Newsletter

Royal British Legion Scotland

February Newsletter 2019

Š 2019. No material may be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed may not represent the views of the represent the views of Saltcoats Ardrossan & Stevenston Branch committee

Suzanne Fernando—Branch Publicity Officer

Introduction Hello everyone and welcome to the first edition of our “Saltcoats, Ardrossan & Stevenston Branch of the RBLS Newsletter”. Our newsletter is focused on assisting 3 Towns Veterans as we aim to encompass all veterans and not just RBLS members.

I’m delighted to take the reins as editor and trust these Monthly updates will keep everyone informed of branch news.

I’m looking forward to my new role as Publicity Officer and hope you all enjoy reading the articles.

You will find information in the newsletter should any of you wish to contact the Committee and we look forward to hearing from you.

Suzanne Fernando, Editor 2

Latest News

Ayrshire Veterans Breakfast Club Meet every Monday morning at The Melbourne Café from 9.30 72 Hamilton Street Saltcoats https://www.facebook.com/ themelbournesaltcoats/ All Welcome!

Veterans Hearing Project Dates for a drop in visit at V1P to be advised when confirmed.

Clare Kewney, Director and Audiologist at Veterans Hearing Support has been working with people with hearing loss and associated difficulties such as tinnitus for the last 21 years. Clare said “There are so many veterans who have a hearing loss but are totally unaware of what their options are, including being eligible for The Royal British’s Legions Veterans Hearing Fund.

We want to make sure that anyone who may be eligible is helped through the application process and achieves what we hope is a successful outcome of receiving the most up to date hearing technology and any other assistance they need to ensure their hearing needs are met” If anyone would like more information or to start an application for the Veterans Hearing Fund, please contact Veterans Hearing Support on 0800 861 1102 or email ino@veteranshearingsupport.co.uk https://www.hearingaid.org.uk/ inform…/veterans-hearing-fund/ Veterans Hearing Fund - Free Hearing Aids - Hearing Aid UK 3

** Transport We’re putting feelers out with recently confirmed details regarding Taxi discount fares for Legion members and other transport as to what support they may offer our members.

Meanwhile, Daveys Taxis (01294 474747) has offered 10% discount to members. Please produce your new plastic Legion ID card at start of journey. ** Saltcoats, Ardrossan & Stevenston Branch President met with council recently to look at support we can use. ** Dasher Plans are underway for Dasher weekend end of March.

Details to follow shortly. ** Venues for meetings and functions are being identified, if any of our members have any recommendations please do let the Branch Secretary know soonest.

** Social Media We've had a tremendous response on social media recently with over 200 members active on our Facebook page and since setting up the Twitter account only a few days ago we now have over 100 followers.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RBLSSAS/ Closed Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/656032154812335/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SasRbls https://www.legionscotland.org.uk/saltcoats-ardrossan-and-stevenstonbranch **Special thanks to Ed Armstrong (both member of our legion and the Men’s Shed) who kindly made a gavel for our branch use.

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ROYAL BRITISH LEGION SCOTLAND SILVER POPPY GOLF

COMPETITION 2019

The competition will be held on the New Course, St Andrews on Friday 3 May. The entry fee and starter fee for 2019 will be combined and the cost per competitor will be £60, exclusively offered to Legion Scotland.

Entries: Payment of £60 each entry should be returned to: Liz Kyle Event Support, Legion Scotland, New Haig House, Logie Green Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4HQ no later than Friday 19 April 2019. Personal and business cheques are welcome and cash in person only. Card payments may be made by calling 0131 550 1583 or email: l.kyle@legionscotland.org.uk

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The Betty McNamee Memorial Trophy Dreams really do come true and fellow veteran Andy Mcnamee can vouch for that when his inspirational Mum Betty flew in an aeroplane at the grand age of 81 for the very first time!

Betty worked hard all her life and raised a beautiful family but there was one thing she had never done in her life, and that was fly. Lewis Anderson, son of Danny Anderson, who is a director of the Scottish International Airshow agreed to pilot a Bulldog plane and make Betty’s dying wish a dream come true.

