Market Harborough Branch was formed in 1923 at a meeting
of ex-servicemen held on 23 March. Facts about the early days of
the British Legion locally, such as the formation and subsequent meetings and
the Branch 1934 Annual Armistice Dinner
come from newspaper archives. The Branch's own records prior
to 1977 sadly have been lost but an article published by the Market
Harborough Historical Society gives a glimpse of
welfare and social activity gleaned from Branch minutes
from 1931 to 1959. These also show that there was confusion about the
date of the formation of the Branch.
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A major achievement just after the war was raising funds for,
and erecting a building for use as a Branch HQ not a Club. It is
intriguing to imagine a branch populated with lots of keen
young men getting together after work to create
their place. When they were no longer young and
keen, the building was allowed to deteriorate and with lack of
funds for maintenance, it was sold in 1991. The proceeds were
invested in a RBL Trust account. In 2004 some of the money was used
to purchase a portable building to be used for the Poppy Appeal and
the storage of Branch archives and other material. Now existing and
future minutes and other records have a good chance of
survival!
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Over the years some small branches like Kibworth and
The Langtons have closed and some of their members will have joined
Market Harborough. In the case of Welland Valley Branch, their
funds and records were also transferred.There have been times when
our Branch declined and the quote in the 1982 AGM Minutes "efforts
to get the Branch moving were just beginning to take effect"
reflects that. The minute also states "the Branch had won the
(County) Bob Hart Trophy for increased membership." Over 20 years
later another regeneration started leading to the active, caring,
friendly, innovative, outward looking and successful Branch you see
today. And we have won the Trophy again! (and many
others).
