MEMBERS of the Royal British Legion Women’s Section (WS) are furious that individual branches throughout the country are being disbanded after a decision allegedly taken without consultation by the RBL Board of Trustees, writes John Balment.

It heralds the end of the WS branches in Dawlish, Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot which are well-known for their behind the scenes work in the organisation.

The branches currently come under the wing of the Teign Group whose chairman Joan Gillson said members nationally were up in arms about the situation and the way it was handled.

Mrs Gillson is also chairman of the Kingsteignton RBL WS and, together with branch WS secretary/treasurer Shirley Linnell, is joining members from branches around the country at the WS National Conference in Southport on Wednesday and Thursday.

‘There will no doubt be some strong words and protests at the conference. This situation is all to do with the trustees who have been trying to get rid of the WS for a long time.

‘We are the backbone of the Legion and they will miss us when we are gone,’ said Mrs Gillson.

Kingsteignton RBL WS has been in existence for more than 80 years, but from September members there and at other branches will have to join the main section if they want to remain in the RBL.

‘They can join the WS but it will be called the Women’s Section District. What is that supposed to mean?

‘The National WS standard is going to be laid up, so there will be no WS branch standards. They say we can carry on with our standards, but by the rules we will have to lay ours up. We will find out if we can have a ceremony to lay it up in the parish church,’ said Mrs Gillson.

She added that women’s sections throughout the country did not want to see their branches disappear.

Mrs Gillson said they had been told to keep it quiet and not to tell the press.

‘What are they afraid of. What they are doing should be transparent and in the open,’ she emphasised.

The RBL Board of Trustees says it places great value and importance on the work and contribution of members of the WS, but by the implementation of new governance arrangements it contends that the interests of beneficiaries are best served by fully integrating the section into the Legion’s governance and service delivery structures and processes, while also securing the long-term future for the WS.

It maintained that the trustees have a statutory obligation, which could not be overlooked, to secure the best use of the Legion’s resources.