Talk on British Legion by John Parry - Hungerford Virtual Museum

Funding for this Club House was raised in a variety of ways such as dances at the Corn Exchange
and raffles. The main fund raising activity was to collect old newspapers to sell as there was a
major shortage of newsprint. At least 2 evenings a week were given up collecting this paper. It
was stored in old sheds in the Laundry yard next to the railway wall in what is now the area
controlled by Tesco and the Tesco Car Park. As an aside the Laundry apparently had an 8.00am,
1pm,2pm and 5pm whistle which was heard all over the Town with people setting their clocks by
the whistle.
Whilst this fund raising was taking place the Committee was searching for a site. They selected a
site next to the Railway Tavern, but the brewery opposed this. Obviously the thirst demands of ex
soldiers, matelots and airmen were perceived to be too much competition for their Tavern. A Mr
Sparkman’s shop adjoining Prospect Road was considered but dismised as too smal. Eventualy
they settled on this site which was adjacent to theold Regent cinema. The minutes state that “Mr
Beardsley, the owner, had accepted the offer of the Branch i.e. £50 per year rent on a 21 year lease
with an option of purchasing after 8 years. Eventually the land was purchased freehold for £250.
Today this club has an insured value of over £1/2m!
Plans were drawn up and tenders issued. All good local builders e.g. Morleys, Gibbs and
Woolridge quoted and eventually a bid of £1887 was accepted in November 1955 by Morleys the
builder. In June 1956 the new clubhouse was formally opened by General Sir Brian Horrocks of
8 th Army fame who lived locally.
Looking at the minutes we find so much of the work was done by volunteers from the Club.
Lorries, tractors, diggers etc were loaned by builders. Legion members who were tradesmen gave
their time freely on volunteer days the end of which must have been interesting as the minutes
refer to free beer for all those who have worked during the day.
But whilst all this building was taking place to erect this current Clubhouse the Branch continued
its welfare work an example of which I quote from the Treasurers Receipt Book for 1956. 23
households received bags of coal at a cost of £10 6s 11d from A Beard and Son for Christmas
1956. It was noted that the coal merchant charged the coal at cost. I understand that the coal
merchant was Jan Beard’s father. Hospital visits were made to Legion members who were sick
and gifts of packets of Woodbines and Senior Service cigarettes were given to them. Not really
sure what Drs Lois and Hugh Philens would think about that today! But I am sure the cigarettes
were most welcome. On the same page there was a donation from a Mr C Williams to the British
Legion. I think that was Jack’s Dad!
But what is the role of the Hungerford RBL Branch today?
First I must stress that the Branch is separate to the Club which is a limited company. The
Branches sole function is to raise funds for the Legion nationally and locally and to serve the exservice
community in this area from a welfare point of view where the criteria is need not want.
So what welfare work is done?