Whilst the RSSC is not directly involved in fundraising for the Poppy appeal, one of our Board members, Charles Harris, has a long history of supporting the appeal.
Charles, supported by a small team of willing volunteers arrange for poppies and collection tins to be distributed at retail outlets across the Bridgford area and spend many hours counting up the proceeds.
Sums just short of £20,000 are normally raised each year thanks to their efforts.
A brief history
The British Legion was founded in 1921 as a voice for the ex-Service community as a merger of four organisations: the Comrades of the Great War, the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers and the Officers’ Association. It was granted a Royal Charter on 29 May 1971 to mark its fiftieth anniversary which gave the Legion the privilege of the prefix ‘Royal’
The West Bridgford Branch began in 1925 and met at various places in the Lady Bay area before acquiring the premises that became known subsequently as Legion Hall. A British Legion social club was formed there in 1948, attracting a mostly ex-Service membership, the majority of whom (800 plus) had served in uniform during the Second World War.
Although the club closed its doors several years ago to become the Poppy & Pint, the work of the branch carries on albeit with just a handful now, of its former members. The work of the branch includes the Remembrance Sunday parade at the war memorial and collecting for the Poppy Appeal.
Locally, welfare work continues to expand and diversify as the welfare needs of the population evolve. The current number of potential beneficiaries nationally for the Poppy Support services is estimated at 9.5 million. The mission of The Royal British Legion is to reach out to the 500, 000 who we believe are in the greatest need. It is one of the best known and supported campaigns in the calendar and each year the nation shows its support for the Legion’s work by giving generously to the Poppy Appeal.
Charlie Harris (Branch Chair)