Monthly Meetings.

Monthly meetings are held at various venues within the region on the third Sunday of every second month unless otherwise stated.

VENUES FOR 2008 ARE.
April Forres
June Fraserburgh
August Seaforth Club Elgin
October Oldmeldrum
November Waterside Hotel (AGM)
December Keith 14.12.08 12.00 noon.



The second meeting of the year was held in the club rooms of Forres Royal British Legion Scotland and was attended by 26 fully paid up members and wives. Members were welcomed by Eric Munro the National Chairman of the Royal British Legion Scotland, we were also pleased to have the Chairman of Turriff Royal British Legion Scotland as a guest. General branch matters were discussed as well as details from the minutes of the last National Council Meeting. The main feature of this meeting was the presentaion made by Catherine Cowie of Erskine Hospital who gave us full details of the work and services provided by them and supported by a video showing the various homes for ex servicemen in and around our area. Once again our hosts provided excellant food by way of hot sauage rolls, various types of sandwiches, tea and coffee etc. The usual collection made to cover the cost of this service which totalled almost £50.00 was rejected by our hosts and in response the Branch presented Catherine with a cheque for £50.00 as a donation to Erskine. A raffle was organised by Eric Munro with prizes donated by Forres and Turriff legions, a further sum of £40.00 plus was raised from this which again was handed to Catherine. Our forthcoming Coffee Morning in May at which we hope to have Catherine with us will also raise money for Erskine Hospital
full details will be made known in our next meeting report.

Fraserburgh (17.6.07)
Our second visit to The Royal British Legion Scotland Branch was attended by 15 members and wives, this was somewhat disappointing cosidering that previous meetings in the year were attended by record numbers of members. A detailed financial report showing the income from various sources at our recent coffee morning was given to all in attendance, the end result being a further cheque for £149.78 being sent to Catherine Cowie of Erskine, this sum being 50% of the profit made on the day.Tabby Angier has recently returned from a pilgrimage to Germany where she visited the grave of her uncle who was a fighter pilot during the second world war he was shot down and killed in March 1945. Full details of her trip have been sent to the editor of the Morning Calm for possible inclusion in the next issue of that magazine. The Branch agreed that it should donate the sum of £100.00 to the Royal Chelsea Hospital for the "buy a brick for £5.00 appeal". Our recent sponsorship to two local lads who ran in the London marathon helped them raise £7000.00 for Cancer Research UK.details of known medical problems to members was made known to Janet Weir our Wellfare Officer so that she can keep in touch with those persons.The subject of bi-monthly meetings was again discussed, it was considered that the present arrangement did not allow contact with members with regards to items of extreme importance at both Branch and National Council levels without the added expense of postal charges or telephone calls to individual members. The matter will be dicussed in detail in this years AGM. The Branch was saddened to learn of the death of Ron Hancock who was a very stalwart member of the Association and an ex Argyll & Sutherland Highlander. The meeting closed at 3.20pm but not before a splendid array of sandwiches, cakes etc were dealt with in the appropriate manner for which we expressed our sincere thanks to our hosts.

Aug. (19.8.07) Seaforth Club Elgin.
This was another well attended meeting at which 22 members and wives were in attendance.The usual details of branch finances were given by the Treasurer supported by the usual financial report. Proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets have started to come in, headed by a cheque from Malcom Smith for £500.00 which represents the sale of 500 books and with a promise of more. Details of our forthcoming dinner dance and AGM have been finalised, once again the venue is the Waterside Hotel. Brian our social convenor has negotiated a price comparable with last year and the committee has decided that it can subsidise the cost by 25% for members and wives/partners. Full details of the costs involved have been sent out to all members with a request for a prompt response to Brian indicating their requirements, no money wanted until the end of October. Invited guest this year are, The Rev Peter Donald and his wife, Eric and Mrs Munro, Catherine Cowie and her husband and Jeanette Penman and her daughter. Peter is our official padre, Eric is the chairman of the Royal British Legion Scotland, Catherine is the Northern Area Co-ordinator for Erskine Hospital and Jeanette is the widow of Mark Penman who died earlier this year.A letter of thanks has been received from the Royal Chelsea Hospital in response to our cheque for £100.00 for the buy a brick scheme. Our President recently attended an event in Stirling Castle which was atended by HM the Queen, we hope to have some details of the visit for inclusion in our year end magazine. Minutes of the last meeting of the National Council were available for any member in attendance. Following a spledid array of light refreshments the meeting re-convened in order for member Bill Cecil to tell us of his involvement with a new and up and coming museum at RAF Lossiemouth for which Bill would like to have any information relating to any RAF memorabilia of the second WW particularly relating to the RAF and the communications side of it. If you know of, or have any such items please let us know. The meeting closed at 3.20 pm Journey distance by the Secretary 125 mile round trip.

