Michael Vallance, Chair of Warwick British Legion, together with Anthony Glover and Cllr Lynne Bolton came to tell the Rotary Club of Warwick about their work.
The Royal British Legion is the UK’s leading Armed Forces charity best known for the annual Poppy Appeal. It provides financial, social and emotional care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces – past and present, and their families.
Membership is open to everyone with an interest in the objectives of the Legion, whether they have served in the Armed Forces or not, who want to help and support those who have served and their families. The Warwick branch meets monthly for social, fundraising and welfare activities, and if you are interested you can also meet up for coffee every Thursday at 11am in the Thos. Lloyd PH in Warwick Market Square.
Everyone is aware of the annual Poppy Appeal, but may have little idea where the money goes. Last year the 77 members of the Warwick Branch raised over £34,000 and much of this goes to care for local veterans. Galanos House in Southam is a care home run by RBL for ex-service men and women and their dependants. RBL partners with Help for Heroes running a Battle Back programme to help recovery of those seriously injured, wounded or sick personnel gain independence, and ongoing support is given with home adaptations and care. Recently the Lord Leycester Hospital approached the branch for help in accommodating a young man severely injured in Afghanistan. With their help adaptations have been completed enabling him to start to re-build his life in Warwick.
Thanking Michael for his presentation Rotarian Gordon Warren expressed the gratitude that we all owed the Armed Forces for defending our way of life. President John Hibben then presented Michael with a contribution towards RBL funds.
Warwick Branch meets on the 3rd Monday of every month If you are interested to please contact Michael Vallance on trekmonkey46@aol.com or look at their website.
Be sure to buy a Poppy this year!
Michael Vallance receives a cheque from club President, John Hibben