Hastings Remembers (Pt. 2)

So readers, you've just heard and seen all about Saturday in London, now I move on to Sunday and our own Festival in Hastings at The White Rock Theatre.

This, unlike the Albert Hall, is something that has been a labour of love in my house for many months in the run up to November. There is entertainment to source, the programme to design, song choices to be made, cadets to organise and much more besides.
 Now, Remembrance Sunday in Hastings takes the form of two parades: one in the morning and one in the evening. We didn't attend the morning as we got back from London very late indeed! But I took cares to visit Alexandra Park in the weeks that followed to photograph the War Memorial and a rather unusual phenomenon.

 

Now the credit for this stranger phenomenon, which I'll show you below, goes to person or persons unknown! No one has any idea who did this:

If you look closer you will see that there are nearly 400 of these poppies attatched to the tree. There is one for every serviceman and woman who has been killed fighting in Afghanistan. Each poppy has the name and the date of death of one young person. What are your thoughts on this method of commemoration? I rather like it. I think it is striking yet oddly passive: you can pass it and only take in the bigger picture or you can stop and take a closer look, seeing the individual components.The people behind the politics, the real lives beyond the media story.

 

As for the evening, it was a great success with more people than ever attending - around 500! We were selling the programmes and can testify to the fact that there was a lot of activity and hype from very early on in the evening and it is great to see so many of the young people being involved in remembrance and commemoration. We begin with the entertainment; the singalong and performances by the Sea Cadets and St Paul's School, then move in to the Service and Dedication.

Next year I think we should aim to have a sellout show - its the least we can do to support the RBL. I would like to be on the sub-committee that organises it this year, but we don't get the chance to stand until December/January time. In the meantime I've been asked to fill the position of Publicity Officer for our local branch, so I need to consider that possibility too!

Here's one of my pics from the Festival:

 

All in all, I want to thank and publically blog my respects for everyone who donated to this year's Poppy Appeal in Hastings and St Leonards and to all of those who support the work of the Legion all the year round. Together (which is the best way!) we raised £53,000 to help serving and ex-service people and their families. Here is where the money goes: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/support-us/how-to-give/where-your-money-goes

We remain proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with all who serve.

London Pride (Pt. 1)

Hello everybody, so its time to tell you the story of my Remembrancetide.

So we were in London on the Saturday afternoon. The first thing we did was to eat at TGIs and then took a taxi ride to The Royal Albert Hall. I have to say that the taxi ride cost me a lot of money, but the route has its splendid parts: taking us past Buckingham Palace and along the Mall and then Kensington Gore.

As we approached the Albert Hall, we first of all began to see increasingly large groups of people clutching programmes, sporting ornate poppies and lots of medals. They had just left the afternoon performance! Then we saw barriers - they lined both sides of the road and prevented anyone stopping or getting near the RAH. At either ends of the approach were white marquees and armed policemen lined the pavements and roads.
Disembarking from the taxi, we headed for the marquee where we passed through a metal detector and had our bags searched. All of these measures in place, of course, because HM The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family would be in attendance. Chris had already informed me that mobile phone jamming may be in place so we were constantly texting back and forth to try and arrange where to meet! We were part of a swelling crowd outside of Door 6, which is right opposite the Royal College of the Arts where the participants in the Festival were being fed and rested.

We could see several different types of military personnel milling around amongst the armed police and in the dusk, with the RAH backlit and crowds growing outside, the atmosphere was laced with expectation, sobriety and cameraderie.

Once inside there was a stand selling all kinds of Poppy merchandise and we took time to browse and see all the different ways that the RBL are trying to raise money. Then we met up with Chris!!! Now it has been 3 whole years since I've actually seen Chris and we couldn't believe we had left it that long. We got a drink from the bar and headed up to the gods to marvel at the architechture of the building. This will give you an idea of what its like looking down from way up high

Awesome eh?

The wonderous first sight of the Hall and being reunited with my dear old friend was a great start to the evening. We caught up, checked out the seating arrangements and I was treated to some inside gossip on Katherine Jenkins before I had to go and take my seat and Chris had to change etc. Then on with the show!!

The full muster after the poppy petals have fallen with the drumhead altar, book and torch of Remembrance, Queen's Colour & RBL National Standard. The children present the poppy posy to the RBL National President.

Needless to say, we were NOT meant to be taking pictures, but I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to capture Chris on camera, so these are the fruits of my labour.

