Tag: Royal British Legion

Gifts gathered in Shaftesbury for children’s hospital

Posted on by ashleymarsh

An unlikely trio of an armed forces charity, motorbikers, and a funeral director have combined their strengths to make sure children in hospital get some extra special toys this Christmas.

Dan Skinner, one of our Funeral Service Operatives based in Shaftesbury, is currently rallying the troops to take part in a toy run to Dorset County Hospital on Saturday 16 December.

The idea was kicked off at his local meeting of the Royal British Legion Riders and he has already secured £500 of donations from Southern Co-op which runs The Co-operative Funeralcare – Shaftesbury.

The donations will be made to the Kingfisher Ward which is for children and young people aged 0 to 17 years. It has 17 inpatient beds for a variety of specialities and Dan wants to make sure the ward is filled with gifts that all the children can enjoy.

Dan said: “I am currently trying to bring together as many people as I can muster. The more involvement, the more donations and the more the children will benefit.

“The hospital staff have sent me a list of items they would be very grateful for so this donation will make a great difference. I was really taken aback with the quantity of toys donated, it’s really generous.

“We have approached other motorcycle groups as well so I hope we’ll have a good attendance, the idea being that everyone brings something to donate.”

The Royal British Legion Riders branch exists primarily to support the poppy appeal but will also lend a hand in the community when they are able.

But it’s not just charity work that they get involved in. Dan fondly remembers him and his fellow bikers taking part in a surprise birthday visit to a nursing home for a gentleman in his nineties who loved his fast cars and motorcycles.

Dan said: “The nursing home had organised an ice cream van and the sun shone. It really made his day.

“We also do a lot of funeral escorts as well, at the request of families, mostly for veterans who have passed away.”

To find out more about the Dorset branch of the Royal British Legion Riders, visit www.facebook.com/RBLRDorset/ or email dorset@riders-mail.com.

Window displays mark importance of Remembrance Day

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Co-operative colleagues across the south of England are marking Remembrance Day with special displays in their windows.

Southern Co-op’s funeralcare branches, crematoria and burial sites, have created colourful displays with an important message of remembrance.

Remembrance Day 2022 sees the Royal British Legion remembering and commemorating military and civilian service, and the 40th anniversary of the Falklands conflict.

Southern Co-op, the regional, independent co-operative, will be making a donation of £500 to the Royal British Legion to mark the important date.

Cathy Houghton, Funeral and Memorial Consultant at The Co-operative Funeralcare in Rowner, said: “I get a sense of pride when it comes to Remembrance Sunday. My dad, Patrick Divers, served with the Royal Marines Commandos during the Second World War and fought in the Dieppe Raid where 275 commandos lost their lives.

“Luckily my dad survived but sadly died when I was a child. I suppose my dad inspired me to join the forces at age 18 and I was proudly part of the Remembrance parade at Whitehall in 1989 representing the Women’s Royal Naval Service.

“Remembrance Sunday is important to me to remember those who gave up their lives for us… and to especially remember my dear dad.”

Southern Co-op’s colleagues will be marking the important day with a minute’s silence including at its local retail stores.

To find your nearest Southern Co-op funeral branch, visit www.funeralcare.co.uk/our-funeral-directors/location-map/.

A ‘Message of Thanks’ for WWI’s centenary

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Hayling Island residents are being invited to say thank you to the WW1 generation with a public message on a funeral home’s window.

Southern Co-op’s Hayling Island Funeralcare in Mengham Road is creating a Window of Thanks to show gratitude to those that gave us a window of hope and the chance to see a way forward.

The local community is being invited to pick up a poppy in the branch for a donation and write a message on the Window of Thanks.

Poppies will be available 1st to 11th November and all proceeds will go to Royal British Legion.

Hayley Wallage, Southern Co-op’s Funeral Co-ordinator in Hayling Island, said: “I wanted to mark the 100 years in a way that was considerate to the local community.

“The 100 years of thanks is currently being promoted by the Royal British Legion so I hope people will help us to support such a worthy cause.

“People will be able to write a message on a poppy shape and stick it onto our window creating a window of thanks. It is extremely important to raise awareness of such a significant part of our history and to say thank you.”

Hayling Island’s Co-operative Funeralcare is located at 20 Mengham Road and is part of is the regional independent co-operative society, Southern Co-op.