A GROUP of Royal British Legion supporters from Wharfedale and Aireborough have enjoyed a trip to Blenheim Palace.

A 23-strong coach party visited the renowned country house in Oxfordshire, the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill, last Sunday, May 10.

They then enjoyed an overnight stay in London before visiting the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and meeting some of the Chelsea Pensioners.

The trip was organised by Royal British Legion stalwart Irene Willis, who has held annual Poppy Appeal concerts in Otley and the surrounding area for some 25 years.

She said: "I thought with this year being the 50th anniversary of Churchill's death it would be nice to take some of the people who have supported my concerts to go and see the place where he was born, because he was our main

leader during the war.

"So I organised this trip and it was a lovely weekend. The coach was full and Blenheim, both inside and its garden, was absolutely beautiful.

"There was so much to see and everybody loved it.

"And it was wonderful to meet the Chelsea Pensioners at the Chelsea Hospital; I always arrange for a couple to come up to the Otley concert each year."

Members of Otley Lions and Honorary Alderman Gerard Francis, a former Otley Town Mayor, were among those who joined the trip.

Mrs Willis, meanwhile, said this year's Poppy Appeal show in Otley - which will be held on Saturday, October 17 - would commemorate the 70th anniversary of both VE day and VJ day.