The President of Debden Branch Royal British Legion, Mike Barton, was presented with the prestigious RBL Gold Badge Award at a surprise ceremony on Sunday 21st January in The Plough Pub at Debden.

The Gold Badge, the second highest award in The Legion, was presented by David Swann, a member of The RBL Council, to mark Mike’s remarkable and outstanding record of service in the Legion since he first joined after leaving the Army in 1990.

He served as Branch Chairman continuously for 17 years between 1995 and 2012, before taking over as Branch President, the post he still holds today.

Some 20 or so Committee and Branch Members attended the presentation ceremony and listened while Mike Clark, the Branch Chairman, read out the Citation.

The photo shows David Swann presenting The RBL Gold Badge to Mike Barton.