THE Bolton branch of the Royal British Legion could fold �— after the organisation lost its base.

Chairman Glynis Knapman, is predicting the branch will cease to exist following the closure of the British Legion club in Chorley New Road three months ago.

Bolton was the last British Legion organisation in the centre of the town to have its own club �— but it was sold to developers after it was discovered that a large internal wall was sagging and £150,000 was needed to put it right.

The building at numbers 98 and 100 Chorley New Road, which the branch had occupied since 1946, is currently being converted into a total of 16 apartments.

Officials of the Bolton branch visited the Mayor of Bolton Cllr Martin Donaghy on Tuesday for the launch of the poppy appeal which normally raises upwards of £20,000 for the ex-servicemen’s charity.

But Mrs Knapman said the 80-plus members of the branch, who had an interest in the organisation, would most likely drift off into other branches, such as Horwich, Astley Bridge, Farnworth, Kearsley and Westhoughton.

“We have not had a meeting since the building was sold,” said Mrs Knapman. “The reality is that most of the 80 or so members of the legion were only interested in visiting the club and using its facilities.

“Now it is no longer there, the Bolton branch looks likely to fold. It is very sad, but it is a sign of the times.

“Those of us who are interested in supporting the poppy appeal, may choose to join neighbouring branches.”

Former Mayor of Horwich Barbara Ronson, who is a poppy appeal organiser for Horwich, said it was not uncommon for Legion branches to be “homesless”.

“We hold our meetings in The Bridge pub in Church Street,” she said. “We have not had our own club for more than 10 years.

“People might think having your own licensed premises is easy, but what happens is the running costs become too high and the buildings become decrepid.

“In the end, the Royal British Legion is not really about buildings, it’s about people and what they do for the cause.”