Syston Branch Women's Section

The Syston Royal British Legion branch were involved in various activities which incuded Carnivals, Standard Bearer's compeitions plus many others.

50th anniversary of Syston RBL Women's Section, 1993 with
Mrs Meg Hendry, Standard Bearer and celebratory cake

Syston Carnival with Syston RBL Women’s Section stall, year unknown. Standing L to R: Doreen Fowkes, Mavis Smith, Irene ?, unknown, Joyce Patrick. Sitting L to R: Gill Moss, Doris Bindley

Area Standard Bearers’ annual competition, held at Douglas, Isle of Man, taken outside the hall where the competition took place, 1969, the year when Margaret Hendry won her area competition for the first time. She is on the right.

Vera Barrett and Margaret Hendry – taken the year they led the Standards
into De Montfort Hall – 1970s – see Vera’s scrapbook (below) for dates.

The Poppy Man in Victoria Park, Anzac Day 2009 (?), by the war memorial, L to R Gill Moss from Syston Women’s Section, Jean Atton President, Wigston Branch, Ann Hammonds, Chairman Syston Women’s Section, and Margaret Hendry, Secretary Syston Branch (and Chairman, Rothley Branch)

Syston RBL Women's Section Committee 1960

Members of the Syston RBL Women's Section doing a 'Miss World', 1980s

Syston RBL Women's Section Committee Meeting, May 2011

Syston RBL Women's Section looking at the archives, May 2011

Scrapbook of Vera Barrett

The following are extracts taken from Vera’s personal memories of her time with the Royal British Legion - Syston Branch - Women’s Section

I joined Syston Legion Branch in August 1961, taking great interest in the activities of both Branch and Club.

The Legion Club was very popular at that time with members from the villages around Syston.

1963 was a real turning point for Syston Legion. We brought the Legion Carnival back, we crowned our Legion Queen, and it was quite successful for quite a few years.

I entered the County Standard Bearers competition for the Branches and came in third place, that was the beginning, the first woman to carry a Branch Standard in Leicestershire County and in the area I was runner up to the, then famous “FRED GRIFFIN”.

The local papers named me as the (UNIQUE) lone woman among all the men.

1967 the Syston Branch Standard was invited to take part in the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. What a proud day that was for me. I was seen at home on the television, as the camera picked me up being the only woman in the muster. I travelled back to Leicester on the midnight train, so that I could be on parade in Syston for our remembrance parade and service.

The Legion held many fundraising events and the following examples from Vera’s scrapbook shows the fun that was had.

The Syston Branch of the Royal British along with the other Royal British Legion Branches raised money each year from the Poppy Appeal.

I retired as Branch Standard Bearer in 1975 after twelve wonderful memorable years. I was presented with a Certificate of Thanks from the County Committee, also one from my branch and the Standard Bearers Committee.