The Royal British Legion Remembrance Day Organisation

My involvement with the Royal British Legion began when my late father Harry Hawkins was a member of the Broadmayne branch. This was a flourishing branch and my father was involved fund-raising activities. This consisted of social evenings, dances, bingos, fetes and an annual flower show. I was a member of the Women’s Section of the Broadmayne Branch of RBL and was Treasurer until the Men’s Branch closed.

When I was asked to organise the Poppy Appeal for Broadmayne and District, I was rather apprehensive of taking this on; without the help of Mr Bradshaw and Mr Cook, I would have been unable to take on this commitment. The orders have to be sent to Maidstone, who then send everything to me. This includes wreaths, wooden crosses, altar poppies and single poppies. Any remaining unsold stock has to be recorded and returned to Maidstone, and all the money in the collecting boxes, has to be counted and banked. The counting of the boxes is quite a task and every collector has to be notified of the amounts they have collected. I had to ask people if they would be willing to be collectors who have to brave the cold, rain and occasionally receive rejection. In this area we are extremely fortunate with our collectors and also the static collection points. Personally I feel this is very worthwhile, as so many people are still suffering from the effects of the wars.

Hazel Joyce, Honorary Poppy Appeal organiser

The Memorial to those Broadmayne citizens who gave their lives in two world wars