Duo setting the Standards

Two Royal British Legion standard bearers will again be representing the area at the Royal Albert Hall’s Remembrance Concert on Saturday (November 12).

Pinchbeck Royal British Legion’s Alan Canham will be flying the county standard alongside his deputy Graham Hewitt, of Spalding branch.

Alan said: “I always look forward to it. For me it is always a special day and highlights all the reasons we carry the standards for the RBL.

“It will be good to meet up with the other bearers that attended the Queen’s funeral and be the first year with the King in attendance.

“We will be busy over the remembrance weekend as I am in London Friday and Saturday then Pinchbeck and Holbeach Sunday.”

It’s busy too for Graham who has recently been given a certificate to mark his 30 years’ service with the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

“I’ve had a very poignant year full of various emotions but mainly pride.

“I work full time for East Midlands ambulance service on the front line and I’m also involved in the Royal British Legion, Spalding Branch, as Standard Bearer, also Deputy County standard Bearer for Lincolnshire.

“In June this year through work I was presented amongst other work colleagues with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, an achievement from our monarch.

“In September on the announcement of the Queen’s passing, I was selected, along with 71 other standard bearers throughout the UK, to represent the RBL in participating in the Queen’s funeral, for this we were all presented with a certificate of the highest honour from the Royal British Legion.

“I work with EMAS, last week I was presented with my 30 years’ service medal, a great achievement but I won’t be retiring anytime soon.”