VETERANS and people wishing to support service personnel through the work of the Royal British Legion (RBL) are being urged to come forward in Oswestry.

The call to arms has been made by Neil Lawrenson, 51, who is currently acting branch chairman in Oswestry, is hoping the current good work with veterans in the town can be extended to joining the 100-year-old organisation.

A former police officer in the RAF, Neil says that anyone who has an interest in improving lives for ex-service personnel is welcome but hopes for those who have a greater understanding of the work they do.

"I was medically discharged in March 2019 after 28 years," he said.

"As a result, my family and I moved to Morda and while in the RAF, I volunteered to sell poppies and wished to carry that on within the community, so I made contact with the local RBL Branch.

"Then the pandemic happened, so things were put on ice, until last year, when I was selling poppies again at Morrisons.

"I also wanted to get more involved so I attended a meeting but it was clear the Branch was only in existence in name only.

"At a later meeting I suddenly and unexpectedly found myself as the acting chairman.

"So here I am, trying to reinvigorate the Branch, which actually has a paid membership of 54, but age is an issue, I am the fourth youngest at 51."

Neil is hoping to attract as many new people as he can, including those who attend the coffee drop-in sessions at Oswestry Cricket Club.

He added: "To be a member you don't have to have a service connection anymore.

"Anyone can join – predominantly we are looking for people and families who know what the RBL is about.

"I'm aiming to form a new committee for we can do social events, fundraising events and also to bolster the poppy collections.

"There's a lot of work in the town, such as the afternoon coffee drop in sessions and I'm hoping to tap into that.

"I've collected for the poppies and I was pleasantly surprised to see how many service personnel and their families there were in Oswestry."

Anyone wishing to join the Oswestry RBL can contact Neil on Oswestry.Chairman@RBL.Community