Danny Anderson and Doug Maclean took the initiative and brought the Scottish Airshow back to life in Ayr and since then they have been able to make more than a few dreams come true.

Betty had never been on a plane, but with the help of family and friends a flight was arranged to give her 20 minutes in the air. After the dream flight, Betty said: “It was quite enjoyable. I should have done it years ago.”

Some of Andy's best memories of her was when he would come home from the army and she always had a big plate of macaroni and plate of soup ready for him, it is the simple pleasures in life that we realise are the most precious to us.

Andy has hundreds of memories but the best one of all has to be Betty's final flight, a beautiful memory that will stay with Andy and his family forever. Betty, passed away on Friday, November 30 after losing her battle with terminal lung cancer.

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Andy said: “It’s devastating, but she has now got her angel wings rather than her plane wings."

Now Andy feels ready to do something special in his Mum's memory by holding a fundraiser in aid of Lung Cancer.

A Games Day will be held in the Irvine Legion complete with raffles and in the evening there will be a prize giving for the winners, including an auction and even more prizes.

The Irvine Cancer Team have offered to help on the day, entry costs £2where you will receive a lovely Cancer Pin on arrival.

All cash raised on the day will go to Cancer Research UK. Breakfast & Games from 10:00 Evening event starts at 7pm - closing.

Please show your support by sharing this event far and wide and let's make our Betty proud! https://www.facebook.com/ThatsTVScotlandWest/ videos/1214622895343169/ 7

Features

Saltcoats, Ardrossan & Stevenston Branch of the RBLS members took part in a memorial at Saltcoats Cenotaph. Holocaust Memorial Day is a national commemoration day in the United Kingdom dedicated to the remembrance of those who suffered in The Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. It was first held in January 2001 and has been on the same date every year since. The chosen date is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Union in 1945, the date also chosen for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and some other national Holocaust Memorial Days.

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Features

3 Towns Veterans enjoyed a welcomed visit from the Scottish Veteran Minister Graeme Dey MSP and North Ayrshire Provost Ian Clarkson as part of the Scottish Government Veterans consultation. This is important work raising awareness of the Unforgotten Forces programme.

Members of the veteran community and legion branch enjoyed a lovely breakfast and a chat with their guests. Well done to our branch Welfare Officer Emma Gration for arranging the visit. It was a great turn out and everyone had a lovely morning filled with tea, banter and banter! Below is some footage from the visit. https://www.dmws.org.uk/news/scottish-veterans-minister-meetsmilitary-veterans-project-making-positive-changes https://www.forces.net/news?videoId=5995784453001 Veteran Breakfast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/804615282982632/

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Future Events

** D-Day and Normandy Veterans Legion Scotland have been approached by the BBC and asked if we have any names which we could put forward for interviews in the run up to the D-Day 75 commemoration. If you know anyone who can help please contact our branch Secretary as soon as possible.

——————————————————Looking for D-Day veterans who took part in the Normandy landings and would like to go to France to commemorate the D-Day events. This is a fully sponsored and funded trip by the British Legion and LIBOR for the veteran and one carer. Information about the trip, 10 day itinerary, application form can be found at & submitted by 4th March. https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/community/d-day-75/ If you know anyone who can help please contact our branch Secretary as soon as possible. Mr B McDougall - sasbranchsecyrbls@gmail.com

** Easter Egg Charity Donation To mark Easter this year Saltcoats, Ardrossan & Stevenston Branch of the RBLS would like to donate Easter Eggs to local Nursing Homes within the 3 Towns.

If you would like to contribute by donating an Easter Egg please contact our Branch Secretary. sasbranchsecyrbls@gmail.com

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Future Events

** Games We have received an invite from Jim Dingwall the Sports Convenor for Area. Below are a few upcoming events and if anyone is interested in taking part please contact our branch secretary sasbranchsecyrbls@gmail.com Venues to be confirmed.

