Additional reporting by Richard Thompstone

Sittingbourne's Remembrance Sunday service will go ahead on November 14 despite the shock suspension of the town's Royal British Legion.

Swale council has stepped in at the last minute to organise the annual event in Central Avenue after the Legion's Sittingbourne and Milton branch was closed down in a row over two bank accounts.

Cllr Richard Palmer, who was branch vice-chairman, said: "I am very embarrassed. It should never have come to this. It is such a shame and at just the wrong time."

The Legion's top brass at county headquarters in Aylesford took drastic action when an order to close a long-standing members' account was ignored.

Cllr Palmer, who served in the Army for 11 years, said: "As far as I can tell, it's down to the stubbornness, intransigence and selfishness of one of the signatories. It is very annoying."

The members' account is understood to have been set up alongside the main branch account more than 40 years ago. Under new rules, branches are now only permitted to have one account bearing the British Legion name.

It is understood the branch was instructed to close the members' account and transfer money to the main account. In a compromise, the branch voted to change the name of the controversial account but even then one of the two signatories refused to comply.

Cllr Palmer added: "It's madness. I don't know how much is in it but it isn't even a lot of money."

An audit of the branch accounts is underway with county officials consulting with the bank.

Cllr Palmer, who represents Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch, said: “I raised the matter when I was chairman and said we couldn’t continue to have both accounts. I stood down as chairman because of increased council work and then Covid came along. Now questions are being asked.

“I don’t think there’s anything untoward but members ought to know what the account is being used for. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t close it. Members are very unhappy. I am concerned they will not return when the branch is reactivated.”

A national RBL spokesman confirmed the branch had been taken into "temporary county administration" while a review was conducted but refused to give any more details.

The branch's website states: “Due to recent events within the branch, which have been brought to the attention of the county chairman and his committee, a decision has been made to bring the branch into county administration.

"This is a temporary measure to enable county to complete a full review. As a result, all future meetings and branch activities are now cancelled until further notice.”

Branch president Ron Dimond said: "All I can tell you is that as branch president I had cause to contact Royal British Legion head office for their advice on a situation that had arisen within the branch and I am currently awaiting their reply."

The branch had been meeting at Kemsley Social Club. Before that, it had met at the Ypres Tavern, Sittingbourne.

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