Burnham-On-Sea’s branch of the Royal British Legion could be saved from closure if enough volunteers come forward to save it, the leader of the disbanded group has said this week.
Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported here on Tuesday that members of the long-running organisation had voted at their AGM to disband the branch after 75 years because it had not been possible to form a new committee.
Tony Moore, Vice Chairman of the branch, said: “We’ve had very positive feedback following the story on Burnham-On-Sea.com with some people saying they would like to see the branch re-started.”
“However, we hand over the keys to our building in Victoria Street next Tuesday to the national Royal British Legion organisation, so a new venue would have to be found if there was a will to re-start the Burnham branch.”
“There is no reason why it couldn’t be re-started – at a new location such as the BAY Centre, as has been suggested on the online forums.”
“A committee of at least five people would be needed who can really put the time in behind the scenes.”
I would suggest that anyone who does want to get involved should contact the Legion’s county headquarters, based at the Dunkirk Memorial House in Bishops Lydeard.”
He said making the decision to close the branch had been a “very difficult one” after so many years, adding@ “Our members are all aged 65 and older and it had got to the stage where we were solidering on but unable to run the branch effectively any longer.”
Norman Lees, the branch’s Burnham Chairman, died in August. The branch’s standard was formally ‘laid up’ in St Andrew’s Church for the final time during the morning service on Sunday, 21st September.
Burnham’s Poppy Appeal collection will still proceed over the next few months, led by a small group of separate volunteers.
