The Royal British Legion in Suffolk celebrated its centenary on Sunday, September 19, with an evensong service in the Cathedral of St Edmundsbury.

The county's RBL was founded in May 1921, the same month that the organisation launched nationally, but the service was held in September due to Covid-19.

Bury Mercury: Suffolk RBL branch standard bearers with, from left, the Right Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Ken Rowbottom, Suffolk RBL chairman; Clare, Countess of Euston, Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, president of The Royal British Legion Suffolk.Suffolk RBL branch standard bearers with, from left, the Right Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Ken Rowbottom, Suffolk RBL chairman; Clare, Countess of Euston, Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, president of The Royal British Legion Suffolk.

The Right Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, led the service and gave the address, with RBL branch standards and more than 170 guests.

Guests at the service in Bury St Edmunds included the Countess of Euston, Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Edward Creasy, High Sheriff of Suffolk, Joe Falzon, national vice-chairman of the RBL, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, president of Suffolk RBL and Kenneth Rowbottom, chairman of Suffolk RBL.

Bury Mercury: Suffolk RBL county standard bearer Alf Bloomfield leading the branch standards out of the cathedralSuffolk RBL county standard bearer Alf Bloomfield leading the branch standards out of the cathedral (Image: Emily-Jane Chivers)

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There were also military representatives from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, veterans and cadet forces.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said: “For a century, our members and volunteers have worked tirelessly in the service of others, supporting our veterans and their families in need, as well as those still serving.”

Bury Mercury: The Right Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, speaking with Clare, Countess of Euston after the RBL centenary serviceThe Right Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, speaking with Clare, Countess of Euston after the RBL centenary service (Image: Emily-Jane Chivers)

Bury Mercury: The High Sheriff of Suffolk, Edward Creasy, speaking with the Right Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and IpswichThe High Sheriff of Suffolk, Edward Creasy, speaking with the Right Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich (Image: Emily-Jane Chivers)