First to meet flags standard (From Wiltshire Times)
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First to meet flags standard
7:00pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Wiltshire
Legion members Cathy Smith, Fiona Havergal, Amanda Bearryman, contest co-ordinator Brian Mitchell, Ron Fraser, Mike Swabey and John Smith at the competition in Neston
Wiltshire will get its first representative in the national Royal British Legion standard bearer’s competition this year, after Amanda Bearryman fulfilled a lifetime dream.
Ms Bearryman, 38, of Swindon and a member of the Chiseldon branch, won a South West heat at the Cotswold Centre in Neston on Saturday, after coming second three times before.
In the national final she will compete against 10 women from across the UK for a chance to accompany the national president of the British Legion on official functions for a year.
She said: “I have been carrying the standard now for about 21 years, since I was 18.
“As I grew up, all my family have been members of the Royal British Legion. My mother and grandfather were standard bearers themselves and I always remember watching them on parade and wanting to be out front myself.”
The men’s competition, which took place at the same time, was won by Tony Vidler, representing Cornwall.
