STANDARDS were raised and the flags were flying to mark the affiliation of Stow Primary School with the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL).

In an historic ceremony, members of the legion joined staff, children, governors and community members at a special assembly to mark the school’s alliance with the RBL.

They witnessed the reading and signing of two commemorative certificates by RBL branch chairman Derek Arthurs and headteacher Rebecca Scutt before the children sang a medley of wartime and remembrance songs.

The certificates will be displayed in school and at the legion headquarters along with an antique plate presented to the school by Mr Arthurs to mark the occasion.

Mr Arthurs said the affiliation was an important step in the legion’s future.

“The RBL needs to do this sort of thing because this is the future,” he said. “There are not so many service people anymore but we still need to keep it going so we can help families and exservicemen.

“We must remember there are still an awful lot of veterans and widows from the Second World War, National Service boys from Korea and the Falklands. There’s lots of support needed.”

The special relationship with the RBL means the school and legion members will now be able to support each other in different ventures and events.

Legion members have already talked to the children about the history of the poppy as part of last month’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Mrs Scutt said: “It’s absolutely great, it’s something we’ve been trying to get for years. We do lots with the legion and it is so supportive.

We believe we might be the first school in the country to be affiliated in this manner.

“We’re chuffed to bits. It was a landmark in our school and for the legion.”