insideKENT Magazine Issue 93 - December 2019 | Page 179

CHARITY
Her Majesty The Queen Marks Royal British Legion Industries’ Centenary
HM THE QUEEN WITH RBLI VOLUNTEER KATE BOSLEY
The streets of Royal British Legion Industries’ (RBLI)
village in Kent were lined with thousands of local
school children, residents and supporters to welcome
Her Majesty The Queen when she marked the
charity’s 100th anniversary.
During the visit to Aylesford, near Maidstone, The
Queen officially opened Appleton Lodge, RBLI’s
new luxury care facility for veterans and their families.
The building was named after First World War Sister
Edith Appleton, OBE, who was born in Kent and
awarded the Royal Red Cross for nursing on the
front line during the Great War.
The new care home is part of the £22 million
Centenary Village development which, when
complete, will provide crucial homes, welfare support
and create a community for the country’s most
vulnerable veterans.
HM THE QUEEN BURIES THE RBLI
CENTENARY TIME CAPSULE
To commemorate her visit and the beginning of the
next phase of the Centenary Village, The Queen
laid a time capsule containing 10 stories of veterans
and their families living in RBLI’s existing village,
a commemorative coin marking the occasion and a
handwritten letter for future residents from the
charity’s chief executive Brigadier Steve Sherry
CMG OBE. The event included a formal lunch for The Queen
and 99 guests and finger buffet for a further 280
guests prepared by chef Graham Green and his
team at award-winning local company, Chives the
Caterers. Debbie Green managing director of Chives
commented: “I never imagined that one day I would
personally serve the Queen and I am just bursting
with pride.”
The Queen also submitted a letter to the time capsule,
to be opened in 100 years’ time, which said: RBLI, which was formed in 1919 to provide support
to sick and wounded soldiers returning from
the First World War, launched a campaign in 2019
to build the Centenary Village – a veterans’
community comprising family homes, assisted-living
apartments and a community centre, which the
charity says will see them support hundreds of the
most in-need ex-servicemen and women every year
for another century.
“I wish to congratulate Royal British Legion
Industries on their Centenary, and their support of
veterans over the past 100 years. Today is a moment
of celebration, but also a time of reflection on the
sacrifices the Armed Forces make in times of need.
I send my warmest best wishes to RBLI and all who
support them.”
Success at the Finish Line
The Strode Park Foundation’s autumn charity
events, with a distinctly sporting feel, have raised
more than £1000 for the people with disabilities
who use the services.
For the first time in a number of years a Golf Day
was held at Whitstable and Seasalter Golf Course
on 13 September, followed by a Charity Race Day
to watch the motorcycle racing at Brands Hatch on
6 October.
Both events attracted attendees from a variety of
local community groups and businesses, in particular
the Charity Race Day, which was enjoyed by
members of the Widows Sons East Kent Bikers
Association.
GOLF DAY WINNERS
Organiser of the events, Sarah Bingham, said: “Both
events created a great opportunity to be able to
develop relationships with current supporters as well
as to fundraise. The Charity Race Day was really
exciting and four of the guests also got to ride in the
race course car.
The Golf Day was another fantastic event with a
game of golf and a dinner supported by several
teams. The winning team on the day were from the
Copper Pottle, a local micro pub who are keen
supporters of Strode Park and have themselves raised
thousands of pounds for us over the past few years.”
In total, both events have raised more than £1,000
which will go directly towards helping the people
with disabilities supported by Strode Park
Foundation.
The Foundation is now in the process of organising
further events for 2020 with a date already set for
a Golf Day at Cave Hotel & Golf Resort, Boughton
on Thursday 21 May.
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