Oldbury Royal British Legion

06/11/2025

I have a very outstanding group of volunteers and I dont want to make any of them think I am picking out any individuals, but at this extremely busy time of year, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Oldbury Royal British Legion Standard Bearer, Colin Hickling, a truly amazing man, whose dedication, community engagement, and darned hard work cannot be faulted.

Colin together with Christine, his unbelievable partner, have worked tirelessly throughout the Poppy Appeal to make sure Poppies have been delivered.

06/11/2025

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05/11/2025

Our Branch AGM was scheduled for Wednesday 26th November 2025.

However, last Wednesday Mrs Hilda Williams, former Branch Chair, Poppy Appeal Organiser, who had served the Armed Forces community of Oldbury for over 45 years, unfortunately passed away.

I have just been informed that her funeral is scheduled for the date of our AGM on Wednesday the 26th November 2025.

We need to put our AGM back one week to Wednesday 3rd December 2025.

Hilda Williams funeral
26th November 2025 at 13.45
Sandwell Valley crematorium, West Bromwich

Regards
Richard Dodds
Oldbury Royal British Legion Branch Secretary

04/11/2025

On behalf of Mrs Hilda Williams, family, I would like to express our sincere thanks for your condolences and messages of support at this sad time.

Mum, my mother-in-law, was an outstanding lady, not only to us but to the service community of Oldbury.

Thank you

04/11/2025

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🪖 Sandwell Remembers - This Sunday (9 November), join our local Remembrance services and parades, as we unite to mark Remembrance Sunday and commemorate the service and sacrifice of everyone who has defended our freedoms and protected our way of life in the two world wars and later conflicts.
🕙 We recommend arriving from 10.30am to watch the parades. Parades will be followed by services, during which a two-minute silence will be observed at war memorials at 11am.
We have parades with services in the following locations:
📍 Great Barr: St Margaret’s Church
📍 Oldbury: Civic Square Oldbury
📍 Rowley: Powke Lane Cemetery
📍 Smethwick: Smethwick Council House
📍 Tipton: Victoria Park
📍 Wednesbury: Memorial Gardens
📍 West Bromwich: Dartmouth Park
🙌 These events have been organised by the Royal British Legion and local community groups, with support from Sandwell Council.
🚦 The services are open to anyone who would like to pay their respects. Members of the public are advised that there will temporary road closures for parades during these events.
For more details see the comments. 👇

04/11/2025

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04/11/2025

My sincere thanks, to all our volunteers currently out and about collecting for the Poppy Appeal.

To all our supporters, thank you for your kindness and generousity, to the Poppy Appeal.

04/11/2025

The Royal British Legion Oldbury Branch would like to invite you to attend the Oldbury Remembrance Service on Sunday 9th November 2025 at the War Memorial in Oldbury Town Centre.

The parade will start from Low Town car park, at around 1030 and march up Birmingham Street.

The service will begin at 1050hrs. Please try to arrive at the War Memorial by 1040hrs.

The Branch hope you will be able to join us in Remembering.

01/11/2025

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29/10/2025

Good afternoon, everyone.

It is with greatest of sadness, that I must pass on some awful news for us all concerned with Oldbury Royal British Legion.

Mrs Hilda Williams. former Women’s Army veteran, Oldbury Royal British Legion Branch Chairman, and Poppy Appeal Organiser, who has been in hospital since the 3rd of August following a fall, passed away this morning.

Hilda was a great friend, sounding board and mentor, she did great things for the Branch, running many successful Poppy Appeals, alongside her husband David and other volunteers helped to raise a substantial amount of money for the Poppy Appeal over their many years of service.

Keeping the branch afloat as chairman, welfare chairman, hospital visitor and she even carried the Branch and Women’s section Standard on occasions.

Hilda served the Oldbury service community for over 45 years until her health issues came to the fore.

She was a gold badge holder, life member of the Royal British Legion and was given the highest honour the Royal British Legion can convey to a volunteer the National Certificate of Appreciation, presented at National Conference.

But she was much, much more to me, she was mum, my mother-in-law, her warmth, strength and compassion, will always be remembered.

She welcomed me and my 5 - and two-year-old sons into her life, when I met Michala, with kindness and love – thank you for everything.

She brought comfort and care to so many; she touched more lives than she ever knew, she gave so much of herself, not only to family but the Armed Forces community of Oldbury.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, you lived with dignity, humour, and compassion – a life well lived and well loved.

Rest In Peace, Mum.

Richard Dodds
Oldbury Royal British Legion Branch Secretary

23/10/2025

Remembrance is an important moment of the year when we show our support for our Armed Forces and all those who have served this country, their families and dependents.

Wearing a Poppy and supporting the Royal British Legion is one way to thank the Armed Forces for the sacrifices they have made and continue to make to protect our freedom.

Thank you for your support

23/10/2025

Our Poppy Appeal Organisers, Ian and Karen Price and support team have been working tirelessly to get Poppies out to where they are wanted.

Colin Hickling, our Branch Standard Bearer, has been delivering Poppy boxes to schools and has been out today at the Worcestershire County Poppy Appeal Launch, and if you were to see his diary for over the Poppy Appeal period, he is busy every day, with school and care home visits, I just wish I had his energy and his zest for life.

A truly amazing man, who despite his age, makes men 30 years his junior, look at him in amazement.

I have followed him up that hill at Powke Lane crematorium, for veterans funerals him carrying the standard and myself puffing and blowing like Thomas the tank engine following behind.

We have a truly amazing group of volunteers, some who are going through their own personal health battles, but are still there to volunteer for the Poppy Appeal.

I haven't got the right words to describe my admiration for you all.

As you all know my job, well life sentence, takes me away from the Branch, during the week, but on the evenings, I cover what is required to keep us, as in my opinion the best Branch in Worcestershire County.

Without our volunteers and members in the Oldbury area, and beyond, we couldn't continue to support those who serve, have served, their families and dependents.

To you all, i wish you all the best and thank you for your continued support for the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal.

Regards
Richard Dodds
Oldbury Royal British Legion Branch Secretary
Assistant Poppy Appeal Organiser