On the 14th March, our County Standard Bearer, May took part in the area County Standard Bearers Competition representing Cambridgeshire at Dereham Norfolk.
May went on to win the competition with a polished performance and will now be attending the Standard Bearers National Finals.
Congratulations!
Legion Magazine
We have received a request from the Legion Magazine:
We are hoping to run a feature about RBL members who have no personal connection to the Armed Forces Community (i.e. have never served in the Forces and have no immediately family who serve or have served).
We are hoping to find a few (ideally three) case studies to speak to who are members and feel passionately about the RBL’s work and what they gain from membership, but have no personal link to the Armed Forces Community.
Are you able to help at all? Are you aware of any members who fit that bill, or is it possible to find out?
Do any of you have a member who would be happy to undertake this??? please speak to the individuals to check they would be happy to share their stories and contact details.
Safeguarding & Religious Officiators
Please find below a link to a short form that we are asking all branches and, where applicable, counties / districts to complete as soon as possible.
For our records we require details of whether your formation works formally or informally with a religious officiator (e.g. chaplain or other) and, if so, we require their details.
To comply with GDPR, please obtain the individual’s permission before completing the form. If permission is not granted, please complete the form and enter ‘Permission not granted’.
The information requested is as follows:
- Name
- Contact details
- Denomination and organisation / church etc., for which they work
This information is requested so that we know who is working with our formations in this capacity. Please note that if the chaplain or other officiator changes for your formation, their details should be updated using the same form.
Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions in regard to this survey, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected].
To complete the survey, please click the link here.
Ceremonial Handbook
We are pleased to attach the new June 2026 Ceremonial Handbook.
This new edition of the handbook has been thoughtfully developed by the Ceremonial Working Group, with support from the Membership Policy and Compliance team in close consultation with teams, officials and members from across RBL. Its enclosed guidance and rules supersede all prior versions of the handbook, effective immediately.
The June 2026 Ceremonial Handbook introduces a number of key improvements, many of which are based on membership feedback, including:
- Revised numbering and formatting to improve ease of reference
- Improved tone and language to clarify ceremonial requirements
- Removal of content contained within the Membership Handbook, reducing duplication and potential confusion
- Updates to RBL policy areas, including Insurance, Data Protection, and Health & Safety
- Updated requirements for Standard Bearers and Parade Marshals (including MS1B, training, and safeguarding)
- Corrections to ceremonial procedures, including the order of service
Should you have any feedback on the new handbook, please share this via the feedback form no later than Sunday, 17 January 2027. All feedback will be reviewed by the Ceremonial Working Group, with accepted amendments incorporated into the next revision, scheduled for June 2027.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Obituary Notification
Geoff Rogers
Funeral is to be on Monday 6th July at 1.15pm St Lukes Church , Victoria Road Cambridge, CB4 3DZ followed by interment at Cambridge Crematorium burial grounds.
Mrs Rogers (and family), would very much appreciate if Standard Bearers were able to be present at Geoff's Funeral at St Lukes Church and I am presenting this request on behalf of the family.
As outlined below, Geoff had been a member of The Legion (Cambridge City) , for many years and had been a regular and diligent Poppy Collector for over 50 years.
- I just wanted to make you aware that a former long term member of both The Royal British Legion and Cambridge YASUME Club (for former Far East POW's), has passed away (who you may have encountered on your "travels!"
Geoff Rogers (wife of Rene(Irene), passed away on Saturday 23rd May. He was in his late 80's.
Geoff ( and his wife), had also been Poppy Collectors for many years (Geoff had achieved 50 years plus of collecting in Cambridge City where he was a Branch member until its closure.
He was very well known across the City given his many years of service plus he travelled everywhere by bicycle - including delivery of 100 plus Poppy Boxes/Collecting tins to premises and Colleges across Town!
He was immensely proud of his Welsh roots and one of his ancestors was in fact a VC winner at Rorkes Drift (Private Robert Jones), January 1879.
Funeral details yet to be confirmed but I will (in due course), provide details to our County Parade Marshall given his wife has requested (if possible), the presence of Standard Bearer/s at his Funeral.
Any condolences may be forwarded to his Wife - Mrs Irene Rogers at 70 Frenchs Road Cambridge CB4 3LA.
