Bromborough British Legion appeals for help to avoid closure

Feb 9 2011 by Clare Walsh, Bromborough and Bebington News

BROKEN hearted members of Bromborough Royal British Legion are desperately fighting to keep their much-loved club open.

They fear that the club has little more than two months left before it may have to close its doors forever on 80 years of history.

The club is now appealing to the people of Bromborough to help.

Adrienne Devey, a committee member whose father, a prisoner of war, was a club founder, cannot imagine life without it.

She said: “It’s very precious and has always been a local meeting place, the hub of the community. There is so much history here and we’re devastated it might go.

“Please use your club otherwise it will be gone forever.”

Members cite rising prices, repairs and falling membership as contributory factors but also claim that a betrayal by the very organisation they represent is to blame for their situation.

The Royal British Legion has been charging the club rent for a number of years even though committee members say the building was built and paid for by the people of Bromborough.

Pat Newcombe, Vice Chairman of the club said: “At some time in the distant past the Club deeds were given to the headquarters for safe keeping. Despite many attempts by subsequent committees to have them returned HQ have refused maintaining that they were given to them in perpetuity.”