Landmark Armed Forces Project Launched

Veterans of all ages willing to share their memories are being sought as part of a landmark project.

Leicestershire County Council is leading an ambitious initiative designed to record and celebrate the contribution of the Royal British Legion, ahead of the organisation's 90th anniversary this year.

The project, thought to be the only one of its kind in the country, aims to gather the memories of Legion members in Leicestershire and Rutland of all ages, to reflect different decades of the charity's activities.

Members with photos, film or objects relating to Legion work are also urged to get in touch to make sure that this material documenting the history of the group is preserved for future generations.

Starting this spring, there will be events in several Leicestershire libraries and museums to raise awareness of the project and enable people to share information and memories.

All the information collected will be recorded and copies stored in the Record Office at Wigston Magna as a legacy of the project, and to ensure that the history of the Legion is not forgotten.

David Sprason, County Council cabinet member for adults and communities, said:
"This project will remind people that the work of the Royal British Legion goes on all year round, not just at ‘poppy time’. Their welfare and charitable work is as vital today as it was when it was founded in 1921."

Richard Foster, County Manager for the Royal British Legion in Leicestershire and Rutland, said:“Before the project was conceived, Leicestershire County Council’s support for the armed forces community was already a superb example to all local authorities, through the practical help it has rendered through its all-party Support For The Armed Forces Working Group.

"However, that support has now extended into the whole community by their decision to mark the 90th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion in this way. Their vision is clear and comprehensive and involves the entire community, collecting memories and memorabilia from the past and involving children and young people to generate momentum for the future.

"We cannot thank Margaret Bonney and the County Council enough for taking on this challenge, which will fully record and comprehensively celebrate 90 years of Royal British Legion service to the Armed Forces family in Leicestershire and Rutland.”

The Royal British Legion safeguards the welfare, interests and memory of serving and ex-Service people and their families and dependants, and was founded in 1921.

To find out more or to get involved in the project, please contact Margaret Bonney, Project Coordinator, at The Record Office, Long Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire LE18 2AH (tel 0116 257 1080 or email margaret.bonney@leics.gov.uk.

http://www.leics.gov.uk/recordoffice