This year the Essex County RBL Standard Bearers School in Chelmsford ran a series of training sessions where standard bearers from local branches in Essex could either attend refresher training courses or novices received training from scratch.

Over a 6 month period, trainees attended one training session per month where they were put through the foot and standard bearer drills and ensured that they were correctly dressed by the County Parade Marshal and his team.

On average some 17 standard bearers attended each training session and this year they were joined by three youth members who all completed the course and reached the required level.

On Sunday 1st October a total of 10 Standard Bearers from across Essex, including two youth members, competed in the Annual Standard Bearer Competition held in Chelmsford.

*Top: The Annual Standard Bearer Competition contestants.
*Bottom: Essex Standard Bearers at Lord Petre’s Farewell in May earlier this year.

Impartial judges from outside Essex, Ron Hill from Norwich and Laura Hayworth from Surrey, were present to inspect the contestants and mark them on their performance.

The winning contestant, who becomes the new Essex County Standard Bearer, was Richard Hyam from Brentwood Branch and the close Runner-Up was Andrew Gannon of Billericay Branch.

The top entry from The RBL Women’s Section was Iris Line from Hatfield Heath followed closely by Margaret Antoniou of Mersey Island Branch. Veska Bayford of Witham Branch won the top Youth Standard Bearer place, just beating young NJ Turner from Manningtree, who was awarded the best Novice prize.

Both judges complimented the contestants on the high standard of bearing, turnout and drill during the competition. The County Chairman complimented Essex County Parade Marshal, Jamie Robinson, for organising such a well-run Competition.

*Thaxted Branch Standard Bearer, Joe Hobbs, undergoes training at the Standard Bearer School.