End for Uplyme Royal British Legion branch after 66 years
Beryl Denham - Credit: Archant
‘It’s incredibnly sad but the the time has come to retire gracefully,’ says chairman Beryl Denham
Uplyme Women’s Section of the Royal British Legion has closed after 66 years’ outstanding service and commitment.
The decision to shut down was taken following a dwindling membership of 22 and unsuccessful attempts to recruit people to serve on the committee.
“It is incredibly sad,” said long-serving chairman Beryl Denham. “It has been a part of my life almost ever since I first came to the village.”
“Although the branch still had a reasonable membership, quite a few were unable to attend our monthly meetings. Eight of them could not do so due to ill health, while others didn’t attend because of family commitments.”
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Current membership will continue until the end of September when it is proposed Uplyme will become a holding branch, giving members entitlement to receive headquarters newsletters and to attend conferences and neighbouring branch events.
Those who wish to continue paying their subscriptions should contact secretary Ursula Everett.
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The laying up of the standard will take place at Uplyme Parish Church at 11.45am on Thursday, September 17, followed by a farewell lunch at Hunters Lodge, from 12.30pm.
“We extend a big thank-you to all our committee members who tried to keep the branch going, but we now feel the time has come to retire gracefully,” added Mrs Denham.
The women’s section’s record includes the winning of the Devon County Efficiency Cup for the most money raised by a branch on several occasions, including last year.
It reached its highest level of membership in 1952 when the roll stood at 116.
