VILLAGERS have successfully resurrected a forces’ charity following its 50-year absence.

Members of the newly formed Wroughton and district branch of the Royal British Legion are already dusting down the old standards in preparation for the next Remembrance Day in November.

This follows an inaugural meeting on May 11 where the group, which closed down in the 1960s, was relaunched.

Poppy Appeal collectors in Wroughton had appealed to the public to see if there was any interest in restarting the group through an article in the Adver back in April.

They came up with the idea because on their collection rounds they had been asked many times why there was no legion presence in the village.

Liz Derbyshire, membership secretary and Wroughton Poppy Appeal organiser, who came up with the idea to reform the group, said: “I’m delighted that we have got enough people to form a group, I’m delighted it’s taken off.

“I thought I’ll put something in and see where we go and here we are.”

At least 15 people are required to want to become members to set up a new branch.

But at the inaugural meeting, subsequently held at the White Hart pub, on the High Street, in Wroughton, around 20 people turned up.

At this meeting, chaired by Dennis Compton, the retiring Royal British Legion county chairman, a chairman, secretary, treasurer and membership secretary were appointed.

Secretary Sandy Harris said: “There was a good turnout, we have probably now got 20 people that are interested in joining.

“Our oldest member is 90 years old.”

It is thought that the original Wroughton Royal British Legion main branch closed in the early 1960s and the women’s branch closed in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

The standard, which has been laid up in Wroughton Parish Church ever since will have to be taken away for cleaning and then re-dedicated at a service.

Mrs Derbyshire said: “Enquiries have been made about having the standard cleaned and hopefully we’ll have it ready for Remembrance Sunday, which would be really nice.

“It would be nice to have a legion standard there at the War Memorial for the first time in 50 years because we do get a good turn out in the village.”

Anyone can become a member of the branch and you do not have to have served in the forces.

The group’s first meeting is at the Three Tuns pub, in Wroughton, on Tuesday at 7pm and anyone is welcome.

If you would like to get involved with the branch, or would like more information, call Mrs Derbyshire on 01793 813768 or 01793 813700.