Bexhill RNA forced to disband due to low membership

09/11/08.
Photo by Paul Kelly.

Remembrance Parade, Bexhill. — 09/11/08. Photo by Paul Kelly. Remembrance Parade, Bexhill.

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The Bexhill branch of the Royal Naval Association (RNA) is being forced to disband due to dwindling membership numbers.

The association has provided another family for former servicemen and women as well as a representative of the Royal Navy on Remembrance Sunday for more than 20 years.

Bexhill branch chairman Ray Pryor said the average age of their members was 80 and they no longer have enough people to maintain the branch.

“The association was formed more than 20 years ago where ex-Royal Navy personnel and members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service could meet regularly to maintain the comradeship fostered during their service, many members having served during the Second World War; others such as myself served during other conflicts such as Korea, Borneo, Falkland Islands and the Cold War,” he said.

The Bexhill branch of the Royal Naval Association standard at the 2008 Remembrance Day parade

“The average age of our members is 80 and our membership numbers have declined over the past few years and sadly we cannot maintain sufficient membership to continue; therefore our branch is to disband.

“The Bexhill Branch of the RNA has raised money for local and national charities, we have taken part in many events within Bexhill and have always paraded The Royal Naval Association standard at the Remembrance Sunday parade and on Armistice Day at the Bexhill War Memorial.”

A service will be held at St Augustine’s Church at 2.30pm on Monday, January 25, where the standard will be on parade for the last time.

Bexhill mayor Maurice Watson and former trustees will be at the service.

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