Tributes to East Preston and Kingston Royal British Legion stalwart

Charlie Ball, a veteran of the Second World War, died at The Martlets care home in East Preston, aged 88.

At a thanksgiving service for his life at St Mary’s Church, East Preston, last Wednesday, standards from the branch and its women’s section, together with standards from the legion branches at Littlehampton, Worthing and Lancing and Sompting were unfurled in his honour.

The county legion chairman also attended and a piper played Amazing Grace as mourners left the church.

Charlie was president of the legion branch from 1991 to 2000 and standard bearer for more than 30 years, during which he was invited to take part in the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, proudly carrying the branch standard in the parade.

From 1973 until 2004 he was the branch press officer, meticulously keeping cuttings, mainly from the Littlehampton Gazette.

Charlie was awarded the Royal British Legion Gold Badge and made a life member of the legion, the organisation’s highest honour.

From 1983-89, he was chairman of the legion club in East Preston.

His wife, Dinah, was for many years the women’s section standard bearer. Both helped with the branch’s welfare work and the Poppy Appeal. They lived at Midholme before Charlie’s failing health saw him move into The Martlets.

He joined the legion branch in 1947, when he left the Royal Army Dental Corps, having been called up in 1944. Charlie was blind in one eye, but was determined to serve his country, and spent much of his time with the corps in India. Before his call-up, he was in East Preston’s Home Guard from the age of 17.

Branch secretary Malcolm Reene said:”Charlie would help anyone who needed it. No one ever had a bad word to say about him, and he never had a bad word to say about anyone.

“He lived for the legion, and came into the club regularly. He and Dinah ran a Thursday club for the elderly, they organised bingo and served cups of tea – if anything needed doing, Charlie was there.

“Although he had only one eye, he was a very good shot, as was his wife, and when there was a rifle range where the village hall is now, they would regularly get 99 out of 100 with .22 shooting. He loved his garden and allotment, too.”

Branch president Dave Luscombe said: “Charlie was the prime example of service, not self.”

Charlie is survived by Dinah, their son, Colin, and daughter, Sue, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

* The branch celebrates its 75th anniversary on Sunday, September 23 with a service at East Preston’s war memorial, at noon.