Veteran to represent region at Remembrance event

A veteran will be representing East and North Yorkshire at the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance in London this weekend.

Mel Watson, from the Hornsea branch of the Royal British Legion, will represent the region as a standard bearer at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday.

Mr Watson will also be marching as part of the ex-serviceman's squad in the Remembrance Sunday parade.

“I feel very proud and honoured to be selected to represent not just Hornsea, but the whole county. It's a great privilege I feel," he said.

Mr Watson joined the British Army in 1960.

Before leaving the forces in 1986, he spent his final years as a Warrant Officer at the trade training school at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

It will be his second time representing the region at the festival.

Tracy Watson, who served in the RAF for 30 years, will be supporting her father this year.

"I will be extremely proud to see him come down the stairs with his standard," she said.

The Festival of Remembrance will take place on Saturday with performances at 14:00 and 19:00 GMT.

The Remembrance Day march, also known as the Cenotaph March Past, will take place on Remembrance Sunday and will include wreath laying by members of the Royal Family.

Mr Watson said: "Not only are we talking about people from the First World War, the Second World War, but obviously fresh in the memories of many people now are the conflicts that have taken place since then.

“I think it's very important that we do remember all this and hopefully we don't have to experience it again."

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