Village Royal British Legions face fight for survival

Sep 25 2008 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

THE Tarporley branch of the Royal British Legion will close if its committee cannot recruit a new secretary.

Other rural branches are also struggling to get younger members to take over their branch responsibilities, which could lead to many of them closing down.

The Tarporley RBL has been told it is currently illegal because it does not have a secretary, and if one cannot be found the chairman will be forced to close it down.

At the annual general meeting on Tuesday, the future of the branch in the village will be decided. The branch also needs a vice chairman, and three committee members to be fully operational.

Tarporley branch chairman Bill Cross said: “We have been told we are effectively illegal because we don’t have a secretary.”

“We do need the others, but if we don’t have a secretary it will probably be forced to close. It is not a lack of money, we have the funds, we just need people to run it.

“I think people think it will be too much work, but if there is more people the work will be divided up.”

Bill has been involved in the Royal British Legion for the last nine years.

He said: “I have to spend a least five evenings a week at the legion, I am here pretty much all the time. I am in my 70s now and it is just too much - we need some help.”

He added: “I will never walk away from it, it means too much to me and others in the village.”

The Tarporley branch is not the only one struggling to recruit committee members. The Kelsall branch also has problems.

Don Barden, Kelsall branch secretary, said: “We do have problems. Most of our active members are in their late 70s some even in their 80s. We find we cannot recruit young members to take over from us.

“I think they just don’t want the hassle and it is forcing elderly members to stay on when they don’t want to.”

Royal British Legion, Cheshire county manager Jeff Harrison said: “This is a problem that is happening across the country and Cheshire is no exception. If the clubs cannot find committee members it is very difficult for them to function.

“I would just like to encourage members to come to the annual general meeting a support the club, because it is its future we are talking about.”

The AGM to decide the future of Tarporley Royal British Legion will be held on Tuesday, September 30 at 7.30pm. Anybody wishing to get involved should call Bill Cross on 01829 732843 or come along to the meeting.