Royal British Legion, Henley Branch

About the Royal British Legion, Henley Branch
Newsletter December 2007 & January 2008
Principal Officers

About the Royal British Legion, Henley-on-Thames Branch

The Royal British Legion was founded in 1921 by Field Marshall Earl Haig, who had decided to devote the remainder of his life to the care of ex-service men and women and their dependants.

We are the primary ex-services charity, protecting the welfare, interests and memory of ex-service people, their families and dependants. Indeed, much of what we do is undertaken in many other countries by Departments of Veterans' Affairs and similar government agencies.

We have endowment funds, legacies etc that allow the Legion to carry out its welfare work; but only to some 50% of the total annual requirement of £ 43 million. The balance of the requirement has to be raised each year by the Poppy Appeal. This is combined with the Nation's mourning for those killed in conflict since 1914. Every November, in Henley, we have the Dedication of the Garden of Remembrance, the 11.11.11 ceremony and the Service of Remembrance.
These are all held at or near the Town Hall. On Remembrance Sunday The Legion, other ex-services organisations, public service bodies, and youth organisations join the Mayor, Town Council and the people of the town in a simple service, followed by a march past, with the Mayor taking the salute.

Nationally the Poppy Appeal involves 300,000 staff and volunteers annually. Some 36 million poppies are made each year at the Legion's Poppy Factory at Richmond. 70% of the workers in the Poppy Factory are disabled or suffering from chronic illness. The factory was designed to provide work for such people, and it continues to do so. The Henley Branch of the Legion was one of the earliest to be formed. We have some 150 members and meet on the third Friday of each month for lunch. At present this is at the Little White Hart, on Thameside. We have a full programme of events, some for fundraising purposes and others as a social service to our members. A copy of our programme is given below. A Newsletter is published quarterly. New members are always needed. You do not have to have served in the Forces to become a member. Those people without Crown service, but who support the aims of the Legion, are most welcome to join as Associate Members

Principal Officers, Henley Branch

Main contact: Stuart Thompson 574927
Chairman. Brigadier M B Page. 578712
Hon Secretary. 575741
Chairman, Welfare Committee. Mrs A Turner. 576928.