Chronicle saves village British Legion from closure

Oct 2 2008 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

A VILLAGE Royal British Legion has been saved from closure - thanks to help from The Chronicle.

Last week The Chronicle reported that Tarporley RBL could be forced to close down because it did not have a secretary or enough committee members to continue operating.

Chariman of the branch Bill Cross asked for volunteers to come forward to save them from closure. On Tuesday, they held their annual meeting which decided the fate of the branch.

Bill said: “It was a very close call, the representative from head office actually stood up and asked me to organise another meeting in which I would have to shut down the branch officially. Luckily, though, people came forward. We now have a secretary and enough committee members to carry on.”

The branch now has nine committee members but Bill said he would like a few more to prevent further crisis meetings like this in the future.

He said: “I think people were very shocked that it could be closed down. It is such a large part of the village and nobody realised the problems we have.

“I was very worried and when I arrived at the hall I was a little disappointed because not many people were there. But in the end people came and they volunteered.”

Bill added: “The Chronicle article really made a difference and spurred people into action.”