A TEENAGER became the North West Regional Youth Standard Bearer for the Royal British Legion.

Fourteen-year-old Florrie Haddow from Ulverston became the North West Regional Youth Standard Bearer for the Royal British Legion (RBL) on March 9 2024 after successfully competing in the annual Regional Youth Standard Bearer competition held at Workington.

Florrie attended her first RBL Standard Bearer training session in Greenodd village hall in March 2023 when she was just 13 years old.

The Lancashire County training team soon recognised Florrie's potential as a Standard Bearer as she was quick to pick up the static and marching drills required to carry the 8' 7" high heavy RBL Standard, was willing to listen and learn and showed good discipline.

Florrie was appointed to the position of Branch Standard Bearer for Ulverston in October 2023, following an injury to the previous Standard Bearer.

The Royal British Legion holds annual competitions for Standard Bearers to encourage a high standard of turnout and drill. The competitions are used to select County Standard Bearers, Regional Standard Bearers and at the highest level of competition the RBL National Standard Bearer.

Florrie attended her first competition on October 15 2023 and was appointed Lancashire County Youth Standard Bearer. She then went on to compete in the North West England Regional Youth Standard Bearer competition which was held in Workington on March 9 2024. Florrie was again successful and judged to be the best Youth Standard Bearer in the North West Region.

Florrie now progresses to the National Youth RBL Standard Bearer competition to be held in Stockport on April 21.

A spokesperson for the Ulverston Branch of the RBL said: "This is a remarkable achievement for such a young Standard Bearer and one who has been carrying a standard for such a short period of time.

"Her family, the Ulverston Branch of the RBL and Lancashire County RBL team are all so very proud of her."