The Millport Royal British Legion is continuing to grow from strength to strength on the island, with over 600 members.

The branch was formed a way back in the 1920s, and was re-formed around 20 years ago, and is involved in a lot of fundraising efforts on the island.

With around 150-200 active members from the island itself in the branch, chairman Peter Morrison believes it is one of the few British Legions in Scotland which has a club open seven days a week in Reid Street.

It also hosts a Millport Royal British Legion band which has travelled around Europe in recent years, and had various successes. There are fifty members, and they have performed in Grade One competitions, with members from Millport, Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Dalry.

The Millport branch is also preparing to host the top ten entries of a RBLS schools competition at the Garrison from Friday 25 to Tuesday 29 September.

Stories of how communities coped with the Great War from 1914-18 feature in the display. Primary schools from across Scotland became WW1 family history detectives and uncovered how the outbreak of the First World War impacted on their communities.

Schools entered the national competition as a special project to learn about and recognise the impact the war had on the local community.

Youngsters uncovered names of local servicemen who lost their lives during the First World War and captured family stories mainly through photos. Pupils and teachers interviewed relatives and members of the community about local men that went off to fight in WWI to produce their research and uncovered stories of local heroes.

At present the Royal British Legion premises in Reid Street are undergoing a revamp, with some scaffolding up outside the premises, and windows getting replaced, and some new paintwork.

The office bearers on the committee include branch chairman Peter, and branch vice chair Frank Corcoran, Club chairman Roy Mackay, and vice chair John Blunt.

The branch itself is a Royal British Legion charity, and the club is a business.

Peter said: “We have 150-200 islanders who are members, but we have a lot of weekenders, and summer members who come in their caravans. We also regularly have visits of members of the legion in other areas, as people enjoy visiting the club.” The Millport branch also host Pet Idol winner John F Kennedy and his dog Meg who has joined in the regular parades on the island.

One of the eye-catching monuments on the island is the RBLS war memorial on the far side of Cumbrae. Peter said: “It actually came about thanks to one of the area members Ian Forsyth, who had the idea of putting it up in the Highlands at first, but the area where it is positioned is the perfect place as it is very poignant - all the convoys used to go up and down there in the First and Second World War coming out of Greenock.” Anyone can join the club, for more details, just pop into the RBLS branch in Millport.