Highlights of the Festival for me (there are a LOT):
O Seeing Chris take part in the muster
O Seeing the Chelsea Pensioners and War Widows and the response from the audience towards them
O Being part of such a large group singing the National Anthem and hymns
O Seeing Alfie Boe and the Band of HM Royal Marines perform "Over the Hills"
O Seeing the Military Wives Choir and Gareth Malone perform "Wherever You Are"
O Watching the Poppy Petals fall

Both of these amazing videos are worth a watch and the Military Wives Choir single is definately worth a download or two!

Wathing th ewhole thing back again on the TV completed the experience and I got to see Chris twice! You can't beat being there though and I would almost certainly go again. I would choose different seats though - as you see from the pics, we were rather off to one side. Much to my outrage we were directly above The Queen, so never even saw her for a second. Still, it did feel like everyone was singing towards us!!

Chris was also on parade at the Cenotaph the following morning and so my eyes were peeled for him there too! Overall the visit to London and to the Festival of Remembrance did fill me with pride: of our nation, of its Armed Forces; of the individuals who value service rather than self.

SOS!!

SOS: Support our soldiers!

Another British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan this week. As we honour those who have fallen on the battlefield, we can also support the men and women still serving.

By Jan Bird - Saturday 05 Nov 2011

A soldier from the 2nd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment is the latest British military casualty in Afghanistan. He has been named as Private Matthew Haseldin, aged 21, who had only been deployed to Afghanistan in September having joined the army in February. He was shot dead whilst on patrol in Helmand province on 3 November, bringing the total number of British military deaths in Afghanistan to 384, since “Operation Enduring Freedom” began 10 years ago in 2001.
Lieutenant Colonel Colin Marks, commanding officer of 2 Mercian Regiment, paid tribute to the young soldier, describing him as “hugely popular”. He continued:

“… it was impossible to tell that he was the newest member of 7 Platoon, all of whom loved him like a brother. One of the team, Matthew was at the centre of most things and enjoyed a game of cards during precious rest periods. Steadfast in battle, Matthew faced more challenges in the few short weeks he spent in Helmand than many soldiers experience in a lifetime. He died standing firm in the face of a determined enemy, in the highest traditions of The Mercian Regiment.”

As Remembrance Day approaches, it’s time for all of us, whatever our opinions about war in general or this conflict in particular, to pause and reflect on the lives lost in past and present campaigns and on the sacrifices our soldiers make on a daily basis. Wherever you come from, geographically or figuratively, it’s undeniable that these men and women are doing difficult, dangerous jobs in places most of us would avoid. We should salute them for it and we should say “thank you” far more often.
That’s why I’m so thrilled to have found an organisation that helps UK residents support our soldiers serving in Afghanistan and in other conflict zones. Called “Adopt a Squaddie” (using a British slang word for a soldier), it enables individuals and groups to support serving soldiers with letters and parcels from their home country.
It’s tough to imagine when we’re in our comfortable houses, perhaps enjoying time with our kids, what it’s like being thousands of miles from home, away from your family and under constant threat of attack. I complain about not having a day job but I’m not patrolling streets under threat of sniper fire, or risking my life to save others by defusing a roadside bomb.
Imagine coming back to barracks, exhausted, filthy and hungry, perhaps in shock having lost a friend during the day and finding that someone you don’t know has sent you a parcel with a few special treats and basic necessities from home. These are items that individually may cost little but which, to a serving soldier, will mean the world. That box says someone gives a damn about you even if they don’t know you, someone who recognises your sacrifice and your bravery and wants to say “thank you”.
I’ve already been shopping and packed a box. Mine contains:

• A book of number and word puzzles, pens and playing cards
• Sweets (candy) and gum – not just for comfort but essential for dry, dusty conditions
• Handwarming pads
• Razors, shaving balm, spare toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Ketchup and instant chocolate drinks – a taste of home
• Wet wipes – highly prized given the sand and dust
• Nail brushes and cotton buds
• Glucose tablets

I’ve already bought enough for two boxes!
If you’re not a UK resident and you wish to support troops from your own country, there are organisations operating a similar service which you can easily find on the internet. Do consider supporting such organisations even if you’re not from a military family. I don’t have close relatives serving but that doesn’t make any difference to me. They’re all out there doing a job on our behalf, a job most of us wouldn’t do.
These brave men and women go where their government points them and do their job without question. As we remember their fallen colleagues, so we also remember those still serving. They deserve our support, our kindness and our appreciation.

 This is an article written by Jan Bird, a member of Adopt a British Squaddie, a group that I am proud to be a member of. To date I have adopted 5 squaddies and it is amazing to support these men & women who are doing such an immense job so far away from home.

Without a doubt, visit the website www.adoptabritishsquaddie.co.uk to find out more. They desparately need more adopters, so you should totally sign up and do it if you are able and willing.