A FORMER soldier and current Bromsgrove Royal British Legion standard bearer will represent the town at the RBL’s annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Saturday, November 10.
Tony Warren was notified in September he had been nominated as a Representative Standard Bearer to participate in the Muster of Legion Standards at the event on November 10 in London.
The Festival of Remembrance, held in honour of those who have given their lives in the service of their country, has been marked annually at the Royal Albert Hall since 1923.
Mr Warren, who has become a popular Bromsgrove businessman after establishing Broad Street DIY in 1979, joined the Army on April 8, 1958, and served in the Grenadier Guards for eight years.
During his service he was stationed in Germany, Libya, British Cameroons in Africa and with the United Nations in Cyprus.
On home soil he was based at camps in Surrey and Hampshire as well as Chelsea and Wellington Barracks in London. His guard duties included the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the Bank of England.
He was also on guard at the Queen’s Birthday Parade in June 1962.
There will be two performances at the Festival of Remembrance in London next month, which is being presented by Huw Edwards and takes place in the presence of the Royal Family.
Tickets for the event have already sold out but it will be broadcast on BBC One.
Mr Warren said: “I am extremely proud and overwhelmed. I think it is about 30 years since Bromsgrove was last invited to take part in this prestigious and hugely important commemorative event.”
Mr Warren has been a Standard Bearer at Bromsgrove’s Remembrance Sunday parade for over 25 years.
He will return to Bromsgrove following the evening performance in London, to take part in this years’ Bromsgrove Remembrance and Armistice commemorations on Sunday, November 11, which this year will also mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.
