Service marks centenary of county’s first Legion branch
CIVIC and community leaders attended a service in Spondon to mark the centenary of the oldest branch of the Royal British Legion in Derbyshire.
The Lord Lieutenant, Elizabeth Fothergill, and the Mayor of Derby, Councillor Robin Wood, were among those who attended the service at Spondon Methodist Church on Remembrance Sunday, along with representatives of community groups.
Spondon was the first place in Derbyshire to set up a branch of the Legion – on June 3, 1921, less than three weeks after the organisation was founded nationally on May 15 that year by the merger of four ex-servicemen’s groups following the Great War.
With the Legion nationally marking 100 years since its formation, the branch had wanted to have various celebrations this year, including a big service in the village, but plans were
hit by Covid-19 restrictions. So the traditional evening Remembrance Day service at the church was augmented to include some special recognition and tribute to the founders of the branch and its successors. Special messages were read out at the service. A letter from a Lady in Waiting to The Queen, patron of the Legion, said Her
Majesty was interested and pleased to hear that the significant anniversary was being marked.
Lieutenant General James Bashall, national president of the Legion, sent his congratulations and best wishes to Spondon having the distinction of being the first branch to be formed in Derbyshire, saying it was remarkable that it was so soon after the creation of the Legion itself.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say how grateful I am to all our members at the Spondon branch,” he said. “Your continued dedication and support is greatly appreciated and it is through your resilience, determination, and commitment we are able to support thy Armed Services community in the way that we do.”
Pauline Latham, MP for Mid-Derbyshire, who was unable to attend, described the service as “a special celebration” and thanked people for coming together to remember and honour military and civilian personnel, both old and young, who have fought wars, disasters and pandemics to protect and defend Britain.
Howard Williams, chair of Spondon branch, RBL, said his members are proud of the honour of being the first branch of the Legion to be formed in Derbyshire.
“We are sad that we were unable to mark this special occasion in the way we had planned but are pleased to be able to do something to honour those men from the village who had the initiative to form a branch of what would become such a great institution,” he said.
The Rev Colin Emerson, church minister and chaplain to the branch, added: “While big celebrations were cancelled I am delighted that we were able to enhance our usual service to take account of this special anniversary while also paying suitable homage to the fallen.”