RBL Armed Forces Day

[Royalcorpsoftranspor]

Attended the above function yesterday evening, & as an ex Soldier of many years I was really embarrassed.

Never once did they play the National Anthem which to me is a heinous crime & the RBL Standard was nowhere to be seen.

The entertainment left a lot to be desired also.

I think the RBL should get their committee together & sort this out so it never happens again.

[PapaSquidge]

I always found that AFD made a mockery of servicing troops, they were expected to put on events in their own time and normally at weekends to entertain...themselves...with no funding. Talk about being a self licking lollipop....the Government should reward out troops by giving them a AFD extra pay.

Rant over...however, on the subject of playing the National Anthem, I believe it is not allowed to play another countries NA unless special permission is giving by the host country, same applies to the flying of flags and standards.

Cannot comment on the entertainment...

[PapaBravo]

Well, I thought both singers were good. It's all a matter of personal taste.

[Royalcorpsoftranspor]

No one else got any comments.

[namps]

Having sort out permission to set up a branch of RBL on the island thought it would be obvious to all that in celebrations the anthem would be played and flag flown. There are a lot of hotels and restaurants that fly flags of various countries all year round and I remember being witness to hearing the national anthem sung in a restaurant for the queens jubilee.A fair few islanders will have served in the British Army .Cant comment on entertainment but again given the cause surely a meddlie of "old songs" were sung.!!!!

[Royalcorpsoftranspor]

Having sort out permission to set up a branch of RBL on the island thought it would be obvious to all that in celebrations the anthem would be played and flag flown. There are a lot of hotels and restaurants that fly flags of various countries all year round and I remember being witness to hearing the national anthem sung in a restaurant for the queens jubilee.A fair few islanders will have served in the British Army .Cant comment on entertainment but again given the cause surely a meddlie of "old songs" were sung.!!!!

Well said Namps, yes I was embarrassed when they didn't start off with the National Anthem, & the Union Jack was not flown , obviously there couldn't have been many true blue Ex Pats among the audience.
How they can call them selves British Legion Members I do not know.

They also did not sing as you said a melody of oldies.

[PapaBravo]

Interesting post RCT!

Because they do not espouse agreement with your view, it would seem that there couldn't have been many true blue Ex Pats among the audience, and those RBL members that were present were not worthy of membership of the Royal British Legion. Well I was in the audience and am proud to be an RBL member; not sure whether or not I am a 'true blue expat' however, as I am not sure what the qualifications are. Clearly, it is a case of 'each to his or her own'.

[tomsteel]

I was not there, so cannot comment on the format/performance. I have been a RBL member for 14 years and served in HMF for 40+ years. I would, therefore, suggest the issue should be addressed to the RBL Committee as on offer for improvement for the future rather than bemoaning an opinion on this forum, which will only attract varying views, side-tracking, off-line comment et al. Whatever, I am sorry RBL members were disappointed on what was organised on their behalf by willing volunteers trying their best.

[chrisr6]

Shame it wasn't as good as last year, Hopefully the entertainment situation will be sorted out soon.