Who We Help

The Royal British Legion helps people of all ages and backgrounds.  To be eligible for our help, you must have served in the Forces for at least 7 days, or be the dependant of someone who has served.  It really is that simple.  Some examples of people we have helped recently are below. 

Andrew Ritchie OBE (Chairman)

Andrew was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1961, specialized as a Gunnery Officer in 1971 and attained the rank of Commodore before retiring in 1995.  He commanded a number of frigates and destroyers, held senior appointments in the Ministry of Defence and has served in all corners of the globe.  He was in command during the Falklands War, being awarded the OBE for his contribution to the Campaign. He was appointed ADC to Her Majesty the Queen during his final appointment.  Since leaving the Navy Andrew has been General Manager of a Navigation Authority in the Arabian Gulf, based in Bahrain, and was a consultant in crisis and emergency management in high risk industries in the UK.  He first came to Kenya in the 60’s during ship visits to Mombasa, otherwise his only experience in southern Africa was during a spell as the ADC to the last British Admiral in Cape Town.  He came on holiday to Kenya in 2003, bought a house on the second day and he and his family have been living here ever since!

JONATHAN STICHBURY (Treasurer)

Served with the Gordon Highlanders from 1984-1991 in Germany, the UK and Northern Ireland and attained the rank of Captain. On leaving the army Jonathan trained as a fund manager and after working in the UK and South Africa, he moved to Kenya in 1998. Since 2000 he has been the Managing Director of AIG Global Investment Company (East Africa) Ltd - a subsidiary of the American International Group Inc.

NIGEL PAVITT MBE OGW (Askari Appeal)

Commissioned into the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry during his National Service, Nigel was seconded to the 5th Battalion, King’s African Rifles in 1955.  He later became a regular officer, serving with the KAR and Kenya Army for twelve years before retiring as in 1967. During his service, he was Adjutant of 5th KAR and Kenya Rifles, ADC to the GOC East Africa and Chief Instructor in Administration at the Army Training School at Lanet.  He ended his career as a temporary Major having been awarded a MBE during the Shifta insurgency in 1964.  Later, in civilian life, he was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW). After retiring from the Army, Nigel joined the wines and spirits trade until he took his second retirement in 1990.  He was managing director of Kenya Wine Agencies for seventeen and a half years at a time when it was Kenya’s most profitable parastatal! He remains a director of several companies as well as pursuing his photographic and writing interests.

NIGEL WARREN (Welfare)

Was commissioned in 1965 into 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles.  He had Regimental service in Malaysia, Borneo, Hong Kong and UK, and held senior Staff appointments in 1st Armoured Division in Germany (G3), HQ United Kingdom Land Forces (G2), and United Kingdom C in C’s Committee (G1).  His ERE appointments were as Brigade of Gurkhas representative and company commander at RMAS, and Instructor at Kenyan Armed Forces Defence Staff College.  Nigel retired from the Army in 1993 as a Lt. Colonel. He lives in Kenya where, with other retired British Army Officers, he started a business called Africa Venture offering development experiences to school leavers and young graduates.

IAN SHARP (Special Projects)

Commissioned into the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry from O. C. S Mons in 1962, Ian served in the Middle East and Berlin. He transferred to the RAOC in 1966 and served in the Far East, Kenya, Germany and UK specialising in the logistic supply of petroleum products and combat supplies. Ian retired in 1980 to take up stock farming in Devon, and in due course joined Devon County Council to supplement his agricultural income. He returned to Kenya in 1992 and worked as a consultant with UNCEF and other organisations in South Sudan and Somalia. In recent years he has consulted on matters of security to the commercial and agricultural sector throughout East Africa for an international Security Company.

SAM MATTOCK (Fund Raising)

Was commissioned into the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. Served Operational tours in the Persian Gulf as a Squadron second in command; Bosnia as ADC to OC British Forces; and Northern Ireland as a Troop Leader. Sam left the Army as Captain. He is currently the Africa Director of the Risk Management Company Halliday Finch, and divides his time between Kenya and Nigeria.

WILLIAM COULSON (Fund Raising)

Commissioned into the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards” The Models “in April 1988, he then spent nine months as a Platoon Commander in Belize, Kenya and on Public Duties. Promoted to Captain , he was appointed Recce Platoon Commander until April 1991.Following this time he spent time at JHQ High Wycombe as an SO2 and then at  The Guards Depot Pirbright as OC Household Division Parachute Regiment Centralised Courses. His final posting was six months as OC Support Company 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. On leaving the Army in 1994 he returned home to Kenya where he spent five years as General Manager of Finlay Flowers, Kericho - part of The Swire Group; and then a further five years with The Oserian Group as a Marketing Director. Since 2003, in partnership with his wife Fiona, he has run his own farm in Naivasha where he grows roses and hypericum for export to Tesco and Sainsbury as well as The Dutch Auctions.

JENNY LARBY (Executive Officer)

Jenny Larby was teacher for many years and is now our tireless Executive Officer. In this capacity she provides the administrative backbone for the British Legion in Kenya and serves on the front line of our welfare delivery.

ADRIAN NAUGHTEN (Welfare)

Joined The Royal Irish Fusiliers on Graduation from Trinity College, Dublin.  He was ADC to Commander in Chief Allied Forces Northern Europe and later to HM the Queen. In Africa he was Commander Joint Warfare Department of Nigerian Staff College and in the late 1990’s Commander British Training and Advisory Teams (Southern Africa). He commanded both his own Battalion and also a Brigade in Northern Ireland. Adrian has served as an Assistant Military Advisor in Singapore, and as the British Defence Advisor and Head of British Defence Staff in Canada. He was Deputy Chief of Staff Operations in HQ Land Forces UK 1989 – 1991. He retired as a Brigadier in 1999 and took over as Regional Director (Southern Africa) for Africa Venture – and ran this until being invited to leave Zimbabwe with many NGOs last year.

David Mead

Born Penryn, Cornwall 1940.   Educated Kings School, Bruton and left in 1958 to enlist in the Coldstream Guards.   RMA Sandhurst 1958 - 1960 (JUO) and commissioned Royal Greenjackets (KRRC) 1960 - 1968 serving in Northern Ireland, Berlin, British Guyana, Malaysia and finally to Kenya.   The latter with the British Army Training Team.   Resigned commission to join Ker & Downey Safaris as a Professional Hunter in 1968. Hunting banned in 1977 and switched to photographic safaris shortly thereafter. Director of Ker & Downey Safaris for some 18 years and still with this company.   Interests - Wildlife Conservation, Shooting, Archery, Saltwater Fly Fishing and Light Engineering.   Married Suzanne Willson of Nyeri in 1976 and live in Langata.  Became a  Kenya Citizen in about 1973.

Also members of the Executive Committee: Richard Henry TD; Edwin Bristow; David Mead

Hon. Medical Advisor: Dr. Philip Rees OBE MD FRCP

Legion Values

• Reflection - Through Remembrance of past sacrifice in the cause of freedom

• Hope - By remembering the past, a younger generation has the chance of a better future

• Comradeship - Through shared experience and mutual support

• Selflessness - By putting others first

• Service - To those in need and in support of the whole community