Further to the pictures from Remembrance Sunday Wendy Dance, treasurer of Brownhills Branch of the Royal British Legion has been in touch to tell us all about the RBL in Brownhills, and to thank residents of our area for their extraordinary generosity regarding the annual Poppy Appeal.

Wendy sent the following beautifully written note via Facebook, and also shared the wonderful images.

Ron Dance President of Brownhills Royal British Legion. Photo kindly supplied by Wendy Dance.

Hi Bob

Good evening to you. My name is Wendy Dance and I am treasurer of Brownhills Branch of The Royal British Legion. My father is President. Every year we organise the poppy appeal and we deliver to schools, shops, offices, pubs and stand at Tesco collecting the week before parade.

We cannot thank the people of Brownhills enough for their kindness in donating to a worthy cause. My father (Ron Dance) and I have organised the Poppy Appeal for a number of years and last year we broke the record and collected over £10,000. My father who hasn’t been in good health recently still stands at Tesco each day right up to remembrance parade and after the Remembrance Day goes back and collects the boxes, counts the money and banks it.

We then organise the Remembrance parade which this year was a shorter route due to lack of funding with the police. Nevertheless the public still came out to watch the parade. We now have our own military band who come from all over the Midlands to parade and lead us out to church.

The band in action – Image supplied by Wendy Dance.

Our branch meets the last Tuesday in each month at the Rose villa in Hednesford Road. Anyone wishing to join please feel free to come along. We meet at 8.15.

I am born and bred in Brownhills in a house in Shannon Drive, Brownhills West and went to Brownhills Comprehensive with my six brothers and sisters. We are so proud to be part of the community and hope we didn’t let too many down with our shortened route. Our legion members are getting on a bit and anyone that would like to volunteer to help in the Poppy Appeal we would be more than happy to hear from them.

Sidney the dog wearing his poppy with pride. Image kindly supplied by Wendy Dance.

I have attached photos of the parade for you and would ask if you could kindly thank all the people of Brownhills for their generosity. The place may change but Brownhills and the heart of the community remain strong.

You have a photo you have posted of the legion and a blonde lady walking in the parade that’s me and my son the wreath bearer

Could I possibly ask if you could pass on our heartfelt gratitude to all those that donated. No matter how small it means a lot. These people the same people year after year put their hands in their pocket and bring out a donation. It brings tears to your eyes especially in this economic state we are in yet still they give.

Thanks
Wendy Dance

Thanks to Wendy for that – and please be assured that if there’s anything you or the Legion need, the Brownhills Blog will be at your service. If readers have anything to add, please feel free – comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

President of the Royal British Legion Brownhillss, Ron Dance. His grandson Sam Rogers who has been wreath bearer for a number of years and his granddaughter Lucy. Image kindly supplied by Wendy Dance.