THE Royal British Legion nationally has just celebrated its centenary.
Locally, The Mail reported in March 1997 that volunteers from the Backbarrow and District branch of the RBL were honoured for boosting the amount raised by their annual poppy collection during three consecutive years.
Volunteers from the branch raised more than £5,000 for the years 1993, 1994 and 1995, increasing their collection by almost 45 per cent.
Their efforts, which culminated in a record poppy appeal collection of £1,923.06 in November 1995, had earned them third place for RBL branches in the North and East Lancashire.
Officers from the branch travelled to Longridge, near Preston, to receive a certificate marking their success in the George Haffner Poppy Appeal awards.
Later that year the branch won the James Hewitson VC Shield for the second year running after being voted best branch in the North West Lancs district for furthering the work of the legion.
Millom Royal British Legion earned second place.
In August 2006 former soldiers were preparing for a special event to mark double celebrations.
The RBL branch in the Crake Valley was due to reach its 60th anniversary the following month.
The celebrations on September 16 would be shared with Backbarrow RBL, which had been founded 85 years previously.
Both anniversaries would be celebrated at a musical event at the village hall at Greenodd.
When the Crake Valley branch was formed in 1946 it had almost 180 members. By 2006 there were only seven.
Backbarrow and District branch secretary Robert Hutton said: "Due to falling numbers, Crake Valley became a sub-branch of Backbarrow and District branch in 2001.
"But the branch has managed to continue to fulfil its role in the local community ever since and this year it will be 60 years since the formation of the branch.
"To mark this occasion the singing group Stanza are booked for a concert on September 16 at Greenodd Village Hall."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here