04/10/2026
Autumn Newsletter
Dear Member,
I hope you are well as we move into autumn.
With the coming of autumn, we move into the annual Poppy Appeal season. This year’s Poppy Appeal runs from 22nd October to 11th November.
Unfortunately, we are short of a few collectors this year. I am therefore looking for volunteers to cover the following areas – High Street, The Lye, Cooks Close, Row Lane and Seend Cleeve. If you are able to help, please reach out to me – my contact details are below.
Lamp-Post Poppies will also be available for sponsorship during remembrance time. Sponsorship starts at £20 and in return we will place your personalized tribute on a poppy for you and will place the poppy at a suitable location in the village. If you want to sponsor a Lamp-Post Poppy, please email or text me and I will get back to you with details.
The Remembrance Day Service this year is on Sunday 8th November, commencing at the War Memorial at 10:40, before moving into the Church. There will also be a short service at the War Memorial on Armistice Day, 11th November, commencing at 10:45.
Our next social event is the Rod Stewart Experience, on Saturday 17th October. Tickets are available from Rusty’s at Seend Centre and on-line; alternatively, you can contact me and I can put tickets aside. However, tickets are selling fast, so don’t delay. I am also looking for a few able-bodied volunteers to help set up and clear up for the Rod Stewart event. I plan to set up at around 4pm on the 17th.
Our AGM and next Committee Meeting will be on 22nd October, at Seend Centre, in the upstairs Village Room. We are short of committee members, so if anyone wants to join the committee please do reach out.
Given that a significant focus of the RBL is Remembrance, I wish to highlight some detail around those who gave their lives in the two World Wars.
In October we remember the following fallen from Seend:
Lieutenant James Cromwell Bush MC, born on 14th March 1891, son of the Reverand Herbert Cromwell Bush and Mabel, of the Vicarage, Seend. James enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment but transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He was Killed in air combat over France, on 9 Oct 1917, aged 27. James is buried in Neuville-en-Ferrain cemetery, France.
Corporal Ernest Howard Holden, son of George and Annie Holden od Seend Cleeve. Ernest served with the Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Worcester Regiment. He died of wounds on 10 October 1918, in Rouen, aged 34. Ernest is buried at St Sever Cemetery extension, Rouen.
Private William Alfred Mattock born on 12 April 1884, son of Alfred and Emmeline Mattock, husband to Nellie and father to Cecil. He lived at Seend View, Seend. William served with the Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Irish Fusiliers. He was Killed in Action on 11 October 1918, at Dadizeele, Belgium, aged 34. William has no known grave.
Private James Rance born in April 1893, son of George William and Elizabeth Rance, of Seend. He served with the Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Irish Fusiliers. James was killed in Action on 3 October Malincourt, France, aged 25. He has no known grave.
Gunner Walter Salter born in January 1884, son of Walter and Emily Salter, of The Bakery, High Street, Seend. Walter served with the Royal Artillery. He was Killed in Action at Cambrai, France on 17 October 1918, aged 34. Walter is buried at Niagara Cemetery.
Lest we Forget
Steve Cubberley
Chairman – Seend Branch RBL
