A MOTION to disaffiliate the Ex-Servicemen’s Club from the High Wycombe branch of the Royal British Legion in a plan to boost its chances of surviving financial problems has failed.

High Wycombe & District Royal British Legion Ex-Servicemen’s Club committee failed to convince 75 percent or more of its members to sever the club’s ties with the Wycombe RBL branch at a meeting on Sunday.

Club secretary Paul Potter told the Free Press - which was barred from attending the meeting - the club would be "staying with the RBL".

A letter sent to members prior to Sunday’s meeting stated bar sales had plummeted by £52,080 over the last four years and the club would cease to exist in 18 months if the ‘apathy of its members continued’.

The letter from Mr Potter said the club’s committee believed bringing in new rules - not regulations imposed on it by the Royal British Legion -and a more flexible membership system would help entice new members.

The letter states: "The committee, having carried out its studies, have concluded that the only way to give the club any chance of surviving is to disaffiliate from the RBL. "This has been replicated across the UK and those that have disaffiliated are thriving even under the present economic circumstances...

The letter said the committee would continue to manage the club as best it could if the proposal was rejected.

It added: "It must be stressed that the financial problems which have led to this meeting will not have gone away and the club and branch at these premises will subsequently close."

The letter sparked an impassioned plea from Monty Seymour, president of both club and branch, for members to throw out the proposal, fearing the club would lose more money and members if the two were split.

In a letter to members, Mr Seymour added: "They need to encourage new members to join the club and the Legion. They need to encourage more use by families who are unwilling to put up with the swearing and behaviour that is common in the bar.

"The club has not stated what their new rules might be and having disaffiliated there is nothing to stop the club at a later stage throwing out the British Legion altogether. Only affiliation with the RBL guarantees the Legion the use of the building and the support of the club."

He added that Legion Hall had been built specifically for the use of the RBL members so that welfare could be provided to ex-servicemen and their families.