CHINGFORD: Outrage as thieves target Legion (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
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CHINGFORD: Outrage as thieves target Legion
1:42pm Friday 29th October 2010 in Waltham Forest News By Daniel Binns
Stan Bonner and Bob Marriott with angry Royal British Legion members outside their clubhouse in Chingford
THE Royal British Legion has expressed outrage after thieves broke into its Chingford clubhouse just weeks before Remembrance Day.
The burglars smashed their way into the building, in Hall Lane, sometime on Wednesday night (October 27), ransacking the place and stealing a small amount of cash.
Many doors and windows inside the structure were broken causing hundreds if not thousands of pounds in damage.
Branch chairman Stan Bonner, 75, said: "For people to sink so low and steal from a charity is just disgusting.
"The timing makes it even more disgraceful. They must've been looking for poppy appeal money but we haven't started our collections yet and we don't keep the money in the building over night."
Club chairman Bob Marriott said: "The reaction among our members has been horrific. One said it's almost as bad as stealing from a church at this time of year.
"Although we operate a club we're a charity and every bit of profit goes to the legion and all its good work.
"It's absolutely disgusting. They broke doors, windows and there was a lot of smashed glass the next day.
"They managed to find and break into our safe but we never keep much money on the premises. The cost of the damage is what's hit us worse, it's at least 10 times the cost of the money they took.
"Hopefully a lot of the damage will be covered by insurance but you never can tell."
He added: "But this won't stop our work. It will galvanise our members if anything."
The Guardian is awaiting further details from Waltham Forest Police, although it is believed that no arrests have been made in connection with the burglary.
The branch is holding several events next month to mark Remembrance Day.
On Tuesday November 11 at 11am there will be a service outside Percy Ingle's bakery in Chingford Mount.
There will then be a service at Chingford Memorial Park on Saturday November 13 at 11am and on Remembrance Sunday (November 14) at 11am.
If you have any information about the theft you can contact Waltham Forest Police on 0300 123 1212.
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