October (21.10.07)Oldmeldrum
This very special venue welcomed 28 members for a very special meeting, it is always a great pleasure to come to Oldmeldrum Branch of the RBL. As usual the financial state of the Branch was reflected in a report prepared by the Treasurer and as usual no questions were raised. Once again Malcolm Smith was true to his form of past years by giving a cheque for £940.00 for the sale of raffle tickets, this making a total of 1440. sold this year.We reported on the medical condition of members that we were aware of. James Robertson need some urgent treatment to replace his pacemaker this was a long proceedure which entailed hospitalisation for a number of weeks. Air Vice Marshal George Chesworth underwent surgery to remove part of a leg, we are please to say that both members are now recovering well. Alister Wilson has heart problems and requirs further hospital treatment,he is at present in Florida enjoying the golf and the weather. Willie Cameron intends to spend a few days in Malta prior to possible surgery. It was with sadness that we reported the death of George McInulty who until this year was a member of the Branch, our condolences were sent to Hannah and the family. The Branch donated the sum of £150.00 to the Highland Hospice under thier "light a Christmas light" scheme. Details of the latest National Council meeting were made known to member at the meeting, there were issues that dissapointed us and these were to be addressed to the National Secretary under a seprate cover. Brian Cunningham advised us that the numbers booked for the forthcoming dinner dance and AGM were slightly down on last year but there was still time for more to come along. The Branch agreed to attend the Remembrance day parade and service at Keith and the Chairman hoped that many members would attend. We were once again provided with a magnificent array of sandwiches etc all at no cost, however as usual a collection was taken and the sum collected handed to the catering staff with our sincere thanks. The meeting closed at 3.35pm.
Annual Dinner Dance/AGM 17th/18th November Waterside Hotel Inverness.
55 members, families and guests attended the 23rd annual event for the Northeast Scotland Branch. Guests this year were The Rev and Mrs Peter Donald our Padre, Eric and Mrs Munro and Mrs & Mrs Catherine Cowie.Catherine is the Northern Area Co-ordinator for Erskine, and last but by no means least we welcomed Jeanette Penman and her daughter Pauline, Jeanette being the widow of Mark our member who we sadly lost in March. Following kind words from our Padre relevant to members who had suffered ill health this year and the saying of the grace we all enjoyed a splendid meal. There followed speeches from Eric Munro, our President Lt Col Andrew Brown MBE (in his 93rd year)our Chairman David Weir and Catherine Cowie. The Secretary then had the pleasure of making presentations to Malcolm Smith for his prowess at selling raffle tickets (1440 this year) who received an engraved crystal bowl plus a bottle of the "water of life", and to Tabby Angier who received an engraved quaich plus a bouquet of flowers for her brilliant efforts in raising money for Erskine and for coaxing a number of our distilleries to donate a bottle of their finest for fund raising events as desired. The Branch decided that we would try to raise money for Erskine who do so much for disabled and homeless veterans of all wars. We started by holding a raffle and a collection at our meeting in April at Forres, we held a coffee morning at Turriff in May, Tabby held a coffee morning in her own house, and at this annual event raised further money by tossing one pound coins at a bottle of the best from a distance, this raised £74.00 in minutes and meant that in total we were able to give Erskine £500.00, we were proud to do that. We also made a donation to the Royal Chelsea Hospital under the "buy a brick for £5.00 scheme". To the Highland Hospice we donated £150.00 for their "light a Christmas light scheme", we also donated to the Waterside hotel one of the "special" bottles so that they could use it in their raffles for which the proceeds go the Highland Hospice, we also gave Catherine a bottle so that she could use it as an auction lot to try to raise more money for Erskine. Bouquets were given to our lady guests and also to Margaret Coutts, Anne Smith, Mattie Cunningham and Janet Weir, these ladies do so very much for the Branch each year, in many way, they are indeed the unsung herions.
23 Members attended the AGM which sadly due to problems within the hotel was some 1 hour late in starting, this meant that items on the agenda were rushed, however all relevant areas were covered. The Chairman welcomed members to the meeting, the minutes of last years AGM were circulated and approved. The Treasurer produced a complete statement of income and expenditure fully supported by bank statements and financial documents issued during the year all being available for members to view if they wish. This year raffle produced a profit of just over £1900.00 somewhat down on last year but a good effort which will allow the branch to survive reasonably well for another year. Bill Coutts the raffle convenor thanked all who did so much to make this year another good one. Brain Cunningham was thanked for his superb efforts in dealing with the hotel and arranging accomodation etc required to make this even a success that it was. The President spoke highly of the quality of the present committee and it was no surprise that all were re-elected for another year. The committe for 2008 is President Lt Col Andrew Brown MBE, Chairman David Weir, Vice Chairman/Raffle convenor Bill Coutts, Secretary/Treasurer David Drinkwater, Social Convenor Brian Cunningham, Welfare Officer Janet Weir.
Keith (9.12.07)
It was decided at the AGM to Hold a final meeting for the year 2007 in the club rooms of Keith and District Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland. 19 members attended this meeting which, due to the lack of daylight hours at this time of the year commenced at 12.30 am. The usual details of the finances of the Branch were discussed and the final outcome of our recent raffle was made known, this year after all expenses were taken into consideration a profit of £1902.41 was realised, this was somewhat down on the year 2006 due mainly to the incapacity of our "star raffle ticket seller" Malcolm Smith who is awaited knee replacements and until then suffers constant and considerable pain. The recent problems from the USA as detailed in the minutes of the last National Council Meeting were made known to the members assembled and the decision made by the National Council was agreed as being the correct course of action under the circumstances. Our annual magazine "The Watering Hole" has been completed and circulated to all members and also to a number of BKVA branches throughout the country. It contained a number of interesting items, among which was an article composed by our President Lt Col Andrew Brown MBE concerning his visit to Stirling earlier in the yuear to meet the Queen and also an item showing our member Allan Robertson who, with friends visited the NMA and laid a wreath on behalf of the Branch. Noting the offer of a piece of stone by David Blair the Branch considered the acquisition of a large piece of Scottish Granite suitably prepared and engraved with the names of the Scottish Regiments that took part in the Korean War and that this item would be transported to the NMA and erected in a suitable place. The Granite is currently readily available at no cost from McIntosh Plant Hire (Aberdeen) Ltd, a local stonemason (Nation wide) was prepared to carry out the carving, tranportation to their agents in Coventry for onward transportation and erection in the NMA. All costs involved would be the responsibilty of the Northeast Scotland Branch BKVA. Subsequent consultation with the National Secretary indicated that the idea would not receive aproval therefor the matter is held in abayance. The Branch considered organising a trip to Blackpool on June 2008 to take part in the Veterans Week, letters were sent to all members concerning this and an approach was made to the coach/tour company that took us to Stirling and London for earlier events. Response from members was poor and sadly the event was cancelled. At the end of the meeting, ladies of the branch produced a sumptuous feast of Christmas Fare all donated by members and following our attempt to devour the goodies , with all good wishes for the festive season and good wishes for next year we all departed in good spirit for our respective homes at 1.55pm.

