Diss Express, 14 April 1933, page 4
THE LOPHAMS
At a meeting of ex-service men at North Lopham recently it was decided to form a branch of the British Legion to be called the Lopham branch. The officers elected were; Chairman, Mr. M. Birkbeck; vice chairman, Mr. R, Crowe; secretary, Mr. S. Clarke; treasurer, pro. tem, Mr. W. Duncan; provisional committee, Messrs D. Woodcroft, John E. Baker and Harry Baker.
A meeting the branch was at the “White Horse Inn”, South Lopham, on Friday evening when Mr. Birkbeck (chairman) presided over a dance. He was supported by Mr. F. S. Clarke (secretary), Major Shannons (area organising secretary), Mr W. King (treasurer) and Mr. R. Hunt (secretary of the Wymondham Branch), Mr. C. T. Draper (secretary), and Mr. G. W. Burlingham (social secretary of the East Harling Branch).
In his remarks Major Shannons said that they knew what comradeship was, they stuck together during the war, and ought to do so afterwards, He was pleased they had started a branch of the Legion and by doing so would set up a relief committee which was to help all ex-service men or their dependents. They gave the same to ex-serviceman who was not a member of Legion as to one who was a member and the Legion had to be there to give the relief. He prophesied that in time all ex-servicemen would join the Legion. He had 358 branches in the area and was aiming for 400 by the end of the year. When they formed a branch it was not going to be only for a week and it was up to them to back it up as much as they possibly could.
Good work was being done in conjunction with employment of large numbers of ex-service men having been placed in work. On a large number of Government schemes it was compulsory to employ 75% ex-servicemen if available. When they heard of these schemes they followed up the contractors and saw that the number was available. On one scheme alone about 200 men were employed. They were finding the men jobs, or some kind of work.
They had a pension scheme known as the Prince of Wales’ Pension Fund, and had done a great deal of good work, they had been able to get a large number of men these pensions which amounts to about 10/- per month.
A number of people, for reasons best known to themselves, had said that they were a political organisation and they were trying to keep up class, but that was wrong. They were non-political and non-sectarian.
When the meetings of the branch were held it was up to those who had questions to ask to ask them and when the business of the meeting was done to keep it to themselves and not talk about it outside. He wished the branch the best of luck.
Mr. Hart said he was glad they had started a branch in the villages and he hoped that all the ex-service men would join.
The Committee.
To bring the committee up to full strength it was decided that 4 men from each village should be elected. North Lopham, the three names already mentioned and Mr. Herbert Taylor. South Lopham Messrs. Robert Wallis, Jack Vincent, Sid Goodson and W. Duncan. Mr. Robert Crowe was elected treasurer.
Mr. Harry Clarke said that the scheme had been working in Wymondham, where 150 men had been employed and they had seen that 75% of that number were ex-servicemen. He wished the branch every success.
On the proposition of Mr. Crook, a vote of thanks was passed to Major Shannons, who suitably responded.
