Debden Branch Royal British Legion held their Annual Branch Dinner once again in The Officers Mess at Carver Barracks, Wimbish, on the evening of Friday 2nd November. The Dinner was attended by 60 Members and their guests.

Guest Speaker for the evening was Kemi Badenoch MP for Saffron Walden, who took time off her busy schedule at Westminster to address the assembled guests on the subject of “Heroism”.

The address was well-received and proved most apt considering the location (Carver Barracks being the home for two Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal Regiments) and the time of year (with Remembrance weekend rapidly approaching).

The guests were delighted that Kemi was kind enough to agree to answer a number of searching questions afterwards, including the spate of recent local thefts by gangs of “ram raiders”. Kemi was hosted by Branch President Michael Barton and Branch chairman, Michael Clark. The Essex County RBL Chairman, Colonel (Retd) Roger Burgess OBE DL, was also present at the Dinner.

Major (QM) Mark Burgess RE a serving Officer at Wimbish gave an update on the future of Carver Barracks, effectively dispelling any rumours and local press reports of its likely future closure in 2024!   John Arkwright, a Branch Member, described the Great RBL Pilgrimage at the Menin Gate at Ypres earlier in August 2018.

Stewart Luck and John had represented Debden Branch at this event as Branch Standard Bearer and Wreath Bearer respectively. Over 1,000 RBL Standards took part and GP 90 was subsequently described as the most significant example of Remembrance in a generation.

Sadly, due to other commitments, Kemi Badenoch was unable to spend the whole evening with Debden British Legion and had to leave earlier than expected to return to London that night.