NINE people have been honoured for their voluntary work with the Royal British Legion.

They have received Certificates of Appreciation for their service to the Barnoldswick and District Branch over the years.

Among them was Charles (Jim) Tattersall who also received a Standard Bearers' tie badge for his 35 years as standard bearer for the old Earby branch.

An ex-serviceman, Mr Tattersall was president of the Earby branch until it became a sub-branch of Barnoldswick and is a member of the Barnoldswick branch committee and welfare committee. He also visits housebound-members of the ex-service community and helps to run Earby Poppy Shop.

Other certificate winners were:

* Associate member Eric Almond who was co-opted onto the branch committee in 1994, and was appointed branch welfare secretary in 1995.

He has completed the national caseworker training course and is currently the branch's secretary and membership secretary.

* Ex-serviceman Eric Cockerill who lost an arm while fighting in Singapore and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of the Japanese.

Joining the Legion in 1945, he is branch chairman and chairman of the welfare committee.

* Ex-serviceman Stan Fryer, who was elected to the branch committee in 1995, and is the vice-chairman and treasurer. He also sits on the welfare committee.

* Albert Haynes who was chairman of Earby branch. He now sits on the Barnoldswick branch committee and the welfare committee and is delegate for county and national conferences. He runs the Earby Poppy Shop with Mr Tattersall.

* Ex-serviceman Trevor Jones who was elected to the branch committee in 1994. He is always willing to take on tasks, but shuns publicity. He too sits on the welfare committee.

* Associate member and branch chaplain, the Rev John Lancaster. He has been a committee member since 1988 and also sits on the welfare committee. He organises the Remembrance Service.

o Ex-serviceman Doug Newsome, who was elected to the branch committee in 1956 and has served as president since 1978. He too sits on the welfare committee.

* Associate member Ann Marie Utley who was appointed Poppy Appeal organiser in 1997. She has attended the national caseworker course and sits on the branch committee and welfare committee.

The certificates were presented by county field officer John Hardiman.