VERWOOD’S New Legion Club will close in February, dashing hopes of a rescue bid.

Ten staff will be made redundant and fears have been expressed that scores of older people will lose their only social contact.

The club, formerly a Royal British Legion club, was transformed to one of nine New Legion Clubs across the country three years ago, separate from the Legion and with paid professional staff.

But head office felt that it was not making a great enough return on the investment.

The news was broken to club manager Pam Brewer in London.

Eight of the nine New Legion Clubs will close. The ninth is being sold as a club because it is a listed building.

Pam, one of two full time staff, said they had hoped the Verwood Royal British Legion branch would take the club back under its wing or it would be bought by someone and kept as a club, but a developer has bought the site.

“We have a lot of elderly people that come here once a week, it’s a night out for them,” said Pam.

“I want to thank everybody for their support for the club and sorry it didn’t work out. We did our best.”

County manager Howard Fairman MBE said the clubs were not profitable, and the Legion’s main function was to fund raise and to spend money on the serving and ex-service community in need.

But he accepted that without a club, membership numbers could fall.

Brian Giddings, who led the Save The Legion campaign, said they were deeply disappointed and felt the Legion was embarking on a policy of closing clubs.

“It’s a huge blow,” he said.

“The community has lost a priceless asset. All the customers of the club will have to go elsewhere.

“Verwood as a burgeoning new town has less facilities than ever.”

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