On Sunday 12 September, Sir David Amess attended, and spoke at, the local Royal British Legion centre to celebrate the organisation’s 100th anniversary.
The Royal British Legion is a charity that supports veterans and their families with branches across the country. Sir David works closely with the local branch in Westcliff and has supported many of their campaigns and projects.
In his speech, Sir David said “with the country returning to normal and once again wonderful events like these being able to happen in person, there is no better time to praise those charities and individuals that worked so selflessly throughout the pandemic.
The Royal British Legion was founded in 1921, 100 years ago, and has ever since been helping veterans and their families financially, socially and emotionally. I know many people that depend on the British Legion in Southend and constantly praise the magnificent work they do.
There are branches of the Royal British Legion up and down the country that coordinate their local and national efforts to support veterans. However, we are here today to especially celebrate the Leigh-on-Sea branch that serves Southend and the surrounding areas so well since their inaugural meeting in 1937.
Throughout the pandemic, we all had to change the way in which we live, socialise and work. That was no exception for charities as they still had to support those who needed it most. The British Legion excelled in their duties and responsibilities in supporting veterans throughout the pandemic. They helped elderly people with their daily tasks that were made more difficult thanks to Coronavirus, be that picking up shopping or collecting medicine. The British Legion were also involved in my VE Day and VJ Day celebrations last year for the 75th anniversary of the end of the war. We had to adapt and have virtual celebrations, but the charity was very helpful in coordinating local efforts.
We have sadly lost a number of members and veterans in recent years who would have loved to have been here today. However, I know that the British Legion is continuing their work to do their veterans and members justice and protect our ex-servicemen.
Our local British Legion branch does such a great job of keeping remembrance alive and giving our veterans a voice in the public eye. We should never forget the sacrifices that were made for our freedom and how brave our Service men and women were. We owe them so much and I hope that the Member of Parliament for Southend West will be standing where I am today in 100 years’ time praising the work of the Royal British Legion at their 200th anniversary”.
