BEWDLEY’S branch of the Royal British Legion Women’s Section has raised £1,262 to support the armed forces community.

The money will be used for schemes that provide care and financial assistance to service personnel, veterans and military spouses and children through educational bursaries, family welfare breaks and grants to those in need.

A new fundraising strategy was implemented by the Bewdley group, which has 26 members, having decided organising fun events would be a better way forward than the traditional approach of stalls under the arches.

The first event the branch organised was a presentation by Charlie Lloyd, a member of the King’s Troop who was involved in the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

A fashion show hosted by the Bon Marche clothing store in the Rowland Hill Centre in Kidderminster was the second event.

Jackie Taylor, chairman of the Bewdley branch of The Royal British Legion Women’s Section, said: “The support we received was outstanding, enabling us to raise the incredible amount of £1,262 to support the families of current and ex-service personnel.

“Thank you to everyone who helped.”

The group’s next fundraising event will be a quiz night on Friday, October 31, while regular meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm at the Mercure Hotel on Habberley Road in Bewdley.

The Royal British Legion Women’s Section is a membership organisation for women, which provides care and support to the serving and ex-service community.

It was formed in 1921 to safeguard the interests of wives, widows and children of men who served in the First World War and it is one of the largest female membership organisations in existence, with about 40,000 members and 900 branches across the British Isles and overseas.