direct debits will not be effected until September 2004, when annual subs become due.
As previously advised, a direct debit subscription form was attached for members who have not yet responded, which should
be sent to:
Gerry Peeling, Branch Treasurer,
84 Argyle Road
North Harrow
HA2 7AJ
Members' Details
Again, as stated in Spring, we are keen to update all our records now, so if you have not yet updated your details, please use the Members Details form as soon as possible, again to Gerry Peeling at the above address
New safewayrbl Website
 Your committee has an opportunity to enrol more members into our branch, as a direct result of the recent company changes.
As you know, there are a number of Safeway staff, who are being made redundant, in Hayes and in other locations. The Safeway Family has always been a strong and supportive company that has prided itself on its culture of networking, professionally and personally. By using the Safeway Branch as the remaining link to Safeway, by way of a website, we are hoping to gain more members, using the website as a way to keep in touch! You have to be a member, to log on to the members' keeping in touch area.
The website has been created for us, by one of our members, John Hodson, free of charge, to help us gain more members. thank you John!
Initial feedback from Safeway staff is very encouraging and already over 1000 flyers, advertising the site, have been sent out.
As you are already a member, you will automatically gain access to the site. If we already have your email address from the Membership Contact details, we will be emailing you shortly with your ID and password, to gain access to the member's area.
For members who are not personally "online", the site is on the world wide web (www) and is accessible in libraries and
via family computers!
We do however, recognise that some members are not online and prefer to receive paper copies of newsletters and other post from the branch. We would like to reassure those members that this service will continue, although hopefully, from a cost perspective, this service will be to a smaller number of members going forward.
If members without e-mail access, still want to have contact with other members, this too can be arranged. Just send your submission for the website, as well as the contact details you would like posted to the members area to Gabrielle Williamson, Branch Secretary, at Hayes and these will be added for you.
Please take the time to go online and view the website. It is called: www.safewayrbl.org.uk
By typing the aboveon the command line & pressing "GO" you should arrive at the home page, which details the facilities on the site.
You will notice the posted newsletters, which will be the preferred method to let members know what is going on in the branch, as well as a branch history and activities.
By logging into the member's area, you are then free to view other member's details and add your own details to the site, for people to contact YOU! We are able to add photographs, links to your website (you may want to advertise your own business) and anything you want to add.
PLEASE TRY IT AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK!!
We'd love to know what you think and would welcome any feedback you have - just follow the links online or write (the old way!) to Gabrielle Williamson at Hayes.
Annual Dinner
We are pleased to announce that we intend to have our Annual Dinner again this year. Obviously the logistics of such an event, will be more difficult than in previous years, without Safeway sponsorship, but we are committed to this event.
The provisional date for your diary is: Wednesday, 10th November 2004 and the venue is expected to be local to Hayes, Middx.
As soon as we have details of the arrangements, we will be in contact, both electronically and through the post.
 Poppy Appeal
This year's Poppy Appeal will run from Monday 1st November through to Sunday 14th November.
If you are able and willing to volunteer your help would be much appreciated.
COLPA - City of London Poppy Appeal
The City of London Poppy Appeal collection day is Saturday 13th November and again any volunteers would be most welcome. Further details of the Poppy Appeal will be included in future editions of the Newsletter.
 Obituaries
Our thoughts and condolences go to the families of Mr T.V. Bedwell and David Hewat, who both sadly passed away in May of this year. We are thinking of them at this sad time.
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION EVENTS
Kempton Park Gala Night
The post race Gala commences after the last race at 20.55hrs on Wednesday 14th July 2004.
The Gala includes:
- The Band of the Irish Guards
- The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry
- Pipe & Drums of the Scots guards
- Guns of the Kings Troop
- And then..Fireworks!
There is a £5 discount to members; there is also a raffle and exit collection in aid of the Legion.
If you are interested, please contact the racecourse booking office on 01372 470047 quoting reference number RBL1 before 1st July 2004.
Local Summer Concerts
The Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall, just down the road from Twickenham Rugby Ground have just announced their summer concerts.
They are
| 7th July |
Stars and Stripes Forever |
| 21st July |
Song and Dance |
| 4th August |
Last Night of the Proms |
Gates open at 6.00pm.
All seated by 7.50pm
Concerts start at 8.00pm and finish at 9.45pm.
Advanced sales and gate sales are £7.00 each.
Unfortunately, advanced sales can only be made by cheque or postal order, on application to the box office. Alternatively you can pay at the gate, although seating is issued on a first-come-first-served basis.
If you wish to book, please apply in writing detailing your name, address and daytime phone number, number of tickets required for which concert to
The Booking Office Royal Military
School of Music
Kneller Hall
Kneller Road
Twickenham
TW2 7DU
Cheques/postal orders, made payable to RMSM - HMG 2477
Well, I'll sign off now, as there is quite a lot to digest in this edition with regard to the future. I hope you can see that we are committed to supporting the Royal British Legion in the future as best we can. As usual we are only able to do so thanks to your fabulous ongoing support, which I hope you will continue to give, in spite of the changes we are making.
Kind regards
Lawrence Christensen CBE
Branch Chairman
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