25th January 1924 - British Legion Annual Meeting

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British Legion

(Buntingford Branch)

Annual Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the members of the Buntingford Branch of the British Legion was held at the Ex-Service Men's Club Room on Wednesday evening.

The chair was occupied by the President, Captain H.H. Williams, and there was a good attendance of members, including a strong contingent from the Hormead Branch.

Balance Sheet

The Hon. Treasurer, Mr F.W. Butler, presented the balance sheet of 1923.

Receipts were: Subscriptions £5 18s. 4d., Donations 7s. 6d., Sale of Badges 15s., Poppy Day £64 14s. Total £71 14s. 10d.

Expenditure - Membership cards 10s. 6d., Club funds £1 5s., Badges £1 4s., Poppy Day fund £64 14s., Fees £1 16s. 9d. 

The balance in hand amounted to £2 8s. 7d. The balance sheet was adopted.

Secretary's Report

The Hon. Secretary, Mr G.H. Maughan, gave a satisfactory report of the working of the organisation.

Since February, 1923, 57 members had been enrolled, and 17 new applications for membership had been accepted for 1924.

The amount forwarded to the Headquarters in respect of Armistice Day was £66 1s. 4d., and after deducting the cost of the poppies, 85 per cent. of this was returnable to the branch for relief.

During the year several pension questions had been dealt with.

It was proposed to hold a public meeting next month, and Colonel Crossfield, D.S.O., had consented to address the meeting.

The report was passed as satisfactory.

Election of Officers

Capt. H.H. Williams was unanimously elected President and re-elected Chairman, Capt. G. Scarborough Taylor being elected Vice-Chairman.

The Chairman said that he would like to move that the Hon. Secretary, Mr G.H. Maughan, and the Hon. Treasurer, Mr F.W. Butler, be re-elected. They had both performed their duties in an excellent manner. The proposition was seconded by Capt. G. Scarborough Taylor and unanimously carried.

The election of the Committee was carried out by ballot, and resulted as follows: The Rev. H.L. Sheppard, Messrs. P. Woollard, H. Piper, A.E. Mayes, E. Totman, H. Cutts, G. Coleman, A. Dray and E. Crane.

Captain H.H. Williams and the Rev. H.L. Sheppard were elected as delegates on the area Council.

The formation of a sub-branch at Great Hormead was confirmed.

Thanks

The Secretary was instructed to write to the Secretary of the Buntingford Ex-Service Men's Club thanking the Committee for the use of the Club Room for the Legion meetings.

It was announced that subscriptions for 1924 were now due.

20th August 1926 - A Happy Party

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A Happy Party

Some 300 children who were on an outing from the Stoke Newington Branch of the British Legion passed through Buntingford on Saturday last.

The party, which occupied eleven charaabancs made a halt near the Benson Hall where each child was supplied with half-a-pint of new milk.

The arrangements for the distribution of the milk were made by Mr E.C. Clarke, the Local Secretary of the Buntingford Branch, and the milk was kindly given by Mr C.H. Poulton, of Aspenden.

The children were delighted with the treat and left with happy memories of their short stay in Buntingford.

10th December 1926 - British Legion Buntingford and District Branch

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British Legion

Buntingford and District Branch

The following is a Statement of the amounts raised and collected on Remembrance Day, 1926.

Donations

C. Fraser, Esq. - £1 1s. 0d.

Mrs Nevett - £1 1s. 0d.

Mrs Greg - £1 1s. 0d

Mrs J.R. Russell - 10s. 0d.

Mrs Codrington - 10s. 0d.

Miss Gruner - 5s. 0d.

Mr Sutterby - 2s. 0d.

Total - £4 10s. 0d.

Poppy Sales - Buntingford

Miss M. Crane and Miss Armstrong - £1 13s. 4 and half pence.

Mrs L. Smith and Miss Cutts - £1 15s. 8d.

Miss Lushington - £1 13s. 0d.

Masters John and Georgie Taylor - £1 6s. 11d.

Miss M. Fell - £1 5s. 0d.

Miss Scrivener and Miss Wilkerson - £1 11s. 4d.

Miss E. Smith - £1 2s. 6d.

Mrs J. Aylott - £1 4s. 10d.