Turriff (17.2.08)
The first meeting of the year 2008 was held in one of our most popular venues - Turriff Royal British Legion Scotland. Twenty Three (23) members and wives attended this meeting during which the usual information concerning Branch finances was discussed. It was with great sadness we had to report the death of Peter McWilliam who died on the 6th of February, his funeral on the 13th was attended by the Branch Chairman plus other members of the Branch. Our list of sick members seems to be growing rapidly this year. Julie Philip suffered shoulder and arm injury following a fall, Willie Cameron was hospitalised in December so that the consultants could decide on a plan of action regarding possible surgery for an aneurysm of long standing. It was decided that because of his considerable health problems they would not risk and operation at this time. Andrew Morrison was rushed into ARI with a serious aneurysm problem and underwent surgery to correct the it but three further trips to the operating theatre were necessary befor his condition began to stabalise, Andrew will require a very long period of convalescense. Richard Murphy our member from Longside is in poor health and has undergone a period of chemo, both Richard and his wife Wendy have not enjoyed the best of health for some considerable time. Janet our welfare officer is monitoring these cases and all others that we know are not in good health and we shall report on them at our next meeting. Lt Col Andrew Brown MBE our Branch President and the Branch Secretary attended a business breakfast in the Aberdeen Conference and Exhibition Centre at which the speaker was John Nichol, John was, as many will remember, the Navigator of a Tornado that was shot down in the first Gulf War and suffered considerable torture at the hands of the Iraqies, making the front page of the world press when he was paraded on the television showing his very poor state of health. John, who is an author of some repute is currently researching for a book relating to medical persons who are known for acts of bravery in the many conflicts up to date. Despite it being a very early start (6.30 am)it was well worth the effort. Sadley the plans to take part in the Veterans Week in Blackpool this year have had to be scrapped, this is due to a lack of response from interested members combined with the very tight deadline set by the coach company which would have arranged accomodation ect as before, plans to apply to the Lotteries Commission have also been scrapped. The Highland Council have offerred a civic lunch to members of the Branch to be arranged for a later date in the year, this will be discussed at the next Branch Meeting and if enough members show interest further information will be obtained, this gesture by the Highland Council is deemed to be a great honour for the Branch. Once again a splendid array of refreshments were provided for consumption during the mid session interval. A collection was made and given to the ladies of the Turriff Royal British Legion by way of thanks for their care and hard work. Our next meetin will be held at Forres and District branch of the Royal British Legion (Scotland) on Sunday the 20th of April.