A BRANCH of the Royal British Legion is on the verge of collapse unless new members can be found to run it.
Villagers in Studley are being urged to attend a crucial meeting in February to volunteer their support to stop the branch from closing.
The crisis has been triggered by the resignation of the branch secretary, treasurer and poppy appeal organiser due to ill health and work commitments.
The branch only restarted in March 2009 having collapsed previously in the 1970s.
Chairman Peter Smith has been involved with the organisation in Studley for 50 years and said he would do everything he could to save it but he could not do it alone.
“I’ll try and do everything I can to keep it going but I’m 82, I have to use a scooter to get around and I’m not 100 per cent myself,” he said.
“It collapsed once before in the ’70s and I kept the remembrance events going without a branch for a few years then we restarted about five or six years ago.
“After all these years I just don’t want to see it fold and I think if the village knew they would do something about it.”
The news comes as the branch celebrates raising a record amount from last year’s Poppy Appeal collection. The village donated more than £5,000, which will help fund the organisation’s work supporting service personnel and their families.
Anyone interested in getting involved with the Studley branch should attend the meeting on Wednesday, February 4 at 8pm at Studley Sports and Social Club (Entaco) in Eldorado Close.
