A COMPLAINT that ex-servicemen are kept waiting too long by local dignitaries at the Remembrance Day ceremony has been dismissed by the Royal British Legion.

The veterans — many in their 80s or even 90s and some of them in pain and unable to stand for long — have had to wait for up to 15 minutes, in the cold and sometimes in pouring rain, for dignitaries and councillors to arrive, said Shaun Riley, a retired soldier in a letter to the Times.

He claimed he had attended the service every year since leaving the army in 1991 and every year there had been a considerable delay.

Accusing the dignitaries of 'effrontery', he said: 'This is not their day. They should show far more courtesy and consideration for our local veterans. How many more Remembrance Sundays must pass in such a fashion? It makes me feel thoroughly ashamed and those who allow it to continue should feel ashamed also.'

The veterans should enter the parade ground first and be offered seats, he argued.

He also contended that there was no such extended waiting period at Remembrance services in other places. Other ex-servicemen he had talked to about the subject all felt the same way, he added. 'There is a general feeling that this is totally wrong.'

He said he had spoken to one of the legion organisers who had agreed with him and wished the waiting period could be shorter.

Joe Mitchell, former president of the local branch of the Dunkirk Veterans' Association, said he agreed entirely with Mr Riley. 'This happens most years,' he said. 'We wait and wait in the cold for 10 or 15 minutes while they make their way down Drake Road to the square. We've complained to the council, but nothing is done about it.'

But the chairman of the Tavistock branch of the legion, George Forbes, rejected the allegation. 'Good grief!' he said, 'I've been connected with Remembrance Sunday for 40 years and I've never heard any complaint about waiting.

'We don't keep people standing around longer than necessary. The whole service only lasts 30 minutes. All our members are quite happy with it. I'm amazed.'

Mr Forbes said that the ex-servicemen and others gathered should show due respect to the mayor and other dignitaries who were invited.

Town clerk Roger Howard said that councillors just did what was asked of them, which was to arrive at five to 11. 'The British Legion run the entire thing,' he said.

Around 1,000 people turned out last Remembrance Sunday for the parade, service, one minute's silence and the laying of wreaths at the war memorial in Bedford Square. The format is expected to be the same this Sunday.