MEMBERS of the newly formed Trowbridge and West Wilts Royal Air Force Association were on hand to witness the dedication of a new standard at the annual Battle of Britain service.

Held on Sunday (September 18) at St James’ Church in Trowbridge, more than a hundred people attended the service to remember those who fought and died in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

The new standard was unveiled during the service to mark the beginning of the new branch, which only formed earlier this year, with the old standard due to be hung in St James’ Church.

Standard bearer Barry Gladman, who served in the RAF for 22 years after joining in 1962, said: “The reason it’s become the West Wilts Branch is because a lot of the local branches such as Devizes, Warminster and a few others closed down due to a lack of membership.

“But there are people who would like to carry on being in the RAFA so we expanded.

“As far as we’re concerned it’s very important to mark the Battle of Britain.

“There’s only about 17 members of the air force left who were involved in the fighting and they and their colleagues put their lives on the line.

“The longer we can keep it remembered it will probably resonate in the minds of some of the younger generation who will realise that without them we wouldn’t be having this conversation now.”