Over a hundred dignitaries have come together to celebrate a new flag era of the UK's second oldest branch of the Royal Signals Association (RSA). 

Celebrating its 90 anniversary this year, The East London Branch of the RSA welcomed the community, deputy lieutentants, and both serving and veterans from the Armed Forces to join them in blessing the new standard yesterday (April 8). 

The service, which involved laying up its 60 year-old standard, was attended by over 130 veterans, soldiers, cadets, and dignitaries including chairman of the RSA David Hargreaves and Waltham Forest mayor cllr Terry Wheeler. 

Reverend Liz Horwell of St Mary's Church in Overton Drive, Wanstead, jointly led the service with Reverend David Eaton which saw them bless the incoming standard. 

It is the first time an old standard has been replaced by the east London branch since the Second World War and branch secretary Alan Turner concedes his association is "still going strong after 90 years."

Originally formed in 1925 in Stratford, the branch reformed after the Second World War at the TA centre in Selsdon Road, Wanstead, before moving to the Gordon Road TA centre in Ilford in the 1990s. 

To celebrate the branch's 90th anniversary, a summer ball will take place at the Ilford base on July 25.