A belated celebration for 100 years of the Royal British Legion
The Prudhoe Branch of the Royal British Legion is thoroughly embedded into our community. Prudhoe Town Council stand beside them, along with many others, to keep the meaning of Remembrance alive; to fundraise, support and educate.
Prudhoe has an extremely hard working and active branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) who raise funds all year round and lead on Remembrance. On 15th May the Royal British Legion should have celebrated their centenary; the occasion was marked, but not as they would have liked. It was quite different to 2011 when the town celebrated 90 years of RBL on The Glade. At this time, there was a great coming together attended by our schools and community groups and members of the public.
Young people are vital to the work of the RBL, as our young people will be the supporters, fundraisers, and campaigners of the future. We know that our local schools ensure that Remembrance and the work of the RBL does not go unnoticed. For this reason, the Town Council agreed to lead on a belated celebration of the RBL, with a whistle-stop tour of schools, transported in style by Alan of Hillary’s of Prudhoe.
Our Mayor, Cllr Bryan Futers, accompanied by the Clerk, Sarah Eden, led a visit to schools in Prudhoe to give them the opportunity to celebrate 100 years of the Royal British Legion and to thank the Prudhoe & District Branch for what they do. A belated celebration, it may have been, but what a welcome we received from those schools who were able to take part.
The visiting group was delighted to hear celebratory songs, prayers, and poems and also received an abundance of amazing creative work from the young people, which is on display in Prudhoe library window.
The visiting party was made up of members of the Prudhoe Branch of the RBL and RBL Women’s Section and representatives of the armed forces and local cadet forces, who looked very impressive in uniform. We were also incredibly lucky that Debra Smurthwaite was able to attend to play the Reveille on the bugle, and Moira Wooldridge looked after photography.
Following the visits to St. Matthew’s RC Primary, Highfield Middle School, Prudhoe Castle First School, Prudhoe West Academy and Adderlane Academy the visiting party enjoyed a splendid lunch at Ball’s Restaurant with table decorations by ‘Just to Say’. Our party was overwhelmed with the thought that had gone into their reception at all schools, and it was obvious that the school community was delighted to welcome their first visitors in some time.
Mickley First School and Prudhoe Community High School, who were not able to take part, were disappointed. Both schools sent heartfelt congratulations and well wishes to the Prudhoe Branch of the RBL and hopes that something can be arranged at Remembrance time.
St Matthew’s RC Primary School
Highfield Middle School
Prudhoe Castle First School
Prudhoe West Academy
Adderlane Academy
We are all hopeful that Remembrance 2021 will be more in keeping with previous years, although our 2020 video was a triumph. The Prudhoe Branch of the RBL meet on Monday to close accounts for 2020 and begin planning for 2021. Prudhoe residents are known for their generosity to the Poppy Appeal; we will publicise fundraising totals once received.
Thank you to the schools named and to our visiting party, named below, without whom we would not have been able to arrange such a memorable event.
Mayor, Cllr Bryan Futers
Irene Davis (Prudhoe Branch of RBL – Women’s Section)
June Milligan (Prudhoe Branch of RBL – Women’s Section)
Jed Devlin (Prudhoe Branch of RBL – Men’s Section)
Flt Lt Philip Magee (1248 Prudhoe Squadron – Royal Airforce Air Cadets)
RSM Phil Nutley (Northumbria Army Cadet Force)
WO2 SSM Chris Barrett (Royal Logistics Corps)
Moira Wooldridge (Photographer)
Debra Smurthwaite (Bugler)
