SIXTEEN-year-old standard bearer James Stacey has been given the honour of taking part in the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall in November and it is the first time in 30 years Okehampton Royal British Legion will be represented at this prestigious event.

Attended by the Queen and the Prime Minister, the festival is the nation's largest event to remember those who were killed in service and the British Legion branch feel very privileged to be a part of it this year.

'James is one of only three representatives from the county who have been selected,' said legion spokesman Peter Williams.

'I am delighted for him and for the whole branch because it will be a really special occasion.'

James is believed to be the youngest standard bearer in the country and was plucked from the town's Air Training Corp Cadets to take on the role earlier this year.

His duties have already included lining the route to Exeter Cathedral for the Golden Jubilee Service in May which the Queen attended and the Jubilee Parade in Torquay in which 800 representatives from the Royal British Legion took part.

Mr Williams said James' family had a strong sense of duty and community and these values had been instilled in the teenager.

'James is very impressed by what he does as a standard bearer and equally we are impressed with him,' he said. 'We would like to think we have instigated the recruitment of young cadets into the British Legion and we hope many other branches take it on.'

Spokesperson for the Royal British Legion Headquarters Lisa Burrell said the Royal Festival of Remembrance was watched live on television by eight million people while thousands attended the event in the Royal Albert Hall.

'It is very moving for the people taking part and during the service a two minute silence is observed,' she said.

'Everyone, including members of the Royal Family and top politicians is there to pay their respects to service people who have died.

'There will also be celebrities and entertainment — last year we had the band 'Hearsay'— and the whole event ends with thousands of poppy petals falling down from the ceiling which is very spectacular and thought -provoking.'

James' mum Christine, who has four sons, said the whole family was over moon and would be attending the festival on November 9.

'I am very proud of James and he is a great example to set the rest of my children,' she said.

'It is a daunting prospect for him to be taking part in something on this scale but he will never forget it.

'His grandad was in the RAF and if he was still alive he would be very very proud of him.'

James said it was 'absolutely brilliant' to be selected and it was another opportunity to help him further his ambition to join the forces when he left school.