Haddenham and Wilburton Afternoon Tea
Ramsey and District VJ Day
RBL Affiliated Youth Groups Standard Bearer Training and Competition
We have arranged to hold a Standard Bearers Training and Competition for all the Branches Affiliated Youth Groups. It will be the ideal time for them to receive some Standard Bearer training prior to Remembrance Sunday.
We need your support to ensure that all your Affiliated Youth Groups are informed of this event and are encouraged to complete the attached form and enter the event a long with any Youth Standard Bearers your Branch may have.
The Training and Competition will take place on Saturday 26th September 2026 and all details are in the attached letter.
Standard Bearer School
The SB School on 5th September is cancelled, instead we have been asked to provide SBs at a Royal Anglian event at Shelford Rugby Club, timings TBC.
County Standard Bearer Competition -
Branch Standard Bearers who wish to participate in the County SB Competition on Saturday 10th October 2026 are to inform the CPM, [email protected], No Later Than 14th September 2026.
Standard Bearer School Dates 2026/27
The Standard Bearer Schools will take place at Cottenham Village College (High St, Cottenham, Cambridge CB24 8UA) on the following dates.
The 2 hour session is split into two, tea and cake at NAAFI break (£1), and SBs are encouraged too attend one or both Sessions. Casual Dress for training. Under new rules from National RBL, ALL SBs MUST complete at least one Training Session per year. Any SB who is unable to attend the SB School are requested to contact the CPM to organize alternative arrangements, so you are not unduly disadvantaged.
Dates
12th Sept 2026 1400-1600 in Sports Hall
26th Sept 2026 0930-1700 in Sports Hall – Youth Training and Competition
3rd Oct 2026 1400-1600 in Sports Hall
10th Oct 2026 1000-1600 County Competition in Main Hall
28th Nov 2026 1300-1500 Sports Hall
16th Jan 2027 1300-1500 Sports Hall
6th Feb 2027 1300-1500 Sports Hall
6th Mar 2027 1400-1600 Sports Hall
10th Apr 2027 1400-1600 Sports Hall
12th Jun 2027 1400-1600 Sports Hall
10th Jul 2027 1400-1600 Sports Hall
TBC August Ramsey 40s practice 1200-1400
TBC August Ramsey 40s Parade at 1130/ Sunset Ceremony at 1530
We are hoping that a branch can assist me to organise a SB School at another location in the County and will advise soonest.
All Ceremonial queries, Standard Bearer or Parade Marshall questions should be addressed to the CPM.
Anyone who is interested in being a future Parade Marshal should also contact the CPM. It should be noted a new course for Branch Parade Marshals (Role, I believe, is Branch Ceremonial Officer) is due to hit the streets soon, I will be conducting training once received and will let all Branches know in due course.
Branch Accounts
Accounts packs have now been sent out to all Treasurers either by myself (electronic) or by Haig House if you had requested paper copies.
Please let me know if there is any assistance you require at the earliest possible opportunity.
Limited Edition Book - Cambridgeshire Regiment heroes of the Battle of the Somme
The Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Regiments' Museum in Bury St Edmunds have released a new limited edition book which honours the Cambridgeshire Regiment heroes of the Battle of the Somme 110 years on.
The 1/1st Cambridgeshire Regiment Storming of the Scwwaben Redoubt, 14-15 October 1916 tells the story of the men who helped capture one of the German Army's strongest defensive positions during the Somme offensive.
Details of how to order your copy are attached.
Schwaben Book Order Form 1
Schwaben Book Order Form 2
Bottisham Branch – Thank you card
Bottisham Branch have received a Thank You card from a care home in the county.
The Chair wishes me to share images of the card and also attach the accompanying letter along with the reply.
Manor Letter
Manor Card Thankyou
He stated “As you will see it is a very touching sentiment and should be seen by as many servicemen as possible”.
March Armed Forces Fair 23rd August
The March Armed Forces Fair takes place in West End Park, March , Cambridgeshire on Sunday 23rd August 2026.
I believe it is important that we fully support the MAFF being one, if not the biggest military event supporting and highlighting our military and veteran communities in the County.
Standard Bearers are invited to take part in the final event of the day , Parade of Standards and Drumhead Service, which will begin at 1700hrs.
The event closes at 1730hrs, with an opportunity afterwards to take photographs with RBL members taking part.
The County will have a Gazebo at the event to allow storage of Standards in a secure location until the final parade.
Please respond to me of the MEO if you intend to take part.
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].
