RBL: The Sedgeberrow branch of the Royal British Legion recently held their annual dinner at the Beckford Hotel.

Branch chairman Mervyn Kearsey gave the Exhortation and branch Padre Rev C J Johnston-Hubbold said the Grace.

The chairman welcomed guests and reported on a very successful year which included a record poppy appeal total of £1,640, the retention of the Taffy Matthews Trophy for the efficiency of small branches and winning the County 12-a-side skittles competition.

The Worcestershire county chairman, Ken Draper, congratulated the branch on its 50-year anniversary and presented the 50-year Pennant to the branch president Gilbert Daffurn. He also presented a County Certificate of Appreciation to Neville Barrett for many years service as the branch sports secretary.

The newly appointed chairman of the Women's Section, Worcester County, Audrey Watson was introduced. She congratulated the branch on the record poppy appeal total and presented 30-year medals to Sylvia Brown and Teresa Holder for continuous service to the poppy appeal.

The branch chairman reported that the plaque which contained the names of the founder members of the branch had been very carefully mounted and framed by Colin Angell and it was hoped that it would hang in the Betteridge Room.