Miss P Mayes - 14s. 1d.

Mrs Marshall - 8s. 6d.

Mr H. Fry - 7s. 6d.

Total - £12 2s. 8 and a half pence.

Anstey - per Miss Buckwell - £1 8s. 1d.

Wyddiall - per Lady Heaton-Ellis - £1 17s. 3d.

Aspenden - per Miss Grace Phillips - £1 14s. 6d.

Buckland - per Miss Morris - £2 13s. 8 and a half pence.

Cottered - per Miss Wilderspin - £2 6s. 3d.

Furneaux Pelham (part) - per Mrs Holmes - £1 8s. 2 and a half pence.

Westmill - per Mrs Coutts-Deacon - £4 0s. 4 and a half pence.

Meesden - per Mrs Kerr - £1 6s. 0d.

Great and Little Hormead - per Mrs Dimsdale - £4 0s. 0d.

Rushden - per Mr E.J. Marchal - £3 16s. 6d.

Ardeley - per Mr J.H. Thorpe - £2 3s. 6d.

Brent Pelham - per Mrs Barclay - £2 10s. 0d.

Wallington - per Miss Cragg - £2 0s. 0d.

Total - £31 4s. 4 and a half pence.

British Legion (Branch and Club) Poppies for Wreath - £1 0s. 0d.

Proceeds of Rummage Sale - £10 3s. 8d.

Trail of Pennies - £7 10s. 0d.

Proceeds of Concert, including Sale of Programmes (£1 2s. 1d.) and auction sale of Baby's Comforter (£1 0s. 9d.) - £22 7s. 4d.

Church collections

St Richard's R.C. Church, Buntingford - £1 1s. 2d.

Anstey - £2 1s. 7d.

Buntingford Congregational Church - 17s. 0d.

Total - £3 19s. 9d.

Grand total - £93 17s. 10d.

The above figure of £93 17s. 10d. represents the Gross Receipts up to the 7th December, and there is a further amount to be included in respect of the Church Collections, which has not yet come to hand.

The Gross Receipts for Poppy Day, 1925, amounted to £91 11s. 8d.

E.C. Clarke, Hon. Sec., Buntingford and District Branch British Legion.

Buntingford, 7th December, 1926.

7th January 1927 - Ex-service men entertain the children

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Ex-service men entertain the children

That nothing appeals to the heart more than a group of happy children was amply demonstrated on Monday evening, when the children of the members of the Buntingford British Legion Club were the guests at the annual party.

The arrangements for the treat were made by Mr H. Clarke (Sec. of the Club) and Mr E.C. Clarke (Hon. Sec. of the Buntingford Branch of the British Legion).

The room, with its attractive decorations was much admired. A great attraction was the huge Xmas Tree (given by Mr C.H. Poulton). The tree was heavily laden with toys and gifts selected by Mrs H. Clarke.

Some 50 children responded to the invitation to be present, and judging by the enthusiasm displayed this party exceeded all predecessors.

The whole party sat down to tea at 4.30, assistance at the tables being given by Mrs H. Clarke, Mrs E.C. Clarke, Mrs Starr, Mrs Warren, Mrs White, Mrs S. Smith, Mrs Scarborough Taylor and Miss Mayes.

Mrs Hall, the stewardess at the Club, also lent valuable assistance. Visitors included Captain and Mrs H.H. Williams, Mrs, Miss and Master C. Fell, Messrs G. Scarborough Taylor, E.C. Clarke, H. Clarke, E.J. Crane, E.E. Dennis, B.E. Thody, F. White, T. Pledger, A. Coxall, S. Daniels and W. Hall.

During tea Mr H. Clarke installed a powerful wireless set, and the music was much enjoyed.

Following tea, games and songs were indulged in until 7p.m. when the arrival of "Father Christmas" was the signal for three hearty cheers.

Mrs H.H. Williams then presented each child with a gift from the tree, and a National Savings' Card with two sixpenny stamps attached.

Mr H. Clarke called for cheers for the members of the Club and numerous friends who had made the treat possible.

Cheers were also given for the ladies, the New Year and Messrs. H. and E.C. Clarke. On leaving each child was given two oranges, a bag of sweets and a small gifts, and a thoroughly successful treat ended with the singing of God Save the King.