Sandown hosted this year’s Annual County Conference of the Royal British Legion (RBL), attended by Island Patron Major General Sir Martin White and Lady Fiona White. Members and guests were welcomed to Sandown Broadway Centre by the Mayor of Sandown, Councillor Alex Lightfoot, who touched on commemorative events planned for later in the year. Projects include an 80th Anniversary of D Day, with links to HMS Sandown which served at Dunkirk and Normandy, a project about the Commonwealth War Graves in the Bay, as well as initiatives about Monte Cassino and Operation Market Garden. The RBL County Chairman gave his annual report and updated members on the year’s events and plans for 2024, and the Membership Engagement Officer reported that future events and local community support indicate a good year ahead and highlighted that local welfare spending 2022-2023 was over £17,000, mostly supporting veterans with cost-of-living issues. Ian Ward BEM, RBL County President, said:
“Legion Members appreciated the connection that Sandown, as a former garrison town, has to our armed services, and the success of the conference was due to the efforts of all of the volunteers involved.”
Mayor Alex Lightfoot concluded:
“Remembrance and Armistice Days in Sandown highlight the value the town places on our links with the sacrifices made, and the town is proud to have hosted this event, as well as contributing to commemorative events planned for later in the year.”
