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About The Royal British Legion

Who we are

The Royal British Legion is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of the National Chairman, National Vice Chairman, twelve elected Trustees, six appointed Trustees and the National Chairman Women's Section. Elections and appointments are staggered over a three year cycle to allow an intake of new Trustees every year.

The Board exercises responsibility for the overall strategic direction, governance and management of the Legion, ensuring that the charity operates within the law and within its objectives as laid down in the Royal Charter.

The Board delegates responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Legion to the Executive Group, led by the Director General, within a clearly defined decision-making and reporting structure.

Patron and National President

Lt Gen Sir John Kiszely KCB MCThe Royal British Legion is honoured to have Her Majesty the Queen as its patron. While having royal patronage from its founding in 1921, the Legion received its "Royal" appellation in 1971 on its golden anniversary.

The National President of The Royal British Legion is Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely KCB MC DL, appointed in early 2009.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal is president of the Women's Section of The Royal British Legion.

Board of Trustees

 National Chairman  Mr John Farmer
 National Vice Chairman  Mr John Crisford 
   
 Elected Trustees  Appointed Trustees
 Una Cleminson  Adrian Burn
 Dennis Compton  Dr Diana Henderson
 Eddy Dixon  Ian Lindsay OBE
 Noel Duston  Anthony Macauley
 Mrs Denise Edgar  Jenny Rowe
 John Fisher MBE  Rev Mike Williams
 Eddie Hefferman MBE  
 Bill Parkin  Women's Section
 Keith Prichard  Wendy Bromwich 
 Martyn Tighe
 Peter Twidle  
 Terry Whittles  

Board of Trustees

Executive Group

 Director General  Chris Simpkins
 Deputy Director General  John Graham
 Director Health & Welfare  Sue Freeth
 Commercial Director  Stephen Cooper
 Director of National Events & Fundraising  Russell Thompson OBE
 Director of Corporate Communications  Stuart Gendall
 Director of Human Resources  Sharron Lewis-James
 Head of Governance & Administration  Allan Burgin
 Women's Section National Secretary  Anthony Beattie

Counties and Branches

The Legion has an extensive network of county and branch committees, managed entirely by volunteers (our members). County committees are responsible for the supervision of branches.

The primary function of branches is to administer their own welfare, undertake their own fundraising with central support for the Poppy Appeal, recruit and maintain members and manage their own finances.

Our associated charities

The following charities are part of The Royal British Legion group of charities and work in close association with the Legion.

Poppyscotland - www.poppyscotland.org.uk

The National Memorial Arboretum - www.thenma.org.uk

For further details of the Legion's corporate structure, see our Annual Report.