Hundreds of former volunteer soldiers and their proud families travelled from across the West Midlands to attend a dedication ceremony held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The Mercian Volunteers Regimental Association welcomed about 400 guests to Alrewas, near Lichfield, yesterday for the dedication of seven standards for branches of the association.

The service was held in the Mercian Grove, where the association has erected a stone memorial and trees.

In 1967 the Government swept away the TA branches and created the Mercian Volunteers Regiment which continued until the 1980s.

But the volunteers, who served across the world alongside their regular armed forces counterparts, were keen to ensure the relationships and links were maintained and so the Mercian Volunteers Regimental Association was formed.

Sunday’s service saw a variety of dignitaries attend the ceremony, which was led by former regimental padre the Rev Bob Cheadle.

Also attending the service was the Colonel of the Mercian Regiment Brigadier Andrew Sharpe with the proceedings chaired by Brigadier Bertie Woolnough. The salute was taken by retiring association chairman Col Tony Griffiths.

Lieutenant Colonel Keith Jeavons, from Kingswinford, who has been involved with the regiment for most of his life said: “We had people travel from all over the country.”