Tewkesbury

By Peter Godwin

This year on the 20 December the Tewkesbury Branch of the Royal British Legion will celebrate its centenary.

The British Legion was first established in 1921, the Tewkesbury branch was registered with the Legion on 20 December 1922. The branch used to meet above a pub in Quay Street until 1955 when Colonel Hadrell, a trustee of the Abbey Lawn Trust, offered a permanent location in Church Street. The room was next door to a pub and the members used to get their drinks through a hatch between meeting room and pub. Both the meeting room and the pub eventually merged,

Rbl 100

and a Legion club was established. It is often misunderstood but club and branch are two separate organisations, so when the club unfortunately closed during the covid lockdown the branch continued to function, as it does today. The branch now meet in the back barn of the Berkeley Arms on the last Thursday of the month.

The branch remains active, and members can be seen at fundraising opportunities within the local community. We were are heavily involved with remembrance services in the town and organise the local poppy appeal. This includes talking with various groups, most recently cubs and scouts. We have a short service at the Cartland Memorial at the front of the Abbey at the start of the remembrance fortnight, where a garden of remembrance is blessed, allowing people to place crosses. We also attend Marina Court on Armistice Day providing a short commemoration service.

The Legion is there for all serving and veterans, to keep this going in Tewkesbury we need new members, the Legion is open to all who wish to support this national institution.

We are holding a social event between 2-5pm on the 20 December in the Wat- son Hall, all those interested in finding out more about the work of the Legion are welcome to attend as are veterans and those still serving. A buffet lunch will be provided, and a cash bar will be available. For further details and to register your attendance (for catering purposes) please contact tewkesburyrbl100@ outlook.com

COUNTRY MATTERS with Jack B.

Here’s a round-up of some special Christmas events at a few of our nearby attractions:

BATSFORD ARBORETUM: Beautiful arboretum with winter walks near Bourton-on-the Hill. Gift shop, plus new café now open. Santa’s Grotto and selected dates in December. Tickets may be booked in advance at www.batsarb.co.uk

CLEARWELL CAVES: In the Forest of Dean.A magical underground journey through the caves to meet Santa in his grotto.Christmas stalls selling decorations and gifts; pop-up subterranean café with hot chocolate. Follow the trail of Archie and the unicorn too!More information and tickets from clearwellcaves.com

CROOME PARK: Capability Brown’s stunning landscape park near

Pershore. Winter Waves wonderland walks in December, with Christmas shopping and festive treats in the café. www.nationaltrust.org.uk /croome

Glos Warks

STEAM RAILWAY: Santa Special trains running in December. Pre-booking essential at www.gwsr.com

SUDELEY CASTLE: Spectacle of Light: Now on until December 30th. A very special event at Winchcombe’s historic castle. Details from sudeleycastle.co.uk

WESTONBIRT: England’s national arboretum, near Tetbury. Westonbirt has over 2500 species of tree and covers 600 acres. Enchanted Christmas event on selected evenings until December 21st. Details and tickets from www.forestry england.uk/westonbirt