MEMBERS of the Ross and District branch of the Royal British Legion are making concerted efforts to raise funds to help to maintain the beautiful planter in Broad Street,

The planter acts as a memorial to British Legion branch members for most of the year and as a Remembrance Garden for the town in October in the run up to Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day in November.

The local branch has recently entered into a partnership with Ross Town Council, which, for a fee, have agreed to water the planter throughout the summer months.

British Legion club chairman, Paul Cummings commented that the maintenance of the planter was an important part of the sense of comradeship and Remembrance that exists locally and that this new partnership would ensure that it would be maintained at the highest standard throughout the year.

Mr Cummings thanked Ross Garden Centre for its support and Nancy Weller who had worked with great enthusiasm to renovate and maintain the planter throughout the summer.

As part of the Legion’s fundraising efforts the branch held a skittles, beer and supper evening at the Ross Conservative Club.

The skittles became a hard-fought competition which was eventually won by Karen Stephens and Nigel Davies.

Over £100 was raised at the event, which together with other donations received, has ensured that sufficient funds have now been raised to keep the planter in pristine condition throughout the year.

The next meeting of the Ross and District branch of the Royal British Legion will be held in The Buckingham Suite at The Royal Hotel in Ross on Wednesday, March 18 at 7.30pm. New members most welcome to join up. The Ross and District branch was among the first to be established in 1921.The records indicate from the outset, there were annual dinners, coach trips, concerts, whist drives, as fundraising initiatives.