British Legion and Royal Navy standards to go on permanent display

Vicar of St Luke’s The Rev Shirley Devine and Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Ian Duckworth receive the standards with, from left Chris Harris, Chairman of Heywood Veterans’ Association and member Billy Clough

Two standards for the British Legion and Royal Navy discovered after a church closed will now be on permanent display.

The historic flags were found in Grade II Listed St James CE Church on Tower Street, Heywood, which is currently for sale. The congregation has relocated to hold services in the church hall.

One was a British Legion Standard, which pre-dates 1971 when the charity became The Royal British Legion and the second is for the Royal Navy.

At Veterans In Communities’ Sandbag Café, at Sandon House, Heywood, both Standards were officially handed over to the Vicar of St Luke’s CE Church on York Street.

Members of Heywood Veterans’ Association, HVA, were in attendance along with the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Ian Duckworth, a former Royal Corps of Signals soldier.

The Rev Shirley Devine said: “At St Luke’s we have several standards and HVA made a special stand so that they can be on permanent display in the church.

“These two will be added to our collection and we are very pleased to have them.”

A short service was held at the café and drop in and veteran Terry Morley recited lines from Robert Laurence Binyon’s Remembrance poem ‘For the Fallen;.

Rochdale Council Armed Forces Officer Caen Matthews said: “St James is being sold for development and these two Standards were uncovered.”

He contacted Project Worker for VIC Liz Davies, who runs the Sandbag Café, to see if they could be officially handed over.

Liz said: “As the café is now the meeting place for the veterans in Heywood, it seemed the ideal location. Thankfully they were identified by someone who realised their value and now they will be on display at St Luke’s for everyone to see.”