90th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service

3 April 2011


To mark the 90th Anniversary of The Royal British Legion, Derbyshire Royal British Legion held a Thanksgiving Service in The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints, Church Way, Chesterfield, S40 1XJ.  The church, which is the largest church in Derbyshire is better known as the The Church of the Crooked Spire.


The Service was lead by the Vicar of St Mary and All Saints the Reverend Canon Michael Knight.  The Lord Lieutenant for Derbyshire Mr William Tucker, who is also The Patron of Derbyshire Royal British Legion, read from the Gospel according to St John.  The Address was given by the Bishop of Manchester the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, who is also the National Chaplain to The Royal British Legion.  Following on with the Intercessions was the Derbyshire County Chaplin the Reverend Doctor Jocelyn Lewis


During the Service, the Standards from the eleven Branches that were founded in 1921 were paraded to the altar, where they were re-dedicated by the Bishop.


The County President, Bill Else, recited the Exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph and the Last Post and Reveille were played by Bugle Major Adrian Harper RM(Retd).


Music throughout the Service was provided by The Nottinghamshire Band of The Royal Engineers (V) under Bandmaster WO1 (BM) M S Kerwin.  The band then went on to head the Parade from the church to Chesterfield Town Hall.


The Parade of Band, Legion Standards and Legion Members were joined in the march to Chesterfield Town Hall by Members of the Legion Riders Branch and Army Cadets from the Chesterfield Detachment lead by Sergeant Instructor Littlewood.  The salute was taken on the Town Hall steps by The Lord Lieutenant for Derbyshire, Mr William Tucker and County Civic Dignitaries.  The Parade then passed by and saluted the towns War Memorial before falling out.



The Bishop of Manchester - The Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch




The Standards leaving the Altar following their Re-Dedication




The Band Marching up to Chesterfield Town Hall




County Chairman - Bernard Page, County Chaplain - The Reverend  Doctor Jocelyn Lewis and County Vice-Chairman - Stuart Allen followed by the Legion Standards pass the Saluting Base




The Lord Lieutenant for Derbyshire - Mr William Tucker,
The Mayor of Chesterfield - Councillor Keith Morgan
and other County Civic Dignitaries Taking the Salute




Legion Members pass by the Saluting Base




Members of the Legion Riders Branch




Army Cadets from the Chesterfield Detachment
lead by Sergeant Instructor Littlewood


(First Photograph by Bill Parkin all others by Chris Drury)

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