Eric was commisioned as the Boscombe Corps Colour Sergeant in 1965.  He has faithfully served in that capacity ever since.  Although there have been a number of people who have served alongside him as Band Colour Sergeant, for many of those fifty years he has been performing both duties simultaneously. So he has, quite literally been 'under two flags' for many years.

Anyone who knows Eric will tell you that he has the perfect demeanour for this important role - whether it be marching at the head of the Corps to the openair services at Bournemouth Pier; leading the Band to the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday; having (as he said) "a front row view" at innumerable dedications of new babies; holding the flag over new junior and senior soldiers of the Salvation Army; leading faithful soldiers on their final journey on earth - he carried out each and every duty with equal dignity.

Of course there were also the more humorous sides to the story - as every colour sergeant will tell you.  I am sure that Eric will never forget the year that cannon that should have signalled the two minutes silence one Sunday morning in November was curiously silent - you will have to ask Eric why that happened!

We look forward to marching many more times behind that straight back!