Spalding Royal British Legion standard bearer Graham Hewitt to take part in Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall to cap off incredible year
Standard bearer Graham Hewitt will feel a sense of pride as he takes part in this weekend’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall - capping off a poignant year which also saw him honoured by Queen Elizabeth.
“It’s been a fantastic 12 months,” admitted Spalding resident Graham, who also represented the Royal British Legion at the Queen’s Funeral, as well as being decorated by both the RBL and the ambulance service.
The Festival of Remembrance will see the public and dignitaries remember those who died in combat.
Graham - Spalding standard bearer and Lincolnshire’s deputy county standard bearer - and Alan Canham, from Pinchbeck Royal British Legion, who will be carrying the county standard, will be among the representatives from across the UK attending the event.
After rehearsals on Friday and Saturday morning, the duo will take part in services at 2pm and 7pm on Saturday, with both events filmed for television.
“When I start carrying that standard I’m the proudest person,” said Graham - now Spalding RBL’s president after spending three years as chairman - who will return home to take part in the town’s Remembrance Service on Sunday.
“I’ve had a very poignant year full of various emotions but mainly pride.
“I work full time for East Midlands Ambulance Service on the front line.
“In June this year through work I was presented amongst other work colleagues with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, an achievement from our Monarch.
“In September, on the announcement of the Queen’s passing, I was selected, along with 71 other standard bearers throughout the UK, to represent the British Legion in participating in the Queen’s Funeral.
“For this we were all presented with a certificate of the highest honour from the Royal British Legion.”
But Graham’s astounding year didn’t end there.
The EMAS emergency care assistant was also presented with his 30 years’ service medal.
“A great achievement, but I won’t be retiring anytime soon,” Graham continued.
Although he doesn’t have a military background, Graham’s association with the Legion began in 2009 as he helped sell poppies for the annual appeal.
He and wife Jennifer joined the RBL and the rest, as they say, is history.
