The standard bearer for the City of Ely branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) has been honoured with one of the Legion's most prestigious awards.

Tom Brown was presented with the Gold Award Badge for more than a quarter of a century of meritorious service at a ceremony at The Maltings in Ely on April 3.

Tom has been a standard bearer for the RBL at both branch and county levels for more than 20 years, a former vice-chairman of the branch, and has been one of its most "dedicated" and "committed" active members.

The Gold Award Badge was presented to Tom by City of Ely branch president Gp Cape (Ret'd) Ian Lindsay and Cambridgeshire RBL President Col (Ret'd) Roger Herriot.

City of Ely branch chairman David Martin said: "Tom exemplifies the motto 'Service not Self' as shown by his unwavering commitment to all he does whether at branch or county committee, standard bearing or for the Poppy Appeal."

Included in his catalogue of achievements; at the annual Cambridgeshire standard bearers competition, Tom was runner-up for many years before winning in 2018.

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Tom, who served in the Third Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, is also the regiment's national standard bearer, attending a number of the Paras' events throughout the year, including the annual trip to Arnhem in the Netherlands.

Additionally, Tom is a dedicated RBL fundraiser and is a familiar figure on Ely Market Place during the annual Poppy Appeal, turning out every day, whatever the weather.

His efforts alone have raised more than £50,000, contributing to the many hundreds of thousands of pounds that the Ely district has raised over the same period.

Today, Tom continues to pass on his knowledge and skills to help instruct at the Legion's county standard bearer school and has taken on the role of Deputy County Parade Marshall.