Standard bearer barred in insurance row

AN 87-year-old RAF veteran must stop carrying the Royal British Legion standard because she is too old to insure, the charity has said.

Madge Covey has been proudly holding aloft a legion flag pole at remembrance services and commemorations for three decades.

But now, despite her good health and physical fitness, the former air force cook has gone "beyond the age of insurance", the legion said.

Officials from her branch in Wellington, Somerset, have assured Mrs Covey the decision is not personal. Their national rules state 85 is the oldest insurable age and she must stop.

Last week, the WMN revealed how 84-year-old Second World War hero Harry Billinge, of St Austell, was ruled out of selling Remembrance Day poppies after he was told he was too old and needed insurance.

Mrs Covey last carried the flag for the Women's Section, Wellington And District Branch, on November 11.

She takes no medication and can still drive a car. The standard pole carried by legion members is around eight-feet long, and has brass adornments including a spike on top.

Speaking yesterday, Mrs Covey said: "They told me that I am not insured after the age of 85 so I asked if I could insure myself, as my son is a broker, and they said no.

"But I have been serving for the past two years and no-one has said anything until now.

"I have a pair of good legs and arms, I am not on any medication and my eyesight and heart is good.

"I can drive a car but I can't hold a standard."

Mrs Covey has been carrying out standard bearer duties for the Wellington branch and for the Southampton branch since 1974.

She served for four years as a cook in the RAF during the Second World War as well as working for decades with the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS).

As well as being chair of the women's section of the legion branch, she has received the Queen's medal and various honours in recognition of her work and service.

The standard has to be given back to the legion branch next week but Mrs Covey said she will just leave it outside her front door because she cannot bear to hand it over.

"I feel very sad about it, I have shed a few tears, now I am angry about it," she said.

"I am very proud to be part of Wellington and to show the flag and my medals.

"I felt like giving it all up, but I am very devoted to the legion and I will continue with my other duties."

Mrs Covey is now two years past the official age limit and the local legion said it could not ignore the rules forever.

British Legion county chairman, Major Rikki Peters, said the organisation had public liability insurance for events which covered people to the age of 85.

Maj Peters said: "If Mrs Covey is carrying the standard – or even if she just trips – and it happens to swing down and hit someone then she would not be insured.

"I understand that she must be bitterly, bitterly disappointed, but it is a fact of life and there's is really nothing we can do about it."

British Legion county secretary Monica Summers told BBC Somerset: "This is nothing personal. It's the rule book and I have to comply with it, and unfortunately Mrs Covey is beyond the age of insurance."