Max Poilu Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Like many I thought it falling on a Sunday was something special to look forward to. Unfortunately it seems to have been forgotten by nearly everyone else at our local memorial. Evey year on the Sunday there is the usual remembrance service (takes place at 12 due to accomodating local 'dignatries'...) - we along with others always try and be there on the actual armistice day whenever it may fall. Today of course the dates coincided but come (and go) 11 o'clock the traffic is still whizzing past, people gabbling on their mobiles and even the local Legion old boys with their blazers and medals just stood around laughing and chatting amongst themselves. Roll on next year when there is again hopefully some sort of direction and organisation and most seem more able to remember to remember wherever they may be... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Poilu Posted 11 November , 2007 Author Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Gawd, just went back and re-read this, what a grumpy post. Oh well, was in a bad mood upon my return... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Fair enough, mate. We did manage a road closure, but no-one told the local 'bus company, ao a double-decker had to do a 3-point turn at one of the road blocks. No-one told the 'bus company that a two-minutes' silence could apply to them, too And don't let's start on blokes (of all ages - not just youngsters) who keep their hats on for the Two Minutes' Silence. Or the kids with their iPods going. Or the young mum with her baby in a pushchair and a fag in her hand. But on the plus side, there were a lot more people there than in previous years, so it's not all negative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Even a couple of people being filmed at the cenotaph this morning were talking amongst themselves during the 2 minutes. Steph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Was Mr Brown of No 10 Downing Street, praying or falling asleep last night? sm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianjohnson1@blueyonder Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Just back from our local parade at Wythall and was pleased to see the numbers attending has increased once again. We Will Remember Them. Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 I managed to convince the wife to go to work early so I could make it to my local cemetery for 11am. Got there, the rain started, but with 2 minutes to go, the sun came and it was lovely. It was a pity that only 20 or so people bothered to attend - no medals, no uniforms, not even a bugle The pic below shows most people that attended...... Les (the cemetery is Bristol's biggest for war dead too!! Arnos Vale Cemetery) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 A big turn-out at Leatherhead - probably due to the Bishop of Surrey being there. The road was shut briefly. Unfortunately 2 old fellers collapsed at the end of proceedings but the St John's people were there and an ambulance arrived in a couple of minutes. I hope they are OK. I also buttonholed the Mayor re. my one man campaign to get Percy Taylor's name onto the memorial with his 4 brothers - he died in the UK in uniform in 1917 but seems to have been either excluded or forgotten. There are 3 empty plaques on our memorial and I think he deserves one - the lady Major didn't seem very pleased by my pressing an A4 sheet into her hand - but said she would "look into it" - I am not holding my breath! I also did my normal war memorial guided tour for the few that bothered to view the names after the ceremony - including the 4 Taylor brothers and our Albert Medal winner who did a McFadzean in training on the Somme in 1916. At least another dozen or so people now know the story of his incredible act of bravery and the Taylor family's massive sacrifice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Was Mr Brown of No 10 Downing Street, praying or falling asleep last night? sm We wondered too. Our conclusion was that he was pondering where the sixpenny piece he brought for the collection had got to. I was also extremely impressed that he appeared to be reading the song sheet whilst singing the National Anthem. Nice to know the bloke with his finger on the button cares so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 But on the plus side, there were a lot more people there than in previous years, so it's not all negative. I rarely attend Sunday services, preferring to pay my respects on the 11th whenever it falls (as well as the religious nature of the commemorations). But, with it falling today, I decided to go to one of the two "village" memorials in walking distance. I was surprised how many were there - easily 200-300 - and certainly many more than double the numbers from when I was last there about 4 years ago. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacksmum Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Was Mr Brown of No 10 Downing Street, praying or falling asleep last night? sm Neither - he had to read the words of the second verse of the National Anthem because before then, he didn't know there was more than one verse...took him by surprise... Jacksmum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 We had an excellent turnout here in Leek. Alongside the usual dignitaries we had the High Sherriff of Staffordshire and about a dozen italian guests in military uniform who were part of a group of visitors over from our twin town, Este. We were lucky enough to be invited to a tour of our town war memorial. Doesn't sound very exciting but our memorial is an 80 foot tall clock tower and is purported to be the tallest war memorial in the country. It isn't generally open to the public so it ws good to be able to climb to the top although this was via a series of metal ladders. Liam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Like John I too look towards 11o'clock on the 11th as the time for remembrance. I took my Grand kids to the Hull Cenotaph and was impressed with the turnout from old and young alike 2-3 thousand. The march past by the Standards and Veterans was applauded and cheered which made them feel appreciated and me immensely proud. We shall remember. