The Douglas branch of the British Legion may be forced to close down if more volunteers cannot be found.
The organisation holds its annual general meeting on Monday, October 27, at 8.30pm in the pool room of the Manx Legion Club on Market Hill, Douglas.
Secretary Hilary Cleverley said: ‘There are only 50 members left and all but a handful are under 75. We desperately need new recruits.
‘We need a younger generation to carry on the good work. Some people are under the impressions it’s an old boys’ organisation or only for ex-servicemen but anyone can join and help. It could die a death, there won’t be people to run the branches soon, recruitment is our problem.
‘We used to have 12 branches on the island but Ballaugh closed two years ago, Port St Mary went too and Colby had to amalgamate with Castletown.
‘We couldn’t do anything for our 90th anniversary or the war this year, we just don’t have the manpower.
‘It’s such a shame because the island raises far more per capita than anywhere else in the UK.
‘We’ve won that award something like 37 years running. The Poppy Appeal which always receives an amazing response here, Douglas alone raised over £25,000 last year.
‘There are several vacant at the moment. I’m secretary, treasurer, welfare worker, membership secretary and poppy organiser.
‘People who are computer literate could help but it’s not essential, we will train people. people are overloaded with work.’
To help contact Hilary on 614286 or via cleviom@msn.com