Sunday 10 th October was a special day in the history of 487 (Kingstanding and Perry Barr) Sqn. The Sqn's new standard was blessed in a ceremony which was attended by over fifty people.

The ceremony completes the circle which started with the sad death of Mr Jack Smith. Jack was a member of 487 Sqn during the Second World War and later went on to become a member of the Civilian committee. At his funeral, his wife, Mrs Joan Smith and her family decided that any donations made should be given to 487 Sqn. A total of over £500 was collected and a cheque was duly presented to the Civilian Committee.

The committee and staff then sat down to decide what to buy with the money. Numerous options were discussed, but one look at the Sqn's tattered old standard made up our minds!

Now we just needed to get the standard blessed and this all fell into shape thanks to the Royal British Legion (RBL) branch in Kingstanding. The Sqn were invited to their annual church service and after a discussion with Father Philip Calvert, the standard was blessed at St Marks church in Kingstanding.

Mrs Joan Smith and her family attended the church service, her daughters travelled from London and Scotland for the event.

The cadets and staff marched behind the standards of the RBL on the way to the church; the new 487 Sqn standard was kept securely in its cover. At the church, Cdt Ryan Borhara and Flt Lt Brendan O'Neill, OC 487 Sqn, marched forward and offered the covered standard to Father Calvert. The cover was then taken off by the father and a blessing was given and the standard was splashed with holy water. Cdt Borhara then carried the standard out of the church and handed it over to Cdt Lucy Basaran. She then marched back into the church with all the other RBL standards.

A short service then took place which focused on the work done by the Royal British Legion, and also gave thanks to all those men and women serving in HM Forces, past and present.

During the service, Fg Off Simon Jennings thanked Mrs Joan Smith and her family for the very kind donation of money that had enabled the Sqn to buy the magnificent new colours.

Following the service, the new standard took pride of place on the march back to the club; it was really great to see the colour flying in the strong wind.

Flt Lt Brendan O'Neill commented “Firstly, I would like to thank the members of the British Legion branch here at Kingstanding for all their help in organising today's event; you really have made it very easy for the staff and cadets on this parade. Secondly, I would like again to thank Mrs Joan Smith for donating the money for the new standard. This new standard will hopefully be paraded where ever our Sqn parades in the future. It is a working, and very fitting reminder of Jack and we will never forget him.”