Town RBL branch closes down amid ‘allegations’
THE Southport Armed Forces Community Hub has temporarily closed, just days after Remembrance Sunday took place.
The venue, on Wesley Street in Southport town centre, has become a vital meeting and support space for one of the largest armed forces communities in the country.
In a statement, the branch said: “... we were personally challenged by a number of allegations by the membership chain of command outside of our much loved branch and town”.
It is not known when it will reopen, and the closure has left local veterans without a place to meet and seek support and comradeship in the run-up to Christmas.
The facility has been operated by the Southport Branch of the Royal British Legion. The statement on the Royal British Legion Southport Facebook page says:
“Dear Southport,
“For the next few days our Armed Forces Community Hub will be temporarily closed and we’d like to explain why.
“Since the Hub opened in January 2021 we have provided a vital service to the Armed Forces Community in Southport and beyond. We offer comradeship, financial and psychological support through our Branch Community Support programme, a warm space when required and the best free cuppas in Southport.
“We believe we have become a vital resource in a town which has one of the largest veterans communities in the UK.
“But, it has always been far more than that, we’ve wanted to be part of putting Southport on the map, we’ve wanted to benefit the whole community.
“In the last two years we’ve developed, what is now regarded, as the BEST Armed Forces Day in the region, we’ve played a key role in the military presence at The Air Show, we planned and ran the first formal royal visit to the town since 1955, we’ve increased awareness and attendance at Remembrance, again one of the best in the area, and we’ve supported local businesses through our wide network of contacts and beneficiaries.
“We have also played a key role in shaping the support for the Armed Forces Community across the borough. We are now well on our way to achieving our dream of making Southport the best town in the country to live or visit if you are part of the Armed Forces Family.
“When we took over the branch the Royal British Legion had a poor reputation in the town, one which we understood and wanted to improve.
“The previous branch had minimal impact and we wanted to change that. When change happens people find it challenging and whilst we hoped that everyone would be on board with the changes, that simply wasn’t realised .
“Since 1921 the RBL has been a membership organisation, its members have considerable power to craft the organisation in both a positive and negative way.
“We have the utmost respect for the values and history of the RBL and we are proud to have raised nearly £30,000 this year for the national Poppy Appeal.
“However, last week we were personally challenged by a number of allegations by the membership chain of command outside of our much loved branch and town. You will understand that for now we cannot discuss those allegations. Naturally people will talk and naturally when you read this you will make your own assumptions.
“Our priority is our benefactors, those of you that use our services, those of you that have turned up to our events, those of you who support what we do. We’d like to ask you to bear with us for a few days whilst we make a plan to ensure that we can continue to serve you.
“Finally we are ALL volunteers, giving up our own time to do what we do.
“We are so proud of what we have already achieved and will go on to achieve and we’d like to say a huge thank you for your support now and in the future.
“We promise to keep you updated.” A spokesperson for the Royal British Legion said: “The RBL Southport Branch is currently being supported by the West Lancashire County Committee and, as a result, the Southport hub is temporarily closed. Discussions around its future will take place in the coming weeks.”
Earlier this year, the branch organised the royal visit by Princess Anne to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Southport War Memorial.
Another huge success was Southport Armed Forces Day, one of the biggest and best in the North West.
Over the past few weeks volunteers from the branch have raised nearly £30,000 for the national Royal British Legion organisation.