Honiton residents left with a legacy of fond memories.

THE pending sale of the former Royal British Legion Club marks the final chapter in the institution’s history in Honiton, but leaves behind a legacy of fond memories for residents.

The club closed after getting into financial difficulty – chalking up debts totalling �100,000.

Members of the Honiton branch of the Royal British Legion, who were not involved in the running of the club, voted in favour of selling the Dowell Street site for development.

Residents feel it is a sad loss and called it an end of an era for the town.

Honitonian Dennis Cooper, 79, said: “We are losing a big asset in Honiton.

“I remember when the Legion was just a hut and they built around it.

“The club has changed over the years and it is a great pity it got itself into trouble.

“I joined in 1950 and used to call in there quite a lot.

“It is the end of an era for the town.

“It is another hall gone. It is very sad.”

Joan Hansford, 76, said: “My family helped to build the club at the time.

“The community complex project should be scrapped and we should have that hall instead.

“It is a sad loss – I used to go to the Legion club for a lot of meetings.

“It was a perfectly good hall.”

Stefan Borkowski, 59, said: “I was a member for a lot of years. It is not right - the Legion should never have been closed.

“It is part of the history of Honiton.

“All the pubs and clubs are closing.

“The sale of the club can’t be helped, but it should never have been closed.

“Most of my family helped build it.

“It was just a good, friendly club where you could gather. It was a place for a lot of people, their friends and families.”

Joan Mirza, 75, said: “It is a great pity for all of the town. It is a sad loss, because a lot of people did use it.

“But, what we really need is a community centre to be built – we are still waiting 20 years later.

“It is going to cost an awful lot of money now.

“There is nothing in the town for youngsters.

“We need our own facility in the town for anyone, young and old.

“Honiton is very lacking in facilities.

“It makes it even less convenient for people now the Legion has closed.

“We need something here as soon as possible.

“It is another tragedy, yet again.”