"Belton Royal British Legion Branch 1947-
Information taken from branch minute books, RBL Handbooks, newspaper archives and local publication material.
Following a meeting in the day school on October 3rd 1947, attended by Shepshed Councilor Mr. A. Ward, the Belton British Legion Branch was formed* (insert Coalville Times 10.10.47 Belton BL formed here) and, in that initial month, the new branch held a whist drive to raise benevolence funds, and was also invited to a social evening by the Shepshed branch. The following year saw the branch raise £13 towards a branch Standard.
The dedication of the Standard, by the Bishop of Leicester, took place on the recreation ground in May 1950* (insert Coalville Times 12.5.50 Dedication of Standard here) (58 Standards and 700 Legion members in attendance) and, in 1953, the branch held a united service to commemorate the Queen’s coronation.
Little is recorded concerning this branch for several years until, in 1969, former Chairman & poppy organizers Mr. & Mrs. Wolstenholme retire (it is noted that they started a ‘tote’ in 1947 to raise branch funds and provided a 12-seater minibus for all Legion events). In 1972, two whist drives raised £15.20 & £16.10 for branch funds.
1976 saw the branch fail to purchase the Old School for its HQ (buying land instead, which was later sold to RBL Housing Association for development), raise £120 in a prize draw, and the formation of a women’s section. Jubilee year saw this section raise £40.25 in a raffle and £78 in a rummage sale to raise funds for a new Standard, which was dedicated in October at the Parish Church*. It is also noted that the section raised £200 in its first year. In addition, the County Standards Jubilee re-dedication also took place in Belton.
In 1985 twenty tables of whist raised over £50 for branch funds, and the following year saw the branch win the county dominoes. Further whist drives in 1987 raised the sums of £48, £48.50, £40, and £64.
1993 saw the re-dedication service and parade of Leicestershire Standards at the Parish church, where certificates of long service were awarded to branch Standard Bearers Mr. D. Darby & Miss. I. Smith, and the salute taken by WWII spitfire hero Johnnie Johnson. The year also saw 40 members enrolled, and further whist drives raise £74 & £107.
The following year, the branch held a special D-Day parade to commemorate the 50th anniversary and, in 1995, an anniversary service to commemorate VE Day. In addition, as a gift to the village, the branch gave £1756 for the purchase of a children’s climbing frame on the recreation ground.
1997 saw the passing of long serving members Reuben Robinson (former Japanese POW), & Mary Povey. Later that year saw the branch celebrate its own 50th anniversary – holding an area dance, a special church service to dedicate the 50th year pennant, and a celebration dinner in the village hall* (guest of honour – RBL County President Lt.Col. Roffey), consisting of a 4-course meal, iced cake, songs by the ‘Belton Singers’, and attended by 4 founder members: Leslie & Harold Springthorpe, Lawrence Newbold, and John Johnston*. Also, this year, the branch presented a gift of a church bell (naming it St. John) to the local parish church, and it is also noted that 150 people, including 52 children, attended that year’s Remembrance service.
Again, little is recorded of the branch’s activities over the following years, except the women’s section closing shortly before the millennium, until 2007, when at the branch’s 60th anniversary, Lt. Col. Roffey gave a presentation to two surviving founder members: Johnnie Johnston (served on branch committee for entire 60 years), who cut the anniversary cake, & Sidney Sheldon. Unfortunately, the branch Secretary Derek Darby was unable to attend; as he was in hospital -following a fall.
Poppy Day Totals:
1955 - £13 19s 3d
1957 - £15 15s 6d
1972 - £30.47
1987 - £238.77
2001 - £3855.39
Newspaper Articles:
Loughboro’ Echo: 11.06.93, 17.10.97, 09.03.2001
Coalville Times: 03.10.47, 10.10.47, 12.05.50, 14.10.77
Leics Chronicle: 25.10.47"
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