Rememberance sunday

[Arthur John Harvey]

R235941 ( age 85) For the past two years I have taken it on myself to represent the MN at the Memorial in our town purchasing my own wreath ( not on expenses like some of our MPS).This year there was a very good turn out gathered in the Memorial Gardens for this event but only one MN person, i.e., myself. To place the wreath it was necessary to negotiate three steps and regrettably I fell on the second, however I recovered and did what was required. You can imagine my feelings with the local dignitaries and a large army contingent plus many local persons (that I knew) looking on, how my ego
suffered..

[Gulliver]

Hello Arthur.I'm very sorry to hear about your 'stumble' .I bet lots of sympathetic people came to your assistance.How wonderful that an 85 year old gentleman paid his respects,when so many of his contemporaries themselves could not:- they had 'stumbled' and fallen too in wartime...only they couldn't pick themselves up.....
Don't worry about your ego either Arthur,ego's have no place at a Remembrance Service ,although looking at some of the pompous participants you might think otherwise.The word Humility does not easily spring to mind.
I wasn't able to attend our town ceremony in Bewdley this year,but things went a bit pear-shaped ,and indeed so did one in our next-door town,Kidderminster,according to the local papers.
With the one in our little town,the 2 minute silence started at 10.50 a.m(!).whilst the mayoral procession was still crossing the bridge at the bottom of the main street,and they walked to the memorial in silence,arriving after the Last Post had been played,and the wreath laying Service had just started!
In the other town,the 2 minute silence started at 10.55(!),so traffic had not been stopped and the noise instead of the silence was deafening.
Both incidents were apologised for,both citing illness of the leading organizer,and no back up organizers strategy.One commented that "we did our best,and people should be grateful that the ceremony went ahead at all" !
Well,I'm sorry,but my attitude to that is-if we can't remember our fallen in a dignified organized way then don't bother --but I rather get the feeling that next year's ceremonies will have immaculate timings!

All the Best,Arthur
Gulliver
　

[jimmys]

I attended with other veteran MN seafarers at Glasgow. We were a bit thin on the ground. The wreath is supplied by the Association to which we all contribute.
There was in general a very good crowd especially spectators and it was quite well organised. The band was the Royal Marines Scotland,really excellent.
A lunch and a drink was provided by Glasgow City Council to veterans but I could not make it. The Guard of Honour was the Ark Royal for the last time.
I mentioned it on another thread but nobody seemed interested. Good to hear someone else made it.

regards
jimmy

[Stuart Henderson]

R235941 ( age 85) For the past two years I have taken it on myself to represent the MN at the Memorial in our town purchasing my own wreath ( not on expenses like some of our MPS).This year there was a very good turn out gathered in the Memorial Gardens for this event but only one MN person, i.e., myself. To place the wreath it was necessary to negotiate three steps and regrettably I fell on the second, however I recovered and did what was required. You can imagine my feelings with the local dignitaries and a large army contingent plus many local persons (that I knew) looking on, how my ego
suffered..

Good on you Arthur for your representation on behalf of the MN at Beverley. Hope you have recovered from the unfortunate fall. I used to live at nearby Cottingham and my wife Ann worked at lodge in Beverley for many years and we have happy memories of it. I always attend the war memorial here at our little village in France on Nv 11th and the French locals appreciate it/
Stuart H
France

[Keith at Tregenna]

Better words than I could put together, I respect you all and remember them:

http://www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/Pdf/Lest%20we%20forget.pdf

And:

http://www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/Pdf/WHO...HESE%20MEN.pdf

K.

[Ivor Lloyd]

I attended our local church remembrance service and out of about 300 plus was the only MN representative.
I am 84 but it was good to see so many youngsters there.

Ivor