An organisation that supports armed forces personnel both financially and emotionally in and around Keswick is in danger of folding.
Membership of the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion has fallen dramatically recently and a crunch recruitment day is to be held next week to enlist new volunteers to help in its running.
It is seeking new blood to help the Cumberland and Westmorland County Royal British Legion committee to run the branch
Formed in September 1921 by First World War returning armed forces personnel and their families, the Keswick branch has been in existence for more than 100 years.
Locally, over many years, the town’s armed forces personnel have been supported by the legion both financially and emotionally and it continues to offer all avenues of support to the community the charity represents.
The branch has been ever present in the town’s remembrance parade that is run and organised annually by Keswick Town Council with Royal British Legion support and advice.
Should the branch close then the town’s Royal British Legion standard, that represents fallen comrades, could no longer be paraded at the annual event and will be kept in one of the town’s churches.
The Royal British Legion is committed to helping the county’s armed forces community and to that end it is holding a new volunteer recruiting day the Keswick market on Thursday September 7 at 9.30am until 3pm.
“Please come along and meet the team where you can ask questions or sign up as a new member to keep the branch afloat,” said membership engagement officer Clive Sumpter. “Please remember you do not have to have served in our armed forces to become a member of the Royal British Legion and help us support the armed forces community locally and nationally.”
The Keswick branch is not the only one in Cumbria facing a threat of closure because of a lack of committee members.
Earlier this year the Penrith branch of the Royal British Legion was given a three-year support package at county level to allow it to elect a committee and become independent again.
