Welcome to Wells Branch Royal British Legion

The Wells Branch of the Royal British Legion has been serving the ex-service community of Wells and District since 1921, but can trace its roots back to the formation of 'The Comrades' after the 1st World War.

The British Legion (as it then was) came into being nationally in May 1921, and the Wells Branch was formed two months later when the Comrades chose to become part of the British Legion. We are therefore the oldest Branch in the County of Somerset and one of the longest serving community organisations in the City of Wells. The Branch is honoured to have as a member the 'Last British Tommy', Harry Patch, who fought at the battle of Passhendale in 1917. Although he is now 110 years old he still turns out for Remembrance services and parades to remember his comrades who did not return.
In 2006 we celebrated our 85th Anniversary with a parade through the city.

The Legion was given the designation 'Royal' in 1973 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Through its dedication to the work of the RBL, the Branch, although in the smallest city in England, has become a "champion" Branch having won Awards for Efficiency at both county and national level in the past two years.

The Legion's formost task is supporting the welfare needs of the serving and ex-service community, and this is done through the Branch Caseworker. To facilitate this the RBL's main source of income is the annual Poppy Appeal, and the Wells Branch has increased the money raised year on year for the past 5 years.

Under the terms of our Royal Charter, the Legion is tasked with upholding,on behalf of the nation,the Remembrance of the sacrifices made by our service men and women, as well as the civilian population, in two World Wars and the many other conflicts since. This is primarily carried out through the Remembrance Services held throughout the country on Remembrance Sunday and on Armistice Day. Also during the three weeks of the annual Poppy Appeal we tell people of the reasons for the collections, with local examples, and are asked to visit schools in the area and explain why the poppy is the symbol of all our welfare work. We are also aided in this by the Service Cadet units and other uniformed youth organisations. At a recent Conference, high ranking officers of the armed services said that they were grateful for the support the Legion gives to its personnel and that it is most important that the experience of veterans is passed on to today's service personnel.

Wells Branch Officers 2009
President - John Foot
Vice-President - Revd. Preb. Denys Goodman
Chairman - Robin White - Tel:673550
Vice-Chairman - Dr.Peter Trafford
Branch Secretary - Janet Boyce - Tel:678101
Membership Sec.- Robin Dowdeswell - Tel:673655
Treasurer - Robin Dowdeswell
Poppy Appeal Organiser - Ray Bennett - e-mail:raybennett@talktalk.net
Caseworker - Ray Bennett
Standard Bearer - Janet Boyce

For obvious reasons the work of the Branch continues unseen throughout the year.Primarily this is the welfare work that supports those ex-service personnel who are in any form of need. Somerset is well served as it has two residential homes that offer aid to those with specific needs.

The first is Somerset Legion House at Weston-super-Mare, which has been rebuilt to meet the modern needs of the disabled. Situated on the seafront, it provides welfare breaks for those recovering from an illness or a period of hospitalisation.
The second facility is Dunkirk Memorial House at Bishop's Lydiard, near Taunton. This provides long-term nursing care and respite care where a person's full-time carer needs a break, and is now offering day care as needed.
Further information about our casework can be obtained from the Branch Caseworker, Ray Bennett.
These two homes, which were established as 'living war memorials'by public subcription, are supported by income from the annual Poppy Appeal and donations from Branches throughout the county.

The more visible activities of the Branch are connected with fund raising and Remembrance.
The annual Poppy Appeal, which lasts for 3 weeks, is our busiest time of the year. Collecting within Wells and the surrounding villages takes a lot of planning and a lot of volunteer collectors. Some have been collecting for years and their contribution is recognised at the annual Poppy Concert. This event launches the annual appeal and is an opportunity to thank all those who have helped, both on the streets and behind the scenes (after all, someone has to count the money when it comes in!).
On Remembrance Sunday the City gathers to pay it's respects to those who made the Supreme Sacrifice, and all those who have suffered in any way as a result of war. The Remembrance Sunday Service is held at St. Cuthbert's Church in the presence of the Mayor and City Council. After the service a wreath laying ceremony takes place around the war Memorial in the churchyard.
On Armistice Day the Legion gather at the Conduit in the Market Place to carry out a Last Post ceremony at the very hour of the Cease Fire in the First World War. This simple but moving ceremoney attracts a great many people in the midst of an ordinary working day and underlines the fact that many young men left their jobs and their homes to fight in foreign fields to defend the ideals of Freedom and Peace. And still today many young men and women are doing the same in even more distant places. Like those of two world wars and many other conflicts, they don't all survive, or, if they do are suffering wounds, both physical and psychological which create many problems for themselves and their families. All these the Royal British Legion, along with the other service charities, are tasked to meet the needs of. Indeed it is anticipated that the need will be there for many many years to come.

If you feel that you would like to aid the Legion in it's task then do contact our Poppy Appeal Organiser, Ray Bennett.
Membership of the Legion is open,not only to those who served, but to anyone who is in sympathy with the aims and objects of the RBL. If you would like to be more involved then do contact the Branch Membership Secretary, Robin Dowdeswell.

Maybe you belong to a community group and would welcome a Legion speaker to come and outline the many tasks that the RBL deals with,or indeed any other query you may have, then do contact the Chairman, Robin White.

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