EX-SERVICEMEN and women from across Gwent came together this weekend to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion.

The RBL’s Newport branch kicked off the celebrations on Saturday morning with a parade.

Led by a marching band, members of the city branch were joined by standard bearers for the Caldicot, Abertillery and county of Gwent branches, the Royal Welsh Comrades Association, the Merchant Navy Association and the Royal Navy Association.

The parade, which also included army and RAF cadets, was greeted by applauding crowds as it walked from Commercial Street to John Frost Square, where there was a short thanksgiving service and two-minute silence.

The afternoon was then given over to a family fun day, which included performances by musical theatre students from Duffryn High School and Newport dance act FlowDem, a 1940s sing-along, and a cadets parade. Money raised from the day will go to the charity.

David Gale, 67, served in the RAF for 24 years from 1960 and said he was proud to be the standard bearer for the RBL’s Caldicot branch during Saturday’s parade.

He said: “The Royal British Legion is a lifelong help to ex-servicemen and women.

Alot of people think it’s just about the old boys, but it’s helping generations of the armed forces and their families.

It’s a wonderful thing.”

The RBL’s Newbridge branch held a party at the Newbridge Memo.

The public were invited into the celebration, which included displays of military uniforms and memorabilia, a raffle, and drill displays by 277 (Blackwood) Squadron Air Training Corps.

Chairman of the Newbridge branch Roger Beech said the celebrations were also being used to explain what the RBL is, and encourage people to get involved.

He said: “It could be providing someone with help in the house, or funding a mobility scooter, but whatever it is, it’s about making a difference to an awful lot of servicemen and women.”