Peter John Austin, known affectionately as Johnny, won several competitions as a standard bearer for the charity. He had the honour of carrying the standard along London's Horse Guards Parade on Remembrance Day and twice at the Royal Albert Hall Festival of Remembrance. Mr Austin was secretary of the Royal British Legion's St Osyth branch and organised poppy appeals in the village until 2009. He also organised standards for the former military tattoos in Colchester. Mr Austin was born in St Osyth and left school at 14, when he went into the motor trade and became an apprentice at Fitch and Sons.