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Huntingdon British Legion boss gets highest honour
THE President of Huntingdon and District Royal British Legion has been presented with an award which recognises his outstanding contribution to the branch.
THE President of Huntingdon and District Royal British Legion has been presented with an award which recognises his outstanding contribution to the branch.In a special awards ceremony at Yaxley Royal British Legion, Terry Smith, who joined the Yaxley branch in 1990, was recognised for his commitment and awarded the Royal British Legion badge in Gold.
After joining the Yaxley branch, Mr Smith (71) made his way through the committee becoming vice-chairman and chairman of the branch.
He then joined the county committee in 1999 and then also became vice-chairman and chairman of the county.
He was also a standard bearer for Yaxley and the county, and made many visits to Earl's Court, Belgium and the Somme, where he proudly held the flag to represent his branch.
Mr Smith was then nominated as President of Huntingdon and District British Legion and was nominated for the gold badge award by his fellow committee members.
The Royal British Legion Badge in Gold was originally an award for someone who had given outstanding service to their branch, a practice that dates back to the 1930s.
In 1952 it was decided to regulate the award, which had to be approved by the national chairman or vice-chairman and a minimum of 10 years service was required before they could be even considered.
Since a national consultation in 2007 it has become the legion's highest award that can be bestowed upon a member.
It may be awarded to a member who has given at least eight years meritorious and conspicuous service to the objectives of the legion as defined by the Royal Charter.
Mr Smith, who is also a qualified mental nurse, said: "I have done a lot of work for the legion, from being standard bearer to fund-raising and delivering the poppies to schools across the county.
"I was a bit taken aback when I heard I was getting this award. It is the first of the highest awards given by the legion.
"The next one is life membership, but I don't know if I have done enough to get that one yet."
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