Newbury Royal British Legion member awarded Gold Badge for lifetime of service

A Newbury resident who has been serving the Royal British Legion (RBL) for more than 50 years has been awarded with a gold badge.

Ken Warburton, 75, joined the RBL in 1970 while still a serving soldier, and became a member of the Newbury branch and club committee in 1979 after leaving the army.

The gold badge is awarded to members who have given at least eight years of “meritorious and conspicuous service” to the objectives of the legion.

In a small presentation at West Berkshire Community Hospital on June 13, where Mr Warburton is a patient, he was presented with the honour by Rosemary Eggleton, the Berkshire County vice chairman.

He was put forward for the award by the Newbury branch of the RBL.

Club secretary Keith Williams described Mr Warburton as a “very likeable chap”, adding: “He should’ve had a gold badge 20 years ago.

“He’s put all his life into the RBL since he joined in 1970 and nothing has been too much trouble for him.

“He’s represented the legion all over the county, was Berkshire County chairman for a while, and has always been willing to do whatever’s necessary for the RBL.”

Mr Williams, who joined the legion himself in 1982, continued: “I took my lead from him.

“We became very good friends and represented Newbury at every opportunity we could.

“We went all over the place.”

Mr Warburton was born in the Everton part of Liverpool on January 5, 1947, and served in the Royal Artillery until 1978.

He was then a taxi driver when the Newbury link used to run to London, and was also a driver for Aldermaston AWE.

He was a founding member of the Newbury Royal Artillery Association and is still an active member when his health allows.

He has undertaken most forms of legion branch work, from poppy collecting to recruitment, and his whole family has also raised funds for the RBL over the years.

In 2019, he was honoured with a certificate from the Newbury branch for all his service over the decades.

Mr Williams added: “He gives all and asks for very little.

“It seems he was not fortunate enough to receive any county awards during his tenure on the county committee and the Newbury branch feel that a gold badge award, or even a lifetime membership, would in some way make up for the earlier omission of recognition.”