"The Kidsgrove and Districts branch was close to collapse just two years ago
A British Legion branch which was on the brink of collapse two years ago has now transformed its fortunes thanks to an influx of new members and an online drive.
By 2017, membership of the Kidsgrove and Districts Royal British Legion had dwindled down to single figures, with just a handful of regulars attending meetings.
But after recently retired veterans, reservists and bikers joined, the branch has been revitalised. It now has an active membership of more than 50, while the new Facebook page has more than 500 likes.
Sergeant Ashley Harper, who serves with the RAF, joined the branch last October after seeing a post on Facebook.
He said: “We have gone from just three members to over 50 in just 12 months.
“We’ve got heavily involved in the community and our priority over the past 12 months has been to transform the memorial gardens in Kidsgrove, which had been left to the elements for far to long, as well as to recruit more members to our team.
“The gardens have been completely overhauled and we have posts on our social media pages from members of the community thanking us for the work we have done.
“People are taking the time to visit and relax in the gardens and enjoy some much needed respite from modern day life.”
Ashley Smith, from Kidsgrove, got involved after meeting chairman Les Goldspink and now represents the branch on social media. He said: “We now have over 500 likes on our page and we use this platform to raise awareness of our activities in the local area.
“The community of Kidsgrove and surrounding areas are always keen to engage with us on our page and we are always extremely grateful to the kind, generous people that continue to support us.”
The revitalised group meets regularly at Kidsgrove Masonic Hall and is working hard on this year’s poppy appeal – as well as planning events to mark next year’s landmark anniversary, of 75 years since VE Day.
Branch chairman Les said: “The old branch was based in Goldenhill Workingmen's Club and, by the spring of 2017, was down to a handful, single figures, of regular attendees.
“A mixed group of recently retired veterans, Royal British Legion riders and reservists were extremely keen to start a branch in the Kidsgrove area, and we were encouraged by county officials to attend the Goldenhill-based meetings to prevent another branch from going out of existence.
“We first met in August 2017, agreed to establish ourselves at Kidsgrove Masonic Hall, where the area branch originally held its inaugural meetings 90 years previously. At the AGM in December, a new committee was formed, with several new people taking important roles for the first time.”
He added: “The big plans for this coming winter are the annual poppy appeal, a festival of remembrance at Kidsgrove Town Hall on Saturday, November 2, the Armistice Day parade on Sunday, November 10 and continued works at Kidsgrove Memorial Gardens.
“We hope to gain further support from the people and businesses in Kidsgrove over the coming weeks and months to make a concerted effort in preparation for VE Day 75 in Spring 2020. The aim is to hold an event in the town centre or Memorial Gardens, if we gain enough support.”
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