History of the British Legion
It was unanimously decided at a meeting of ex-servicemen in July 1928 that Mickleton and district branch of the British Legion should be formed and the branch was only closed in the 1950s when membership dwindled. The branch played an active part in home defence during the Second World War.
It was unanimously decided at a meeting of ex-servicemen in July 1928 that Mickleton and district branch of the British Legion should be formed and Brigadier-General Charles Smith Bingham ( of Mickleton Manor) with the help of nine others was appointed to form a committee. On the 26th of October 1928 the Committee held its first meeting at the Kings Arms. After a slow start, a flourishing club was built up, active in both Legion and social activities. At first only ex-Servicemen could join, but in 1932 membership was extended to non-service youths.
The club took part in Legion activities in the district, in the county, and sent a representative to national events. A Relief Fund for any cases of distress in the district was always maintained. Every year in November there was a Church Parade with banner on Remembrance Sunday, and the Campden Band usually accompanied the parade. An annual dinner was held every year until 1939. An outing club was run for many years, but later lapsed through lack of support.
In 1932 the decision was taken to build a Legion Hut and funds were raised by a member’s efforts. A site was obtained at the back of the Kings Arms, and the Hut was built at a cost of £120. It was open for general use in November 1932. The site was given by Flower and Sons (the famous Stratford upon Avon Brewery) on the condition that no alcohol would be served on the premises (thereby protecting their company and the landlord’s sales).
Meetings and social activities were held there, and regular evenings for billiards etc for members. In 1937 they held a Whist Drive where 13 tables were occupied. Messrs. R. Brain and J. Coles were M.C.s. In 1947 Mr. A. Woods beat Mr. F. Clarke and thereby holding the rose-bowl for the next year. This vase was donated as a prize by Sir Philip Stott, of Stanton Court, and presented to General O.P. Bingham Smith OBE in 1934. Sir Philip also presented the Legion with their billiards table in 1933, and played the opening game with Mr. Graham Williams ( Vice President).
Before the war, from 1933, a Flower Show was run for the village every summer and was always popular and successful.
The second annual show the Legion organised in 1934 was considered excellent by the organisers. The show stewards were Mr. F.H. Adams and Mr. R. Brain. The chief prize-winner was Mr. A. W. Hawkins who showed in 43 classes and secured 20 firsts, 13 seconds and 8 thirds! Prizes were presented by Mrs. Edythe Mary Smith Bingham of Mickleton Manor. During the afternoon and evening various side shows were in attendance and did a good trade. Teas were served in the Legion hut by Miss Robinson, Mrs. R.G. Niblett (the schoolmaster’s wife), Mrs. M. Kinchin and Mrs. G. Coles (wife of the owner of Hillside Nurseries). Dancing was held in the tent; the music being supplied by Mr. C. R. Booth and his radio gramophone. Mr. Booths gramophone was often lent out at this time for other events in the King Georges Hall. The Flower Show even went ahead in 1939 despite concerns about the worsening International situation.
Ladies connected with the club- wives and families of members- ran the Poppy Day collections every year. In 1947 they raised £45 5s 6d for the Poppy appeal. Ladies involved in the collection were Mrs. G.H. Coles ( of Hillside Nurseries), Mrs. F. Mills ( of Cotswold House), Mrs Vandermin ( the doctors wife) , the matron of WLA Hostel ( located at Mickleton Manor)
In 1931 the branch paid for the Memorial Chimes on the Church clock to be put in order.
With the threat of war in 1938, a British Legion Force was organised throughout the country and volunteers met at Olympia to be equipped to proceed to Czechoslovakia but after Munich the Force was abandoned. That same year the Mickleton branch attended the Gloucestershire annual conference in Tewksbury where the Chairman gave a resume of the action in Czechoslovakia and congratulated the various offices for volunteering for various offices there.
Major C. Rayner Booth ( of Tudor House) , who had volunteered, presented his badges and other equipment to the Mickleton and District Branch as a souvenir of this event.
Another reminder of conditions in the country at large was the list of unemployed which was posted in the Hut for the attention of local employers in 1933, and the report on Legion work in Distressed Areas in September 1937.
During the 1939-45 war, the Branch played an active part in Home Defence, and co-operated in all the war-time efforts made in the village. In 1939 to ensure an early and full response as soon as recruiting for the North Cotswold Anti-Aircraft Unit opened in early April, an inquiry office was set up at Tudor House (by kind permission of Capt. C. Rayner Booth). Retired officers or W.O.s were there to give advice to any intending recruits.
By the annual general meeting in 1948 (at the Legion hut) there were 100 members. Capt. A. W. Dobson M.C. was in the chair and Mr R. G. Niblett (the schoolmaster) was hon secretary and treasurer. Unfortunately the Legion was in debt to the tune of £27 2s. 6d due to the billiard table needing recovering and the purchasing of new billiard cues and accessories.
Membership of the Mickleton branch of the British Legion dwindled in the early 1950s and the branch was closed. The Hut and its contents were sold off locally.
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