Ceremony marks end of long-standing and much-respected Cockermouth group

The town's British Legion was forced to close in 2020 due to a lack of members.

Its standard, which always formed part of the annual remembrance service at the town cenotaph, will be laid up at All Saints' Church.

Former group secretary Margaret Woodhouse Doig said: "Things have been delayed because of Covid but this sacred ceremony will take place on Sunday."

Doing the honours will be the legion's county parade marshall Rod Eglin. Cockermouth Mechanics Band will be playing.

The standard will be brought in to the accompaniment of music which would have been used in parades at Albert Hall, said Mrs Woodhouse Doig.

The history of the branch will be recounted.

"It will be a proper, fitting service.

"The branch and Poppy Appeal has been supported very generously over many, many years so it's fitting the standard is laid up.

"All Saints' seemed the most appropriate church," said Mrs Doig.

"There's been a legion in Cockermouth for many years. My dad was a member when the headquarters used to be in The Sun, on Market Place, which is now Seth's."

Mrs Doig joined the legion following an appeal for support from Stephen Coates, a well-known and highly-respected Cockermouth man who died in 2020, aged 83.

The long-serving former town councillor was the lynchpin of the town's British Legion.

The British Legion standard featured every year in the Remembrance service at Cockermouth cenotaph

He was always a key part of Remembrance Services at the town's cenotaph, where for many years he was the proud standard bearer.

He was a member of the legion for more than 50 years and ran its poppy appeal for 34 years.

The ceremony will take place at 6pm on Sunday. Everyone is welcome.

Future of legion under threat: https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/17597904.towns-royal-british-legion-faces-closure/