Welcome to the Failsworth Branch of The Royal British Legion
The Royal British Legion is the UK's leading Armed Forces charity and one of its largest membership organisations. Members get together through the network of branches and clubs all over the country and overseas to participate in social, fundraising and welfare activities.
Failsworth Branch History
The Failsworth Branch was proudly re-established in January 2023 by local veterans. In the early days and before it's closure we used to meet in Failsworth Home Guard, where we've previously hosted lots of meetings and popular community events. The Holy Family church on Lord Lane and The Nelson Tavern pub are now regularly used to host meetings and large scale, flagship events.
Meeting Details
Failsworth Branch currently meet on the last Sunday of every month at The Nelson
Tavern pub (Hulmes Road, Failsworth, M35 OQX) at 11.00 am. Open committee meetings are followed by a
hearty, home-made pub brunch at 12:00 pm.
Members and their families are invited to attend our open committee meetings and
none-members of our community are encouraged to come along to find out more
about hopefully joining and getting involved.
Branch members also meet regularly on Friday evenings 5pm onwards at The Nelson Tavern pub, which has affectionately become the Failsworth RBL HQ within the local community.
None-members are more than welcome to come along to join us and ask questions
about getting involved with our local branch and hopefully join as a member.
2026 Sunday meeting dates:
· 25th January
· 22nd February
· 29th March
· 26th April
· 31st May
· 28th June
· 26th July
· 30th August
· 27th September
· 25th October
· November & December are TBC to work around the Poppy Appeal &
Christmas.
Please note that meetings dates are subject to change and updates are shared via
our Failsworth RBL Facebook and Instagram page, which you can join using the
below QR codes to stay up to date:
Details of Failsworth Branch Officers & Committee Members
Chairman: Chris Worden
Secretary: Sam Young
Treasurer: Susan Gandy
President: Mark Wilkinson
Standard Bearer: Chris Baddeley
Poppy Appeal Organiser: Lesley Gandy
Membership Secretary: Mark Ruthven
Youth Development: Angie Chipman
Social Media Manager: Sophie Threlfall
In loving memory of
Paul Wadsworth (Big P)
1978 - 2025
Our branch Chairman and founding member alongside best friends Chris and Les.
Never Above, Never Below, Always Side By Side.
O.A.F.A.A.F
Poppy Appeal Fundraising Figures
The Failsworth Branch has shown its fundraising skills by once again improving on its Poppy Appeal total. In our first year we raised £23,000 and in our second and third year consecutively we raised just over £25,000. With the support of our wonderful local community and hopefully more members joining our branch we hope 2026 can be our best year yet!
Thank you to all the people of Failsworth who have been so generous again, we couldn’t do it without your continued support.
Anyone interested in helping in the next Failsworth Poppy Appeal should contact our Poppy Appeal Organiser Les Gandy via email: [email protected]
Membership
Membership is open to everyone. If you have an interest in the objectives of the Legion and want to help and support for those who have served and their families, come and join us. We welcome men and women of all ages, whether they have served in the Armed Forces or not.
Legion membership ensures that
- Remembrance is kept alive and that the sacrifices our brave Service men and women have made are never forgotten.
- The ex-Service community have a voice and that their concerns are brought to the public eye.
Becoming a member also provides the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of activities and events held locally, regionally and nationally throughout the year.
Use the link below to join online now.
If you have any problems with our online joining, please phone 0808 802 8080 and one of our staff will be happy to process your membership application over the phone.
If you wish to contact us or to report any inaccuracies or omissions on this site, please email [email protected]
About The Royal British Legion
We provide financial, social and emotional care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces - past and present and their families. The Legion is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces and is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy.
Founded in 1921, the Legion is not just about those who fought in the World Wars of the last century, but also about those involved in the many conflicts since 1945 and those still fighting for the freedom we enjoy today.
Visit www.britishlegion.org.uk for details of our national initiatives.
