BROMSGROVE Royal British Legion (RBL) has appealed through The Standard for help in finding a new home after the place where members used to meet shut its doors earlier this month.
The town’s RBL, which has 89 members, used to get together on the third Wednesday of every month at the Bewell Head Social – the place it had been going to for two years after its purpose-built premises on Birmingham Road closed down. But that also closed – on January 11.
The branch has been approached by The Duke of York in Sidemoor, which is suitable for the group to meet at each month.
But Bromsgrove RBL has a host of big engagements organised for the coming months and needs a place to hold its post-event hospitality.
Patrick Smith, the Bromsgrove RBL’s chairman, said: “We are very grateful to the Duke of York for the offer of a free room and we are looking forward to taking them up on their kind hospitality.
“But we need somewhere close to the town centre with a function room for the bigger events.”
Among the big commemorations, which are expected to attract large crowds, are the Remembrance Parade in November and, before that, Armed Forces Day in June and VJ Day in August.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of VJ Day and – in the Burma Memorial at Crown Close – Bromsgrove has the only national memorial to that particular campaign.
Bromsgrove Royal British Legion also needs a garage or similar sized place to store its standards and everything it uses for the annual Poppy Appeal, including poppies, collection tins and other campaign equipment.
“We could use an area about half the size of a garage, but it would be a squeeze.
“The loss of storage space could jeopardise the Poppy Appeal and the Remembrance parade,” added Patrick.
“If any venues can help us with our predicament, please get in touch.”
This situation comes at a time when the town’s Royal British Legion is on a high.
In the last couple of years, the people of Bromsgrove have showed their overwhelming support for the Armed Forces.
Two years ago, there was a record Poppy Appeal collection, with £24,000 raised for the cause and last year’s total is over £20,000 with cash still coming in.
Residents and organisations also helped raise the funds needed for the new Portland stone monument in less than a year and last year’s Remembrance Parade and service, held at the structure in Crown Close, saw the largest ever turn-out the town had ever seen.
Anyone who can help with storage space or a function room for Bromsgrove RBL should email Patrick at [email protected] or call him on 07949 789841.
