Anthony Kimber’s article [‘Brewery Yard site for sale‘, Rye News, Feb 26] suggests that a substantial donation to the Royal British Legion (RBL) would be appropriate following the sale of the Brewery Yard Club premises in Landgate, Rye. I recall that, when I served on the committee of the Legion, one of the main concerns I had was that, if the club folded, its assets would go to the national headquarters of the Legion based in London and not to the members of the club or to the local branch.
I left the committee in 2000 but continued to be an associate civilian member of the Royal British Legion and its local branch, and also a member of the Brewery Yard Club. When I was on the committee, it was the support of the non-Legion members that kept the club trading, not any support received from the national RBL, as they had a regimental attitude and seemed unable to move with the times.
The Brewery Club members were right to disaffiliate from the RBL so that the club’s assets would benefit its members and the local community, including ex-servicemen, and they propose that three charities should benefit from the sale of the contents of the club, these being Macmillan Cancer Support, St Michael’s Hospice and Marie Curie Cancer Care. These charities have been chosen owing to the fact that members in the past have benefitted from their services. I am sure that the founders of the club would have wanted the local community to benefit.
When the property is sold, the members will receive a pay-out. I will consider making a donation then to the RBL only if it can be for the local Legion and not go to the national headquarters.
Dennis Leeds-George
East Guldeford