Hunstanton Royal British Legion membership falls to just two

Hundreds gathered for a Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Hunstanton on Sunday.

The parade to the memorial was led by Simon Matthews, chair of the town's RBL branch and standard bearer Ralph Hamlet, its vice-chair.

After the wreath laying and two minutes' silence, Fr James Monro, who led the service, appealed for people to support the legion, whose membership in the town has fallen to just a handful.

Hunstanton Royal British Legion vice-chair Ralph Hamlet (right) at the Remembrance Sunday service in the town (Image: Chris Bishop) Mr Hamlet said he and Mr Matthews, who served in the army for 22 years, were the last remaining active members, after others had moved on, passed away or become too old to take part in activities such as Sunday's parade.

He said the future of the branch was in doubt and it could be mothballed.

"It seems pointless with just the two of us," said Mr Hamlet, 60, who served as a driver in the RAF at bases including Marham and Coltishall for 22 years.

"At one point we had 50 Royal British Legion members affiliated to Hunstanton.

Hunstanton Royal British Legion vice-chair Ralph Hamlet at the town's war memorial on Remembrance Sunday (Image: Chris Bishop) "In the five years I've been involved we've never had more than a dozen come to a meeting."  

Mr Hamlet said the branch had tried to recruit via local magazines and social media without success.

"It's just the way things are these days," he said. "Most organisations struggle to recruit people to help out."

Hunstanton Branch usually meets at 7.30pm on the first Monday of every month at the United Services Club in Homefields Road, Hunstanton.

Membership is open to men and women of all ages, whether they have served in the armed forces or not.

The town's branch was former in 1922, shortly after the creation of the British Legion the previous year.