During the Annual Conference, which family members of the late Linda Johnston attended, Mrs Claire Hensman (The Lord Lieutenant) presented Linda Johnston's Gold Badge, awarded posthumously, to her daughter, Linda Howat.
The citation reads:
"Linda Johnston has given over 30 years’ voluntary service of the highest degree of dedication to the RBL Membership County of Cumberland and Westmorland, and beyond that, and especially, to her local Community on the West Coast of Cumbria with her voluntary work within the Royal British Legion, the Army Cadet Forces, Combined Cadet Forces (both as a Major) and North West Ambulance Service, furthering the standing and reputation of the RBL at every turn. This exemplary service has been characterised by her total commitment to the health and well-being of those she supported when seeking help from the Royal British Legion, whether veterans, reservists or their families. She has been a welfare caseworker in the County since before records are available and has helped several hundred cases for support in that time. She has visited some of the most difficult and deprived corners of the County to bring the best possible assessment and support to cases she has been working; her instant caring and rapport with anyone in need meant on many occasions she has very quickly stabilised a beneficiary’semotional state enabling them to be more settled and resilient in dealing with their issues, and more able to make the most of the help available. At the same time she was active in the Poppy Appeal and a Poppy Appeal Organiser again since before records are available – but we know that in her time her team is estimated to have raised a total of £750k in six appeal areas and sold over one million poppies. She galvanised, energised and led a dedicated band of volunteers and collectors every year, engaged in local civic Poppy Appeal events and was the driving force behind the Poppy Appeal on the West Coast in Cumbria, normally singlehandedly organising fundraising events.
She was steadfastly active and committed to her local branch in Whitehaven involved in and arranging the full program of branch events throughout every year and always first in line to support other neighbouring Branches, and County events such as the highly successful VE-Day 70th celebration event at Brockholes park.
Then most recently, in 2015 she rose to yet another RBL challenge and became the County’s Membership Support Officer just at the time a new County Chairman was elected thus continuing to work for the good of the County she served with such energy and affection. She was supportive and direct in equal measure in helping branches navigate the ongoing program of changes within membership and, without prompting, established a systematic program of outreach support & advisory visits to branches through which she regularly informed them about the evolving aims of the Legion, and the need for them to be involved in the RBL’s work. This remains her legacy in that role.
What is striking above all, in a County notorious for fragile, weather-affected travel, is her willingness at any time, to go anywhere in the County to help a beneficiary, to support a Poppy Appeal collector, to organise an event, to advise a Branch.
She also made great strides enhancing the reputation of the RBL by her outstanding success outside the RBL such as her work with cadets. When first appointed a Cadet Force officer, she took on a 5 person detachment and such was her inspiring nature she grew it to 70 cadets parading 3 nights a week to accommodate demand. Then further achievement in arguing for and implementing a pioneering scheme for Adult Volunteers to achieve teaching qualifications. She was the drive and inspiration for them, and some cadets, to achieve over 2000 academic qualifications. She introduced the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to St Bees School CCF enabling over 400 young people to achieve awards, 27 of which were at Gold level. Linda has been a first rate ambassador and advocate for the Legion.
By her example and energy over decades of volunteering and serving the Royal British Legion Linda Johnston changed the lives of hundreds of people for the better thus securing the role and reputation of the Royal British Legion as the premier Service Charity. She gave selflessly and far in excess of the norm of volunteering and yet for her, helping others was its own reward. It is right that this service to the RBL and dedication to the well-being of the Armed Forces Family is recognised at National level by the award of the RBL Gold Badge."
