Royal British Legion turned 90 this year
Graham Macdonald the president of the Royal
British Legion Chonburi Thailand presents Peter Malhotra, the managing
director of Pattaya Mail Media Group with a “Friend of the Legion”
Certificate.
Bert Elson
“Service not Self” is the motto of the Royal British
Legion, which turned 90 years old this year. Celebrations were held wherever
there is a branch of the Legion, including Thailand.
That same motto can also be applied to those that in fact
help the Legion and on our birthday here in Pattaya we recognised two such
groups, Peter Malhotra of the Pattaya Mail Media Group and Vic King
and Mathew Johnstone of the Queen Vic/MatVic Butchers who were all presented
with a “Friend of the Legion” Certificate sent from our head office in
London. Both certificates were signed by the national president and national
chairman of the Royal British Legion.
Bert Elson the secretary &
welfare chairman of the Royal British legion Thailand joins president Graham
Macdonald in presenting Vic King with his “Friend of the Legion”
Certificate.
For those that don’t know, the Legion came into existence
in 1921 to care for ex-servicemen and women from WWI. That same work and
more is still carried out today and our role is to care for those who have
served or are serving in the UK Armed Forces and/or their dependants. To
carry out this work we need a number of things: funds of course, members and
volunteers to carry out our welfare work and the support of the local
community. Both Pattaya Mail and Queen Vic/MatVic Butchers have given
that support in different ways.
If we are to help what we call our “beneficiaries” (Those
who have served) or their “dependants” (wives and children), then we need to
be known about. People need to know where and when to come, not just perhaps
to donate funds but also to receive help should they need it. The Pattaya
Mail has always provided that avenue of information for us since day one
of our formation, without charge and without any question of paid
advertising. They have both highlighted our needs and given details of our
events and meetings. They are indeed a “Friend of the Legion”.
Buddy Ditchburn, George
Barrie, John Hocking – members attending the general meeting before the
presentation.
The managing director of Pattaya Mail, Peter
Malhotra expressed his heartfelt gratitude saying that is was indeed an
honour to receive this recognition from the Royal British Legion. He said,
“I am well aware of the importance of the media and how it can help
organisations such the Royal British Legion in attaining their worthy
goals.” He went on to say that it was his moral duty as a human being to
help those who dedicate their lives for others and this is the case with the
Royal British Legion and for those veterans that they take care of. Peter
added, “I am humbled to learn the British Legion here in Thailand aids Thai
widows and even non British veterans, not to mention many other charitable
projects in our country.”
The Queen Victoria Inn, thanks to Vic and Mathew, have
always helped us in another way that is equally important, funds. We don’t
just care for elderly veterans, we have assisted young and old, for there
are a lot of younger veterans out there now. Some of the things we have
provided are pension top up’s, immediate need grants, repatriations,
hospital and housebound visits and many other benefits.
Dave Haddon, John Hocking, Bob
Myers listen to Bert Elson updating the members on the activities of the
Royal British Legion in Thailand.
We have also provided care and advice to their Thai wives
should they unfortunately die; we ensure they receive any pensions or
allowances due, we have paid for funerals and ensured that any children
continue schooling by paying for school fees, uniforms and books. The list
is endless and the Queen Vic along with all its supporters on their 10th
Birthday Party help us to continue carrying out that work. They raised a
total of 118,000 on our joint birthday party (half of this was by one
donation - well done John Clarke!). All of that will go into our 2011 Poppy
Appeal and used for our welfare work in Thailand, for we do in fact cover
the whole of Thailand. Thank you to the Queen Vic, another “Friend of the
Legion”.
If I may end by giving a couple of tips that may help all
expats here of whatever nationality:
A. Get yourself some form of medical insurance. Even a
very basic one may save your life because one day it WILL happen to you.
B. Many of you do not have medical insurance because you
are financially secure. That’s fine for when you don’t feel well and go to
hospital or are aware of what’s going on. What about if you have an accident
or a stroke that leaves you in a coma, and you live alone or have never
given PIN numbers or bank details to you wife? You’ve never bothered as of
course it was never going to happen to you. You may as well be destitute and
that’s the way you may be treated. Please make a note of all your personal
details and give them to someone you trust. It really can be not only a
nightmare trying to sort things out for those in this position but also very
distressing so once again, please prepare for it.
That’s my moan over, why don’t you join the Legion … we
have our own “IN Confidence” forms that you can fill in and are kept in a
safe until needed. We meet every Saturday from 2 p.m. at tropical Bert’s on
2nd Road. Contact: Bert Elson 089 8072335.
