AUTUMN 2004 NEWSLETTER
In this edition...
Dear Member,
I hope this edition of our newsletter finds you well and that you had a wonderful (if soggy!) summer break.
As you may have seen in the papers, I am now working with J. Sainsbury. At the time of writing, I've only been there for 2 days - but I feel like I've been here for years already!
NEWS FROM THE CENTRE
Branch Future
The Head Office at Hayes continues to empty, with colleagues being made redundant in 4-weekly waves.
Gabrielle Williamson, our Branch Secretary has now been put under consultation,
with a view to redundancy in November, with Trish Lanning, another committee
member expecting to follow in December. Both are continuing to support the
branch, albeit at a distance in the future. This will then leave only (Committee
members) John Dickie, Barry Martin and Alan Thornton onsite, in what will be
difficult times.
The Hayes site is now on the market to be sold. If you would like to view
the particulars, out of interest, visit: www.safewayhq.com.
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
the branch Website called www.safewayrbl.org.uk can be found further on in
this newsletter.
Last Hard Copy Posted Newsletter
As advised in the last newsletter, it is our intention to only send this newsletter hard copy on special request from members. It will otherwise only be available via the safewayrbl website in future.
This will therefore be the last posting of a newsletter to all members.
If you do not have access to the internet, or would prefer to still receive
hard copy, would you please let Gabrielle Williamson, at Hayes know (0208 756
2426 or email gabrielle_williamson@safeway.co.uk) by return.
Royal British Legion Diaries
Unfortunately, we will not be getting RBL diaries for you to order this year. If you would like order one, they are available on request to RBL Supplies (www.rblicatalogue.co.uk/catalogueindex2.cfm) in Aylesford, but you will be required to pay postage & packing.
Membership Subscriptions 2004-2005
 As stated in Spring, all members were 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 150 members onto this form of payment. A further 80 remain outstanding. Could we urge you to respond as soon as possible? As advised, these direct debits will be effected in 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
STOP PRESS: SUBS FOR 2004-2005
Unfortunately, we have been advised just this
week by the Royal British Legion, that all Direct Debit members have only
been debited for £10.00, instead of the £12.00 we have agreed as a branch.
This is due to the early closure of the membership database at Pall Mall (The
RBL Head Office) this year.
We are therefore sorry to advise that we must ask all members (new & existing)
who pay subs by direct debit to pay the £2 seperately by cheque to The Royal
British Legion, via Gerry Peeling at the above address as soon as possible.
Members' Details
Again, 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.
safewayrbl Website
 The website has generated interest from a number of colleagues at Safeway and our membership has increased by 15.
Have you updated your details yet?
As a reminder this can be done online or manually (on good old paper & pen to Gabrielle Williamson at Hayes). For everyone to get the benefit of the community aspects of this site, we really need everyone to enter their details!
As you are already a member, you should have been notified on email, with
a password, to automatically gain access to the site - and the members area.
If this has not yet happened, you can contact John Hodson (the site administrator) by logging onto the site and writing to him using the "Already a member, but need a password?" link.
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!
Obituary
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Our thoughts and condolences go to the family of Mr R.F.F. Simmons,
who sadly passed away on 20th August 2004.
We are thinking of them at this sad time. |
Poppy Seed Collection
One of our members, Brad Bradford, has recently moved to Southport & he has started a campaign to collect poppy seeds. He has already been featured in the local paper, with his wife Barbara, and they intend to sow the collected poppy seeds in the name of our branch on local (barren) walkways.
If you have collected any poppy seeds from your garden & would like to send them to Brad, his address is:
2 Pilling Close, Marshside, Southport, Lancashire. PR9 9PL
Annual Reunion Dinner
As previously advised, we are pleased to announce that we intend to have
our Annual Dinner again this year and we can now provide some of the details
to you.
The date for your diary is: Wednesday, 10th November 2004 and the venue is
the Comfort Inn, Sheppiston Road, Hayes, Middx.
This year’s dinner will be less “military” in style and
become more like a reunion dinner, in light of our changed circumstances. Whilst
the majority of attendees will be ex or current Safeway/Argyll, this year,
we would like to open the invitation to partners/spouses of members too. We
know that it’s often been fed back that members were dismayed that partners/spouses
were not invited to attend and so this year as we have changed the venue, we
will be able to accommodate partners too, for the first time.
Tickets will cost £25 per head for all members and will exclude all
wine and beverages, but will cover the 5-course menu.
The dress code will be lounge suits – medals optional.
As the venue is the Comfort Inn, obviously accommodation will be more plentiful,
if you would like to stay after the event.
| Rates are: |
£82.50 Double room including breakfast |
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£69.00 Single room including breakfast. |
The only restriction, as always is numbers, so if you/& your partner/spouse
would like to attend, would you please print off and complete and return the
application form, enclosing your remittance as soon
as possible.
Click here to download the application form ready for printing.
| (If you are unable to download the file you will need to install Adobe
Acrobat Reader on your computer. To do this, click on the icon on the right
and follow the instructions) |
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If you do not have a means of printing the form, please get in touch with Gabrielle Williamson who will post a copy to you.
 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 — Mon 8th Nov to Sat 13th Nov
We are always eager to add to our number of Poppy sellers during this week.
Monday to Thursday, we may collect around St. Paul's and on private land where permission has been granted. On Friday and Saturday, we may collect anywhere, with Saturday being the annual Lord Mayor's Show.
For further information, please ring Gerry Peeling on 020 8427 1524.
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION EVENTS
Festival of Remembrance
Once again, the Legion are offering seats at £10 each for the Festival
of Remembrance to members. This is the evening performance, to which Her Majesty
the Queen attends and is therefore a very prestigious and memorable event.
If you would like to obtain tickets, please email Gabrielle Williamson (gabrielle_williamson@safeway.co.uk)
by 20th September at the latest, giving the full name and postal address of
all attendees (for security purposes).
Talking Books on Tape
We have had a request from the Overseas Legion welfare office, who have a
number of needy members, who cannot get these tapes in Spain.
If you have any talking books that you would like to donate to the Spanish
branches, please send an email to: pambor@terra.es
Finally, in signing off, I would like to add that now that I too am a more remote member of the branch, I now appreciate the value of keeping in touch more than ever.
I would encourage all members to actively use the website, to ensure the branch
remains as active as possible in these changing times. Your committee would
also welcome any suggestions for ways to improve the website, or any other
activity that you believe would further enhance our branch's ability to communicate and support each other, as well as the Royal British Legion.
Kind regards
Lawrence Christensen CBE
Branch Chairman
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