ROYAL British Legion members in West Somerset have been busy forging new links with the district's young people in a bid to ensure the long-term future of the charity.
Although ten platoons are already affiliated across Somerset, the link-up is a first for Minehead and is expected to help promote the work of both the legion and the cadets.
Across in Williton, branch members manned their biggest ever stand at the village fete to both mark the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion and to try and garner more support from the community.
The stand was a success, as three new members were enrolled and a further seven could be in the pipeline.
Nationally, the legion is pushing for people from all walks of life to get involved with their local branches.
Although traditionally the charity's membership has predominantly been ex-forces personnel, the average age of members is rising and the organisation is pushing to attract a younger team of supporters.
Minehead's affiliation ceremony, which was attended by representatives from the county's cadet force and air training corps, as well as county legion officials, was aimed at forging closer ties with young people.
Ian Attwell, Minehead legion club chairman and Roy Malin, the branch chairman, welcomed the move.
"Everyone has worked very hard to make this happen and we think it will pay dividends for both the cadets and the club by encouraging them to be active junior branch members of the Royal British Legion," said Mr Attwell.
"It will allow them to have supervised access to the club and to get involved with future events and ventures, such as celebrating our 90th anniversary later this year."
Mr Malin added: "The cadet ethos of encouraging youths to become active community members is the same as the Royal British Legion's ethos and this affiliation is a further bond that we will have.
"We know that they will look after our future by carrying on our traditions."
Lieutenant Colonel Mike Pether, the deputy commandant of the Somerset Cadet Battalion, was among the guests at last Wednesday's affiliation ceremony at the Minehead Royal British Legion Club.
He praised the cadets for their commitment, particularly as their parade and inspection was dogged by bad weather.
Major Brian Slade, Minehead Platoon's representative and affiliation organiser, said it had been a lengthy process to bring the link to fruition.
"We started on this road back in September and to be one of ten in the county and the first in Minehead is an honour," he said.
"We are looking forward to helping the Royal British Legion with their community events such as poppy collections or assisting on other parades.
"This affiliation is a relationship that can only lead to better and more positive things and we are very excited for it to happen."
Bert Pearson, chairman of the Williton branch of the Royal British Legion, said it was important that people realised the legion was there to offer long-term help for military personnel and their families and not just rehabilitation for the injured.
"An appropriate slogan today would be 'Help the legion to help our heroes to start a new life' and the public's support at Williton Fete did just that," he said.
"The event was a success both in terms of fundraising and signing-up new members."
Mr Pearson said membership was open to everyone, while the legion itself had come a long way since its foundations in World War One when branches were formed up and down the country to help members of the armed forces returning from the battlefield.
"In 1921 welfare consisted simply of a box of food or a blanket. Ninety years on the needs of these men and women have changed and the legion now provides such things as stair lifts, mobility scooters and practical and financial help to start a new life," Mr Pearson said.
Photos: Steve Guscott
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