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 he had to read the words of the second verse of the National Anthem because before then, he didn't know there was more than one verse Or, perhaps, he was checking to see if he was going to be required to sing the sixth verse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Very good attendance at Leamington Spa - biggest for some years. The roads are always closed through town for the morning and traffic is kept a long way away. Immaculate silence kept. Well done to everyone concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 I arrived at Haverfordwest Memorial at 10.20 this morning wth my daughter and the Brownies, the 2 blokes with the PA should have been shot for there clumsy attempt at setting up at 10.45 and as a consiquence there was no PA, not that it really matters if you can't hear the Bishop. On the 1st note of the Last Post the heavens opened for a 15 minute downpour. We did manage a 2 mintutes silence apart from some prat in a car who had to toot the car in front because he'd stopped for the Police, appart from these mishaps it was a great service with a turnout of well over a 1000 people of all ages, cheers, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Sadly no Brit attendance here on Cannock Chase ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loganshort Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Daughter was with the Bromley police cadets at the Bromley service. Well attended with Bromley's Mayor. A good respectful turn out. Glad to hear the reporter talking about the Whitehall service that many more people had turned up than in recent years. Seems to be growing. All good, keeping alive the memory of those gone. Enjoyed watching the repeat of the Last Tommys on the History Channel with old Harry Patch, the voice of sense, and others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithfazzani Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 We wondered too. Our conclusion was that he was pondering where the sixpenny piece he brought for the collection had got to. I was also extremely impressed that he appeared to be reading the song sheet whilst singing the National Anthem. Nice to know the bloke with his finger on the button cares so much. I noticed this too Steve with some horror Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpgdpg Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 A very good attendance at Hemel Hempstead's service this moning. Atleast two hundred people I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothy Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Had a good turn out today at Homes Chapel, Cheshire. I was in th band leading the parade. Played, aomngst other things, Imperial Echoes which was the march (I believe) of the Royal Army Pay Corps - my Dad did his national service with them so it was particularly poignant for me this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Hi Egbert, Do You happen to know how many people were at Cannock Chase today? Regards, Eddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greyhound Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Ours is always a bit of a shambles, but we like it that way. There are five villages in the local RBL branch, so it takes place in each on a rota. Some pics here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 Hi Egbert, Do You happen to know how many people were at Cannock Chase today? Regards, Eddy Well I hope some of the Brit-based forumistas can tell or maybe screen the local papers tomorrow for answers. (BTW in my post earlier I mean GWF-members- attendance of course) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 11 November , 2007 Share Posted 11 November , 2007 A big turn-out at Leatherhead - probably due to the Bishop of Surrey being there. The road was shut briefly. Unfortunately 2 old fellers collapsed at the end of proceedings but the St John's people were there and an ambulance arrived in a couple of minutes. I hope they are OK. I also buttonholed the Mayor re. my one man campaign to get Percy Taylor's name onto the memorial with his 4 brothers - he died in the UK in uniform in 1917 but seems to have been either excluded or forgotten. There are 3 empty plaques on our memorial and I think he deserves one - the lady Major didn't seem very pleased by my pressing an A4 sheet into her hand - but said she would "look into it" - I am not holding my breath! I also did my normal war memorial guided tour for the few that bothered to view the names after the ceremony - including the 4 Taylor brothers and our Albert Medal winner who did a McFadzean in training on the Somme in 1916. At least another dozen or so people now know the story of his incredible act of bravery and the Taylor family's massive sacrifice. I did a school tour with one of your local schools from Effingham and on Thursday afternoon on Tyne Cot back wall we found the name of Private Wells MM of the Queens from Effingham. When I read out who his parents were and where they lived one of the girls was made up to find that the family home was where her grandmother once lived. (and is still alive to question further) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now