Northumbria Standard Bearers

Would you like to become a Standard Bearer?

A Branch Standard Bearer should be appointed by the Branch Committee.  It is essential that the person selected should be physically strong and more than capable of handling the Standard under all conditions.  It is also advisable that if possible, each Branch have a second/deputy Standard Bearer to be able to cover in the case of illness, work or holidays.

Role and responsibilities of a Branch Standard Bearer

• Attendance at Local/neighbouring town’s funerals when requested by families 
• Attendance at mandatory parades, for example, County Conference, Field of Remembrance, County Events, Branch AGM’s.  
• Attendance at County Standard Bearers Competitions. (Even if not you are not competing, ensure you are dressed in the appropriate attire at all times: especially when performing duties as a Standard Bearer.
• Securely looking after, maintaining and caring for the Standard.

Dress code for Standard Bearers

The dress code is quite specific, please see the RBL dress code for the Legion Standard Bearers Also please look at the Medals Etiquette.

Training for Standard Bearers

As a Branch Standard Bearer in Northumbria, you will be asked to attend training at a minimum of 3 times per year. All training events can be found in the County Calendar. Please contact the Membership Engagement Officer to indicate which training event you wish to attend. The Membership Engagement Officer and the County Parade Marshal can also provide all details. 

Care and responsibility to the Standard

The Standard is a constant symbolic reminder to members of the Legion's motto, 'service not self'. For information regarding the maintenance of Standards, please see: British Legion Standards.

County Standard Bearer Competition

The County holds a competition every year normally in the September.  The last completion was held on 31 August 2019 at St George’s Barracks, Newcastle and was a great success.

1st place went to Graham Meek – Consett Branch who has been County Standard Bearer from 25 Jan 2020   2nd place  Adam Owens  - Newcastle West Branch Deputy County Standard Bearer from 25 Jan 2020   3rd place Stephen Moses – Blyth Branch

This picture shows those in attendance, attending Marshals Eddy Woodall, County Parade Marshal Eric Ingram who were the attending marshals

It was a hard fought competition with hardly any points separating the three competitors.

Graham Meek returned following injury to take back the title, defended brilliantly by the previous year’s champion, Adam Owens.  Stephen Moses, still relatively new, offered an excellent performance, improving year on year, was only just beaten into third place. 

Every competition offers an unbelievable standard of performance but we need more Standard Bearers to pitch in against these stalwarts of the discipline.