THE Last Post sounded for Leigh's Royal British Legion Club on Sunday following the Millennium Remembrance Day Parade.

The doors closed following Thursday's sad committee meeting when the old war heroes, who have worked hard to keep the club afloat, voted unanimously to close the venue.

The club, which was built at the Windermere Road site in the Fifties, is now up for sale.

But there is hope that a phoenix will rise from the ashes, and that once the premises are sold a small club can be built elsewhere in the town.

President Alf Holmes said: "This year's Armistice Day parade was one of the nicest but saddest I have ever taken part in.

"The club has now closed but the branch lives on. Hopefully we can get a new building. Some younger blood has come forward to help and more ex-servicemen have taken out subscriptions."

Branch chairman, Joe Twist, said: "It is a very sad time for us all but you can't run a ship without a crew.

"There was not much else we could do. If you can't get people into a club you can't make a profit, and once you start losing money you go deeper into debt.

"We voted unanimously for closure. The branch still owns the club and a few people have shown interest in buying it, but what they want to pay for it is a different matter. They want it for a song.

Last goodbye

"The Remembrance Day parade used to terminate at the club , but this year it ended on the Library Square because when plans were made it was not known whether it would still be open.

"However, we did reform and some of the old soldiers came back for a last goobye.

"The club has gone but the branch will live on. Now we will have to find a suitable venue for our meetings.

"We once had over 400 ex-servicemen in the branch but sadly there are not many of us left."

Mr Holmes said: "We would like to thank the councillors, police, the Chief Petty Officer of the Royal Navy who led the parade and congratulate the Army and Air Force Cadets and the youth organisations of Leigh for their smart appearance.

"There was a big turnout considering the weather was so bad."

Deputy Mayor Cllr John Hilton of Golborne led the tributes in Leigh where Alderman John Hession laid a wreath on behalf of Leigh Labour Party.

Air cadets remembered the last wartime flight of Leigh's very own Spitfire fighter.

On Remembrance Sunday ceremony members of 316 (Leigh) Squadron ATC (Air Training Crops) laid an extra wreath.

At the war memorial, in Church Street, 316 Squadron Pilot Office David Stevenson laid it in memory of Polish pilot Flight Lieutenant E S Kawnick.

The Pole lost his life while flying an RAF Spitfire 11 aircraft named P8525 Leigh, Lancs because it was sponsored by local people.

"Unfortunately the Spitfire only saw approximately 14 hours of flying time before it was registered as 'failed to return' on July 2 1941," explained Pilot Officer Stevenson.

In Abram the parade marched from the 29th Wigan scout and cub headquarters for a service in St John's Parish Church where ex-Mayor Cllr Audrey Bennett laid a wreath.

A good turn out at Tyldesley on Sunday followed the 11th hour, 11th day service which the local branch of the RBL arranged on Saturday on Tyldesley Market Square (above).

At Atherton Cllr Sue Loudon laid a wreath at the Leigh Road war memorial then the procession made its way back through town to the Formby Hall.

In Golborne an afternoon service was held at the war memorial in Barn Lane where wreaths were laid.