MEMBERS of the Camelford Royal British Legion branch have been celebrating their 65th year, holding a dinner and looking back on the past.

One of the highlights of the year has been winning the Sir Brunel Cohen Cup for sending the most money from a small branch to national HQ for benevolent work – £2,480.

The cup was presented at the Blackpool national conference to the branch treasurer, Margaret Shillaber.

"The dinner at Bowood Park last week was a happy event with entertainment by the Crantock Friends in Harmony, a beautiful sound, and bard and poet Hilary Keam," said Mrs Shillaber.

"Hilary read poetry with a twist – Cornwall's answer to Pam Ayres.

"Her amusing poem on Umbrellas Of The World was illustrated by her vast collection of brightly coloured brollies.

"A big thank you must go to all Bowood staff."

The branch, whose meetings now average 17 members, was formed at a meeting in Camelford Town Hall on January 23, 1946, chaired by Mrs Violet Jago, with the proposal that a branch be established proposed by Mrs C Dale and seconded by Mrs Thomas.

Meetings were held on the first Monday in each month, and the yearly subscription was two shillings.

By September 1946 the branch had grown to 42 members. A standard was ordered in 1947 and, together with the sling and case, the total price was £7 10s 6d.

The same standard and case are still in use today.

Mrs Madeline Pearse became chairman, and over the next 20 years the branch continued on an even keel with an average of 30 members.

In 1970 Mrs Pearse was elected as county chairman, an office she held for ten years. At the same time she was still the branch chairman, a position she held for 40 years.

Her daughter Shirley attended the dinner.

In response to an invitation to take their mosaic badge money-making idea to national conference, five members went from the branch: Mrs Win Martell, Mrs Dorothy Merritt, Mrs Joyce Blake, Mrs Margaret Shillaber and Mrs Ethel Broad, spending four days at the Brighton conference which was attended by the National President, the Queen Mother. More than £400 was raised at the conference and a further £100 back in Camelford.

In 1992 Mrs Ethel Broad became county chairman.

During its 65 years the branch has won many cups and certificates, but in April 2009 members received a letter to say they had won at last a national award, the Sir Brunel Cohen Cup for the most money raised by a small branch.

The present chairman is Mrs Jenny Joel.

"The branch now looks to go forward from strength to strength by support of present-day members and from the people of Camelford," Mrs Shillaber said.