The Darts Dominoes and Pool events will take place at Annan Ex-Service Club.

Sport

Entry Date

Team No's

Dominoes

23 March

1 x 6 people

Pool

23 March

1 x sgl & 1 x pair

Darts

23 March

1 x 4 people

Fly Fishing

24 April

1 x 3 people

Golf

25 May

1 x pair

Deepsea Fishing

11 May

1 x 3 people

Green Bowling

1 June

1 x 5 people

**In our next Newsletter we aim to have a members news/comments section so if anyone would like their own comments/news featured please do let me know. Please advise for future editions if you would rather NOT have your photo published in our Newsletter or any future publications You can contact me via email: publicityofficer@yahoo.com 11

Welfare Update

Welfare Officer is looking into options for the following:

1.

Transport for members to events

2. Befriending service for members who cannot make events/meetings If you are unable to attend 3 meetings then the branch welfare officer will give you a call to see if you are ok or if you need any support.

All welfare support that would be provided by the branch would be in the strictest of confidence and names will not be disclosed to other members unless the recipient specifically requests it.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact

Emma Gration Vice-chair/Welfare Officer Vicechairperson.rbls.sas.branch@gmail.com Tel 07887 683605

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Become a member

Anyone can become a member of Royal British Legion Scotland. By joining you show your support for ex-service people across Scotland whether they completed their service yesterday or as part of the Second World War. You will be helping a caring organisation dedicated to aiding veterans to get on with their lives.

About Our Branch When you join our branch your membership also entitles you to make use of any other branch across Scotland (a separate fee may apply for making use of a branch with a club). Indeed in many cases it also enables you to visit branches of equivalent organisations in countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia. There are a range of other benefits to membership.

If you are not based near our branch or feel that you do not require the services of a local branch or branch club such as participating in activities, you could join the Headquarters Branch which has members based in around ten countries around the world. Women have two options – they are welcome to join either a Legion Scotland local branch, or they can also join the Women’s Section which is a separate organisation with a presence in 25 branches across Scotland.

People with an interest in motorcycles have the opportunity to join the Riders branch. Alternatively new members could join the branch local to where they live AND choose to be affiliated to the Riders branch. https://royalbritishlegionscotland.eu.rit.org.uk/join-online How To Join You can join Saltcoats, Ardrossan & Stevenston Branch of the RBLS by contacting our branch Secretary Mr Boab McDougall. sasbranchsecyrbls@gmail.com Apply online: https://www.legionscotland.org.uk/saltcoats-ardrossanand-stevenston-branch 13

Membership Payments You can join for as little as £15 per annum, fees charged locally vary so it’s best to check with a local branch first to confirm costing. Most of our branches can take payment via cash, cheque or postal order and some branches can accept bank transfer or card payments. If you would prefer to pay by direct debit these are processed centrally through Head Office, you can find out more about direct debit by contacting Lorna Kane on 0131 550 1548.

Membership benefits As a member of The Royal British Legion Scotland you have the opportunity to benefit from a range of membership services and access to exclusive deals, including: ** 4 copies of the award winning Legion Scotland Today magazine ** The opportunity to visit our clubs and branches across Scotland ** Participation in a range of sporting and comradeship events across Scotland all year round ** Participation in Remembrance events for all ages across Scotland throughout the year ** Access to a range of discounts with Glenton Holidays ** Access to discounts with Co-op Funeralcare

** Membership benefits are always being reviewed and updated so there is something new for everyone.

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Contact Us Committee Members:

Paul Coffey – President president.rbls.sas.branch@gmail.com

Paul Swainson – Chairperson chairperson.rbls.sas.branch@gmail.com

Emma Gration - Vice Chair & Welfare Officer vicechairperson.rbls.sas.branch@gmail.com 07887 683605

Boab McDougall - Treasurer & Secretary sasbranchsecyrbls@gmail.com

Suzanne Fernando - Editor/Press/Publicity Officer publicityofficer@yahoo.com

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