The Oakwood Branch was first established in 1996.

This is a brief account of the formation of Oakwood Branch on a new housing estate, named Oakwood, which encompasses Chaddesden Wood and was built on land which was formally part of Chaddesden.

Two Royal British Legion members belonging to different branches moved into the estate, both unaware of each others presence. During the 1994 Poppy Appeal Campaign both, unknown to each other, set about door to door collecting for the Poppy Appeal.

The results were encouraging but problems arose when both turned up in the same street knocking on the same doors. Surprised they both challenged each other for poaching. Both made representations to the County and things simmered through 1995. The outcome was that the County Poppy Appeal Co-ordinator put an item "Oakwood" on the agenda for a meeting held in March 1995. A debate ensued resulting in the seed being sown for the possibility of Oakwood forming it's own branch.

During the 1995 Poppy Appeal it was determined that something positive must be decided for the following year. Action at County level saw the recruiting van at the 1996 Oakwood Gala. This was followed up with local publicity and a public meeting and in October 1996 the inaugural meeting of the Oakwood Branch took place at the Oakwood Community Centre resulting in a branch being formed which has gone from strength to strength.

In a very short time we had raised funds to purchase our standard and this was dedicated in Oakwood Church.

 The branch met at the Oak & Acorn every Wednesday evening, moving to the Penguin in Chaddesden, then the Jubilee Club, again in Chaddesden and we are now back to our roots at the Community Centre in Oakwood where it all started.

We meet every Wednesday evening at the Community Centre, Springwood Drive, Oakwood (next door to the Leisure Centre) 8.30pm-10.30pm. You are very welcome to visit us.