Almost 100 members of the Sedlescombe Branch of The Royal British Legion and their guests gathered to celebrate Veterans Day 2008 and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Territorial Army.

The afternoon included a special feature as five soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles provided the escort to the standards of Sedlescombe and Battle RBL Branches - the latter branch parading with Sedlescombe as part of a long relationship.

The Parade of the Standards was led by a piper, providing a memorable and very special spectacle.

Major General G W Field, CB CBE OBE, presented Veterans Badges to those who now qualified for the award and Certificates of Service to those who served with the Territorial Army and live in the village or the surrounding area - some 18 recipients.

He started with the oldest member, Sam Weekes, a Chelsea Pensioner who received a Territorial Certificate and ended with the youngest member, Jenny Baker, who was presented with a Reserve Forces Service Medal as well as a Veterans Badge and a Territorial Certificate.

Another remarkable and possibly unique event was the presentation of Veterans Badges and TA Certificates to members of the Ferguson family.

Residents in the village for over 30 years, the family of six, comprising of mum, dad, two boys and two girls, provided five TA members (mum wasn't included, but then she was a Special Constable).

In addition the two daughters married army husbands who have been both regular and TA Soldiers and have served in the present Iraqi war.

Despite some solemn moments, there was an air of celebration to the afternoon as the chairman, Mr E Burgess,reported another record-breaking increase in membership.

The involvement of the Gurkhas also added to the entertainment, particularly when one of the Gurkhas won a special iced cake in the raffle!

The branch showed its appreciation to the Gurkhas when, in his closing address, chairman, Mr N Wright presented each of them with a Commemorative Certificate from the branch before the final event of the afternoon, when the standards were paraded from the hall.