Royal British Legion’s Banbury branch reaches 100th anniversary

As our local branch reaches its centenary, its standard will be paraded at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday

One hundred years ago today the Banbury branch of the Royal British Legion was formed. It is one of the oldest legion branches in the country and is going from strength to strength in its centenary year.

The British Legion was founded when four national organisations of ex-Servicemen that had established themselves after the First World War came together. The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers, The Comrades of The Great War and The Officers’ Association joined together and became The Royal British Legion on 15 May 1921.

Just months later, on November 9, 1921 one of the first local branches was formed in Banbury.

One hundred years on the branch remains active and well supported, with a current membership of 98. Councillor Kieron Mallon is the branch’s President and Chris Smithson the Chairman – a busy role at this time of year with a number of Remembrance events due to take place. On Thursday Armistice Day will be marked with the short service at the War Memorial in People’s Park; on Friday an event will take place in the Alcan Remembrance Garden at the Amazon site; then on Sunday people will line the streets for the Remembrance Sunday parade in the town centre.

Mr Smithson is also responsible for organising the annual poppy collection locally, which is one of the most well supported in the area.

The Banbury branch this year has the honour of having its standard being paraded at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening. Vanessa Page will have the honour of taking part on behalf of the branch.

The Royal British Legion is the UK’s leading Armed Forces charity and one of its largest membership organisations. Locally members get together on the first Tuesday of every month at the RAFA club. They participate in social, fundraising and welfare activities and help to ensure that remembrance is kept alive and that the sacrifices of service men and women are never forgotten.