I refer to the letter in your August 22 edition from a Tony Butcher, who is not known to me personally.

Firstly, I must emphasise that without a Royal British Legion branch a club, being a subsidiary, cannot exist, a fact of which he is obviously unaware.

The Lydney branch is active every day throughout the year and provides help and assistance to serving and ex-servicemen and women upon request.

A list of branch officers together with their contact numbers has always been prominently displayed on the premises and requests for help are always logged and reported to branch monthly meetings.

In particular, the branch welfare officers travel to meet qualifying applicants, often at their own expense, regardless of the mileage involved.

Mr Butcher mentions Remembrance Sundays. obviously oblivious to the efforts of those of the branch committee who plan and organise the parade and service, not an easy task by any means.

– H Warren, Lydney.