A BRANCH of the Royal British Legion could close unless more people use the club, members have warned.
Dwindling usage of the Leatherhead and Fetcham branch's club in Upper Fairfield Road, Leatherhead, has left it on the brink of closure.
Now those in charge are urging their 150 members to use the club or lose it, as well as trying to attract new members and promote the building as an affordable venue for functions or regular events.
Branch secretary Jane Summerfield said: "If it closes it's not just the club that closes, it's the branch that closes.
"The women's section would close and even the Poppy Appeal would be in danger so there is a real knock-on effect."
The club can hold up to 150 people and has a bar, pool table and dart board, and is suitable for events such as skittles, bands and card nights.
It is also available for hire for private functions, and regular users are especially welcome.
Club chairman Neil Atkin said: "It's a long-established club and it does have things to offer the community.
"Once a month we have a group of disabled patients from St Ebba's Hospital come to use the hall on a Sunday free of charge, because we view this place as part of the community.
"Though we have to make money to survive, it is still my view that it should be a community asset so we want to keep it running."
The county's new fundraising manager Peter Wakeham lent his support to the club, adding that the Leatherhead branch raised £18,000 for this year's Poppy Appeal.
"It's a phenomenal amount of money and if the branch closes we lose it," he said.
"Without the club it makes life difficult so by supporting the club you are supporting the Poppy Appeal."
The branch was established in 1934, but former president Ivor Chitty believes the problem is a lack of awareness of what it has to offer.
"Every club in the country is in a very dangerous position; we are all in the same boat," he said.
"You could go down to the town and ask anyone where the British Legion was and they wouldn't even know there was a British Legion here."
Anyone interested in joining the club or hiring the venue should contact Mr Atkin on 01372 879482.
