THE OKEHAMPTON branch of the Royal British Legion has launched a recruitment drive to reverse a decline in its membership.

The branch, in common with legion branches nationwide, has seen its number dwindle along with the numbers of remaining old soldiers, sailors and airman of the Second World War.

However, branch vice-chairman Major Ray Rattenbury said the welfare work carried out by the legion with service veterans remained as essential as ever.

‘The need for assistance for our servicemen and their families is as great now as it was when the legion was formed after the First World War,’ said Major Rattenbury.

‘The legion is the custodian of remembrance and it also looks after the welfare of servicemen and women and ex-servicemen and women and their dependants.

‘It does that in a number of ways, including arranging counselling and providing residential accommodation and we also have training establishments and all sorts of other things. We raise money for this through the Poppy Appeal and other functions the legion organises.’

The biggest day of the year for the Okehampton branch is Remembrance Sunday, when it organises the remembrance parade through the town. Branch members can also get involved in welfare work with veterans.

Major Rattenbury added: ‘We train people up to visit and counsel people with their welfare problems, so there are a number of roles for people if they are interested, or if they simply want to join and pay their £17 a year subscription that is fine too.’

The Okehampton branch currently has 124 members, down from 350 ten years ago.

Former branch secretary Major Peter Williams said they were hoping to recruit new members from among Okehampton’s newest residents.

‘In the 22 years I’ve been living in Okehampton, the population has gone up from 4,000-5,000 to something like 7,000-8,000 and a lot of those people are retired. Therefore we believe a lot of new residents could be potential members of the legion.’

He said the legion’s work also included working with the young army and air cadets of the town.

‘We have maintained very close links with the RAF air cadets and army cadets. We have recruited standard bearers from the army and air force cadets and they’re fantastic. I’m so impressed by them, it gives you faith in the youth.’

Find out more by visiting the RBL branch’s stand at the Okehampton Show next Thursday (August 8) or call Major Peter Williams on 01837 861373.