THE BLESSING of two new Standards which will be taken to war graves and memorials in Belgium will take place in Cusop on Sunday.

St Mary's Church will host a service at 11am to mark the laying up of the old Standard which has served the Royal British Legion and people of Hay and Cusop for many years and blessing of a new one.

This will be followed by the blessing of a new Standard along with the blessing of the Standard of the Welsh Guards Pilgrims, whose mission is to commemorate the men and woman of Wales and the borders who gave their lives in service to their monarch and country.

These new Standards will travel to the scene of the Battle of Passchendaele in July where the Allies fought against the German Empire during World War One.

The Welsh Guards Pilgrims will be visiting the graves and memorials where their sacrifice took place.

Amongst these were Lance Corporal Alan Leonard Lewis, who was awarded posthumously the Victoria Cross in 1918. He remains Herefordshire's only VC.