There is no longer a local British Legion branch: see below for information about the national organisation, which organises social and emotional support for those who have served or are serving in the armed forces.

Membership is open to everyone who

• is currently serving (whether in the regular or reserved forces)
• has served (including National Service)
• has not served, but supports the aims of the Legion.

All members have an equal right to take part at branch, county and national level. Youth membership is available to those under 18, and new members would be most welcome.  For more information, visit http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ 

Below are pictures of the annual wreath-laying ceremony in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell on Armistice Day, November 11th, after the First World War, and in 2005. The latter picture shows Lt. Col. Gilbert Talbot (1918-2007), a stalwart of the Brightwell branch for many years. Click here for his obituary in the February/March 2007 edition of The Villager.

The annual Remembrance Sunday parade starts from the Red Lion at 10.30 am, in order to reach the War Memorial in time for a short ceremony before the 11 am silence. The parade is made up of representatives of the British Legion, Parish Council, Cadets and the Scouting movement, as well as villagers and visitors. Acting servicemen and women are invited to wear their uniforms and march with the British Legion. Included in the service is a reading of the Act of Remembrance and the names of those killed in war. The list is reprinted below:

THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE TWO WORLD WARS

1914-1918

THOMAS BARLOW

FREDERICK BATTEN

ARTHUR BROOKER

ALFRED BROWN

JOHN BUTCHER

JOSEPH BUTCHER

HERBERT EGGLETON

THOMAS EMBERRY JOHN GARLICK

J. HAMMOND M.M

ERNEST HARRIS

ERNEST HARVEY

WILLIAM HARVEY

JOHN LAY

MONTAGUE LAY

FRANK SPRATLEY HUGH TALBOT

FREDERICK VAUGHAN

CYRIL WELLS

LESLIE WELLS

MAURICE WELLS

GEORGE WHITE

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

JOHN WINFIELD

1939-1945

EDWARD ALLEN

WILLIAM CURRILL

ROY GRAVES

ALEXANDER HARKNESS

CHRISTOPHER HARVEY

RICHARD INGE

DONALD PRANGNELL

NORMAN TAYLOR

REGINALD WHICHELLO

REBA WILLIAMS

GEORGE WOODGATE