ALMOST 200 people including leading local councillors and officers attended an event to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion in Thurrock on Friday evening (9 September).

The dinner dance went ahead after consultation between local Legion organisers and the national office of the organisation.

Both agreed it would be appropriate to go ahead and the event not only honoured the life and commitment to the armed forces of the late Queen, Elizabeth II, but also welcomed the new King, Charles III, with a rousing rendition of the national anthem - God Save The King!

The evening at the Civic Hall, Blackshots, raised a considerable amount for the 2022 Poppy Appeal and its organisers were praised by those attending, who included Thurrock Council's portfolio holder for communities, Cllr Qaisar Abbas who sat at the top table alongside former Conservative Mayor Tunde Ojetola and spoke glowingly of the event. Also in attendance were a number of former borough mayors as well as other councillors from both the Labour and Conservative groups.

Dignitaries were welcomed to the event and then addressed by Thurrock Council's communities portfolio holder, Cllr Qaisar Abbas.

The event was also part-sponsored by Thurrock Council, with a number of officers in attendance.

Nevertheless, there was criticism that the evening – which included a degree of pomp and circumstance reflecting the role of the monarchy and the nation's armed forces - took place, and a number of senior Conservatives who were scheduled to attend, failed to turn up.

And the event was criticised by the chairman of Thurrock Conservatives, Tony Coughlin, who took to social media following a Nub News broadcast of the evening's opening ceremony (see video), to say: "Have to say, rather surprised and disappointed this going ahead. Most other events of equal public standing have been deferred or cancelled."

Bob Villa, president and chairman of the Royal British Legion in Essex, presented Rod Oakley (right) with a certificate marking Thurrock RBL's centenary.