The former Speaker of the House of Commons, Baroness Betty Boothroyd, is to address this year’s Royal British Legion Women’s Section annual conference on April 10, while actress Liz Smith will be presented with the Golden Purse, a fund-raising initiative for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

The previous day, journalist Alastair Stewart will speak to the assembly on the Women’s Section and its welfare work.

This year’s conference opens at the Bournemouth International Centre on Wednesday April 9, though there is pre-Conference business with the national standard bearers’ competition in the Purbeck Hall, starting at 12.30pm.

The conference proper opens at 10am in the Windsor Hall, and the day also features a performance by the Majestic Brass Quintet. Later in the day the standard bearers will parade from Pavilion Gardens through the Lower Gardens to the Civic Space, and a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at Bournemouth War Memorial.

The conference resumes at 9.30am on Thursday April 10, with Baroness Boothroyd expected to speak at 10.15am. her subject will be the Memorial to the Women of World War II – an initiative to erect a monument as a tribute to the dedication and heroism of such women.

The conference is scheduled to close at 1.15pm with the handing over of the National Standard to the new National Standard Bearer on the platform.

The conference is expected to attract more than 2,000 members and will be a mix of Women’s Section business, talks, presentations and musical entertainment.

The Chairman of the Women’s Section said: “This year’s conference promises to be an exciting event and we are thrilled to welcome our special guests, Baroness Betty Boothroyd, Alastair Stewart and Liz Smith.

“Yet again we will be celebrating an outstanding year for the Women’s Section, and laying the ground for our success in the forthcoming years.”