90th Legion anniversary celebrated in Shaftesbury

Robert Walter MP (North Dorset) joined members of Shaftesbury’s Royal British Legion to celebrate the organisation’s 90th anniversary on 1 July 2011.
 
With the permission of the Shaftesbury in Bloom committee, local Royal British Legion (RBL) members have planted out a small circular bed on the Royal Chase roundabout in RBL colours to commemorate the charity’s 90th year. This follows events across the county marking Armed Forces Day on 25 June.
 
As a member of the Shaftesbury branch of the RBL, Bob Walter was delighted to be asked to take part at the new flower bed to mark the anniversary, which was attended by Shaftesbury RBL Chairman Wilf Readman, Branch Secretary Rachel Caldwell, Chairman of Shaftesbury in Bloom Ray Humphries, and several other supporters and members of the RBL committee.
 
The marigolds were provided by Mr Readman and the remaining plants were kindly donated by the Charity, SCOPE, which works closely with the town’s RBL branch.

Bob Walter said, “In its 90 years the Royal British Legion – in large part through its local branches – has offered welfare support to innumerable service men and women, from war veterans to those serving in ongoing conflicts beyond our shores.
 
“Organisations like the RBL and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) – whose local fund-raising event I attended in Blandford last Saturday as part of the Armed Forces Day celebrations and which raised around £25,000 – not only support serving and ex-soldiers, but also their families and friends.
 
“They offer a practical range of services that are invaluable and make a real difference to people’s lives. They rely almost entirely on volunteers and the generosity of the general public, so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their hard work and commitment and to urge the public to keep up their support.”