THE Royal British Legion is to stage a parade through York city centre to mark the organisation’s 90th anniversary.

John Lebbon, chairman of the legion’s York branch, said veterans would march from All Saints’ Church in Pavement to the Judge’s Lodgings at the end of Coney Street on Sunday June 26.

He said the parade would be headed by the band of the York Air Training Coprs (ATC), with veterans joined in the parade by cadets and soldiers, airmen and possibly sailors from HMS York.

Mr Lebbon said the legion – and the York branch – were founded in June 1921 and the anniversary was commemorated each year with a service at the church.

“This year, because it’s our 90th anniversary, we decided to have a parade as well,” he said.

“The service, to be taken by the Reverend Jane Nattress and attended by the civic party, will start at 10.30am. The Lord Mayor, Coun David Horton, will return afterwards to the Mansion House and the parade will leave at about 11.30 to 11.40am.

“As we pass the Mansion House, the Lord Mayor will take the salute, and from there we will march to the Judges’ Lodgings, where a reception will be held for members of the parade.”

He said he anticipated about 30 veterans would take part, but they would be joined by cadets and by servicemen and women from RAF Linton and 2 Signal Regiment at Imphal Barracks, and by Territorial Army volunteer reserves from 53 Military Intelligence unit and volunteers from the Royal Army Medical Corps at Strensall Barracks.