County Annual Conference 2011

15 January 2011


The Derbyshire County Annual Conference for 2011 was hosted by Mickleover Branch. It took place at the Branch headquarters in Mickleover Royal British Legion Club on Saturday 15th January 2011 and it commenced at 2:00pm.


The Conference began with a Parade of Standards. The County President - Bill Else, opened Conference with the Act of Exhortation, followed by silence and the Kohima Epitaph. He then welcomed the assembled Guests, Delegates and Visitors. The new County Chaplain - Rev Dr Jocelyn Lewis then led Conference in prayer.


The Mayor of the City of Derby - Councillor Amar Nath then addressed Conference and welcomed the Delegates to the City.  He went on to tell of the changes and achievements that had occurred within the City during his term of office.


 Mayor of City of Derby - Councillor Amar Nath
Addressing Conference

Bill Else then gave his Presidential Address before handing over to the County Chairman - Bernard Page for the running of Conference.


The County President - Bill Else
Giving The Presidential Address

The County Chairman - Bernard Page then gave his Report to Conference.  During  his report he asked that Delegates and Visitors go back to their Branches and persuade them to send a Delegate to the National Conference at Telford, which is not far away and could be commutable.  He also mentioned problems associated with the General Fund with the proposed increase in the Affiliation Fees and the possibility of a motion  to appoint the National Chairman.  It is no point Branches and Delegates complaining if they don't attend the National Conference.


The County Chairman then went on to praise Dennis White, who has just retired from the County Committee.  A Veteran of WWII, Dennis has been a Legion Member since 1948 and a County Committee Member for 20 years  For his work within the Legion and the Ex-Service Community he holds the National Certificate of Appreciation.


Dennis White
Retiring County Committee Member

The guest speaker, Sergeant Major Bryn Knowles, then took to the floor and gave an excellent speech on the modern Army.  Bryn, serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), gave a brief history of the formation of the Mercian Regiment and its recent deployments in Afghanistan.  He went on to describe the changes in equipment that the Army were now using since the conflict began.  He told the Conference about the importance of CASEVAC and MEDEVAC in getting casualties from the battle ground, saving the soldiers lives and to repatriation to the UK.


Guest Speaker - Sergeant Major Bryn Knowles

The County Treasurer, John Cam, presented the County's Financial Report and Auditor's Statement. Questions were asked concerning the County Welfare Fund, which the Treasurer answered.


The County Treasurer - John Cam
Presenting The County's Financial Report

The Chairman asked for the Adoption of the County's Annual Report  including the Treasurers' Financial Report. These were proposed and seconded, and approved by Conference.


 The County Chairman - Bernard Page
Asking For The Adoption Of The Annual Report

Stuart Allen was elected un-opposed to the post of County Vice-Chairman and will hold the position for three years. Positions on the County Committee and County Conference Committee were also settled.


During Open Forum, Bill Parkin the East Midlands Member of the Board of Trustees gave a presentation on the Way Forward for the Royal British Legion, which included Governance changes, Board of Trustees and Membership Council structure, and the Affiliation Fee.  The County Secretary, Richard Dodge continued with the topic of the Affiliation Fees  and stated that there was no alternative but to have an increase to the Affiliation Fee,


 Bill Parkin - Member of the Board of Trustees
Talking On The Way Forward



The County Secretary - Richard Dodge
Talking About The Affiliation Fee

The President then took to the floor and presented Awards, County Trophies and Certificates:-

The Salopian Cup (Branch with a Club membership increase)
Winner
Hartington Branch		 Runner Up
Melbourne Branch

The Sir John Crompton-Inglefield Cup
 Winner
Ambergate and Heage Branch		 Runner-up
Swadlincote and District Branch

Harold Tomlinson Trophy for Poppy Appeal Work
Winner
Whittington Branch		 Runner-up
Oakwood Branch

County Standard Bearers Cup
Winner
 Malcolm Jarvis

The Mr Keith Jackson BEM Standard Bearers Cup 

Winner
Malcolm Jarvis

A Royal British Legion Shield was presented to Helen Chesshire in recognition of her work as Community Fundraiser whilst Christine Seldon was on maternity leave.  Christine Seldon accepted the shield from the County President on her behalf.


The County President then presented a Royal British Legion Stole to the new County Chaplain, Rev Dr Jocelyn Lewis with the County's thanks for taking on the role.  He then presented the Standards to the Standard Bearers.

 
The County Chaplain - Rev Dr Jocelyn Lewis
Receiving TRBL Stole From The County President

The County Vice Chairman, Stuart Allen, gave thanks to all Guests for attending the Conference, to Mickleover RBL Club for the arrangements and provision of the Buffet, to the Standard Bearers for their smartness, to all Delegates and Visitors who had attended the Conference. He also gave thanks for the work of the Conference Committee, the County Treasurer and the County Secretary for their hard work throughout the past year.


The County Vice Chairman - Stuart Allen
Giving The Vote Of Thanks

The National Anthem was played, with the dipping of Standards. The Standards then paraded from the Hall.  The County Chairman then closed Conference.


The Conference was well attended by County Officers, County Committee Members and there was Delegates from twenty-0ne Branches. A number of Guests and Visitors also attended Conference.

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