Woman, 86, 'too old' to hold flag

Madge Covey has carried the British Legion standard for 10 years

An 86-year-old woman has been told she has to stop carrying carry a Royal British Legion standard flag - because she is too old to insure.

Madge Covey, from Wellington in Somerset, has been bearing the legion's emblem in services for 10 years.

But legion officials have contacted RAF veteran Mrs Covey to say their national rules state 85 is the oldest insurable age and she has to stop.

"I'm very fit and I don't care what anyone else says," she said.

"I have got two good legs, got two arms. I don't take any medication and don't wear glasses."

Mrs Covey last carried the flag for the Women's Section, Wellington And District Branch on 11 November.

The local legion said they had turned a blind eye to the rules for Mrs Covey for more than a year, but could not ignore them indefinitely.

British Legion county secretary Monica Summers said: "This is nothing personal.

"It's the rule book and I have to comply with it, and unfortunately Mrs Covey is beyond the age of insurance."

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