Cooking demonstrations, local produce and live music will all be on hand as Machynlleth's Royal British Legion branch celebrates its 100th anniversary this month.

Organisers of the free event, set to be held in the grounds of Y Plas on Saturday, August 14, say the highly-anticipated extravaganza represents a double celebration - as the branch celebrates its 100th year, and the RBL itself also celebrates 100 years.

On the day, visitors can enjoy live cooking demonstrations from current serving Armed Forces personnel, stalls selling locally produced goods and raffle tickets, a Machynlleth-based wind band playing the RBL march and many other well-known military tunes and marches.

Current Chairman Steve Doyle says the Machynlleth branch's members and committee are delighted to be celebrating the centenary of the branch, which formed in 1921.

"It’s fantastic that we can come together as one community to celebrate 100 years of the Royal British Legion," he said.

"Having served in the Armed Forces myself, I know just how much support veterans returning home from service can need, and the RBL is one of the best charities to provide that vital support.

"As our branch in Machynlleth also celebrates its 100th birthday it makes me incredibly proud to be the Chairman of such a dedicated and committed group of brilliant volunteers. Here’s to the next 100 years of the Royal British Legion!"

The cooking demonstrations on the day will be performed by current members of the Royal Air Force as they replicate recipes from RBL’s centenary cookbook. Cooking With Heroes: Royal British Legion Centenary Cookbook was published earlier this year to celebrate the charity’s 100th birthday. It pulls together recipes contributed by both celebrity chefs as well as members from the Armed Forces, with one third from each of the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and British Army respectively.

The cookbook also features multiple traditional Welsh recipes. Corporal Karla Wickham submitted a recipe for a Welsh Lamb Trio, and Sergeant Ian Mark contributed the classic Welsh cake to the cookbook mix.

Corporals Daniel Holt, Chris Scotting and John Jones from the RAF will be cooking various recipes from the cookbook for attendees to enjoy and copies of the book will also be on sale, where £5 from each sale goes to the Royal British Legion.

Also in attendance on the day will be Captain Stephen Blanksy, who pulled together multiple recipes for the cookbook as part of the British Army’s contribution.

Jon Pullen, former Squadron Leader and author of the cookbook says:

"I’m delighted that we can support the Machynlleth branch’s 100th birthday, as well as continuing the celebrations for the Royal British Legion’s centenary. The cookbook not only features recipes from 100 regions around the world, but also 100 stories of valour and sacrifice and we can’t wait to share our book with the Machynlleth community on 14th August."

The Royal British Legion was formed in 1921 and is the UK’s biggest Armed Forces charity, providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. The charity’s founding mission was to stand with, and fight for the rights of, the serving community.

The event is free to enter, though donations are welcome where donations will go to various charities, including local Scout groups as well as the Royal British Legion, where funds will aid the charity in providing life-long support for serving and ex-serving personnel, as well as their families.