ON March 22, members of the Cleobury Mortimer branch of the Royal British Legion and their guests met at the Sports and Social Club for an excellent three-course lunch, provided by The Clock House, Tenbury.

After the meal, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Smith, (LE), LD, took the floor to tell members something of his years of service in the army. He is definitely 'a son of Cleobury' as he was born at 1 Langlands Road, just a couple of hundred yards from the Sports and Social Club, and his parents still live in Cleobury. When Kevin left school, he joined the REME as a vehicle mechanic apprentice. Since then, he has risen through the ranks - achieving the highest grade possible for a 'late entrant' - one who enters the army as a private, and thus without a commission. He is now in the Light Dragoons - a Light Cavalry Regiment, mounted today not on horses but on Jackal Fighting Vehicles, able to move quickly across the battlefield. The light nature of the regiment means they are able to deploy anywhere in the world at very short notice. He recounted some of his varied experiences in many countries - having served in, amongst other places, Belize, Germany, Cyprus, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya and Sudan - always as an engineer. His son has followed him into the army, and has made a splendid start by winning the Sword of Honour on completion of his officer training course at Sandhurst. Branch chairman, David Taylor, proposed the vote of thanks, bringing a very enjoyable meeting to a close.

The branch's next event is a visit on May 11, to the Battle Back Centre at Lilleshall, to which the Royal British Legion has pledged £27 million - its most expensive project ever. Here wounded and sick service men and women are helped to achieve their best possible recovery and either return to service duty or make a smooth transition to civilian life.

The branch always welcomes new members - for details please phone the membership secretary, Matt Sheehan, on 01299 271154.

For further information please contact:

Ron Breakwell, president, on 01299 270830, David Taylor, chairman on 01299 270793, Dr Mark Baldwin on 01299 270110 or by email: mbaldwin2@btconnect.com.