The Boxted British Legion today:

The Club has some 110 members Paying an annual subscription of £12.50p of which £10 goes to the Royal British Legion. New members over the age of 18 are actively encouraged to join by being proposed by a member.

Ring Mike Shore on 01206 272545

The club has a pool table and a darts board and offers drinks at the bar at club prices. A number of events are organised during the year including quiz nights, rummage sales, raffles and social occasions. The major event of the year is the annual Poppy Appeal. This year the club has so far raised £915.

History:

The Boxted branch of the Royal British Legion was formed in 1935 by ex-servicemen of the 1st World War. The first President was Capt. G.H. Swift who lived at Cheshunts in Church Street. Col. Guy Blewitt was the first chairman with Mr T.F.Alderton as the original secretary.

Their major remit was to help ex-servicemen with their health and pension problems. Committee meetings were held in the Priory Hall which acted as the village hall at the time. Committee members paid 6 pence (2½p) each meeting towards the purchase of bricks to build the hut. Members subscription was half a crown - 2/6d (12½p).

The hut was built from 2 Nissun huts bought from the POW camp at Wrabness for £30 each. Mr Geater, who ran the garage in the village, transported the huts free of charge while Col. Waller, who lived at Boxted Lodge, sold a 50 year lease on the land to the Legion for a peppercorn rent. The hut was finally opened in 1948 whan a small bottle of beer cost 9d while a large brown ale was 1/8d. The hut was heated by two tortoise stoves - one in the middle and the other at the far end. Beer was supplied by Ind, Coope and Allsopp who also provided the chairs for the hut.

Eric Gant comes from an ardent Legionnaire family. His father, Harry, was Secretary from 1937 until 1964 when Eric took over. At this time there were over 300 members. Both Eric and Harry were awarded the Legion's Gold badge and Eric had the great honour of carrying the Boxted standard at two British Legion Remembrance celebrations in the Albert Hall - in 1964 and 1988.

There are three rehearsals of the Royal British Legion Remembrance service at the Royal Albert Hall. The standard bearers have to be at the Hall by 8:45am when their standards are checked and they rehearse the parade for the first time. This is followed by a second rehearsal with the service personnel and a final run through with the clergy before the afternoon performance. The day culminates in the evening performance in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.