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Something to Remember
Members of the Hitcham & Taplow branch of the Royal British Legion contribute to send a small party of Scouts and Guides to the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall each year. One 13-year-old was kind enough to write to thank the branch 'for the fantastic day out'. Henry Brothers of the 1st Lent Rise & Dorney Scout Troop went on to say: 'The Royal Albert Hall was huge and we were just three rows from the front. We saw The Royal Marines, The Royal Navy, The British Army and The Royal Air Force. My favourite part was when Jonjo Kerr and The Military Wives Choir sang In_My_Dreams. It made me think how lucky I am to be free. I also enjoyed the Royal Fanfare performance and the sight of so many people performing at the same time. So thank you for a life-changing experience and changing the way I look at life. Please read my poem that I wrote for school about Remembrance Sunday.' Here is Henry’s poem:
Remember, remember 11 of November,
Put it in your calendar, put it in your mind. Never forget the horrors and the sorrows.
Never forget the past or present. Poppies, poppies,
As far as the eye can see
at Flanders Fields,
War memorials and upon us too. Today’s a time to reflect,
a time to remember.
So let us never forget 11 of November. Wear a poppy.
Poppies are red,
poppies are big, poppies are small,
But remember what they are for. Remember, remember 11 of November,
Put it in your calendar, put it in your mind. Remember the people who have fought for us,
And the people who are fighting for us. Wear a poppy, wear a smile,
But remember 11 of November
Put it in your calendar, put it in your mind. Never forget the horrors and the sorrows.
Never forget the past or present. Poppies, poppies,
As far as the eye can see
at Flanders Fields,
War memorials and upon us too. Today’s a time to reflect,
a time to remember.
So let us never forget 11 of November. Wear a poppy.
Poppies are red,
poppies are big, poppies are small,
But remember what they are for. Remember, remember 11 of November,
Put it in your calendar, put it in your mind. Remember the people who have fought for us,
And the people who are fighting for us. Wear a poppy, wear a smile,
But remember 11 of November
Current chairman Paul-Anthony Viollet summarises the branch's
objectives as being to organise Remembrance Sunday, the Poppy Appeal
collection and the welfare of past and serving members of HM Armed
Forces in the local community, and to be able to give 'life-changing
experience' to the likes of Henry.
The local Poppy Appeal continues to be generously supported. A record
£5,344 was collected in 2011 in the wake of the Military Wives Choir's
television debut and despite increasingly tough times £4,584 was raised
last year through the valiant efforts of 33 people including
past-chairman Lee Grey, Sheila Peroni – a collector for 40 years, Freda
Lane and Eva Lipman – collecting for almost as long. Sincere thanks are
due to one and all. As promised, I have covered for the departure of
Gillian Holloway who was our Poppy Appeal organiser. Please let me know
if you would like to volunteer to take on this vital task.
As ever, the H&T RBL needs new members to be able to keep achieving its
objectives and new volunteers to help with the Poppy Appeal. Anyone who
is interested should please call branch secretary Laird Mackay on 07818
456205 or contact him at Losuce, Hill Farm Road, Taplow SL6 0HA or
Lairdwm@googlemail.com
Nigel Smales