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Backbarrow & District Branch - Royal British Legion |
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| Backbarrow & District Branch of the Royal British Legion, to give it full title, was one of the first British Legion branches to be formed in the United Kingdom when in 1921 various ex-service organisations refermed under one banner as the then "British Legion". The Backbarrow formation was created on 16th September 1921. Some few years ago the neighbouring Crake Valley Branch, due to falling numbers, became a sub-branch of Backbarrow & District branch and the formations under this merger find the situation for adminstration and ceremonial work most satisfactory. The Crake Valley Branch was formed after World War Two on 25th March 1946. Some Fifty Years after the formation of the British Legion a Royal Charter was granted to the formations and today we have the "Royal British Legion" the leading ex-service charity in the country; registered under reference 219279, a reference to which all branches are linked. Backbarrow & District and Crake Valley formations are part of the Lancashire County, having decided with the majority of Furness Branches to remain with their historical Lancashire formations, orignially as part of the North Lancashire County which in the mid 1990's merged with East Lancashire County to become simply "Lancashire County". The HQ for Lancashire County is based at Coppull near Chorley. Each County of the Legion has a salaried staff, being a County Secretary and a County Field Officer. (the latter's role necessitating other paid administrative help) However, the exception with Furness is tha tthe welfare work is done from teh Kendal based County Field Office of Cumberland & Westmorland County. (Note the old historic titles!) Success has come the way of the Backbarrow formation from time to time winning through the years: -
The combined branches run successful Poppy Appeals annually and are prominent in the local Legion functions, running on behalf of the District Group the Legion's part of the respected Rusland Remembrance Service when many formations gather to observe an Act of Remembrance. MembershipMembership has just dropped below 50 for the first time in 35 years but, the combined branches wish to hold or increase their fugures by holding fundraising events from time to time and encouraging new recruits.If you would like to help us or better still join us please complete the form below or write to: Mr Robert Hutton Secretary Backbarrow and District Branch Royal British Legion 20 Ainslie St, ULVERSTON, LA12 7JE |
