JAMES Stacey, Okehampton branch standard bearer, came second last weekend in a championship attracting Royal British Legion standard bearers from across the South West region.
Eighteen-year-old James from Halwill Junction represented the branch at the championships which took place at the Royal British Legion Centre in Honiton on Saturday.
The legion?s county hierarchy were hugely impressed with James?s performance.
His second-place finish out of six competitors means that James will now become deputy county standard bearer.
The first event James will be attending in his new role will be helping to launch the Devon Poppy Appeal tomorrow morning (Friday) at a special ceremony involving the Royal Marines based at RM Turnchapel in Plymouth.
James was recruited from the Air Training Corp Cadets in Okehampton two years ago to become one of the youngest standard bearers in the county.