British Legion Celebrates the Queen's 90th Birthday

The Milford on Sea Community Centre was the venue for a most successful event run by the Milford on Sea Branch of the Royal British Legion to mark the Queen's 90th birthday.

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The Mayor and Mayoress of Lymington together with a further 75 attendees including members, partners and guests partook of a glass of sparkling wine offered by the Branch President Colonel Gordon Barnett, before sitting down to a sumptuous four course dinner prepared by a team of volunteers led by an enthusiastic local chef.

During the meal a rolling montage of the life of the Queen was screened and this was well received by all present as was the letter of thanks received from the Queen in response to loyal salutations sent from the Branch on the Queen's Birthday.

The Branch Chairman, Peter Gibbs, thanked all of those present for their support and in particular the Chef and his team of volunteer helpers who had worked so hard in sourcing and preparing the meal and in its serving. As a token of the Branch's thanks the Chairman presented each member of the volunteer staff with a bottle of wine.

Once the dinner and formalities were complete all present enjoyed an evening of dance and entertainment provided by Ricky Zalez a talented singer.

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Thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of volunteers and support given by locally based traders in the form of discounts, free strawberries and raffle prizes some £1600 was raised for the work of the Royal British Legion.

Vigil & Service

The Branch also organised a vigil and service on the Village Green on 1st July to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.

Commencing at 0600 hrs the silent vigil was broken every 15 minutes for poems and writings of the period and at 7.30 whistles were sounded after which Canon Ray Hubble, the Branch Chaplain led the attendees in prayers followed by the Exhortation, Silence, the Kohima Epitaph and hymns. Some 100 people participated in the event and wreathes on our temporary War Memorial were laid by the Branch President and President of the Women's Section.