Silence in the Square

On Rembrance morning in Trafalgar Square, thousands of people gathered to observe the Two Minute Silence.

The event, hosted by Ben Shephard, with music from the All Angels and a poem written by teenager Recbeeca, ended with the symbolic placing of poppy petals into the fountains.

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Two Minute Silence - Remembrance podcast

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning

We will remember them.


Two Minute Silence - Remembrance podcast

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My brother’s out in Iraq at the moment

and it means a lot to me and my family, to see everyone get together and think about people like him

Chrissie, Wales

Poppy collecting in the rain on a Friday night in Birmingham

The evening looked doomed for disaster on Friday, not only did three of the student volunteers call to say they were unwell but the heavens opened.

Standing in the rain unable to hold an umbrella because of my bucket, lolly poppy and tray of wet poppies I wondered if I should have cancelled the collection.

Two young men in shirts approached me for a poppy. One asked if I could attach the poppy for him because he couldn't do it but I explained that I couldn't. His friend quickly offered to help him. As they walked away I called out 'Thank you for your support' and they came back to me. They said, 'No you're supporting us, we're squaddies and (pointing to his friend said) he's just had his arm blown off in Iraq'

I looked at the man who'd asked me to put his poppy on and sure enough he had an empty sleeve and suddenly I realised that it was worth standing in the rain and cold.

I also got chatting to a female Bouncer on the door of a night club, she proudly showed me a photo on her phone of her boyfriend in Army uniform. She told me how he was suffering since his return back from Iraq and how awful Bonfire Night had been for him with the fireworks . I explained what the British Legion did and she's interested in becoming a caseworker.

We stayed until 11.45pm and my volunteers went away wet and happy feeling that it had all been worth it.

I have no idea how much we raised that night, I'm counting it today but I know our presence on the streets around Broad Street was worthwhile.

Sue Smart

Community Fundraiser - Birmingham

Remembrance is for the living too

I think it’s just as important to think about those that are still around, not just those who’ve died

People think I’m too young to care about Remembrance

but I think it’s really important to think about what all those soldiers did for us, and what’s still going on in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Poppy fund helps Gulf War veteran

Most people tend to think of the poppy appeal as fund raising for those injured in the world wars but the appeal helps so many of us that have served in more recent conflicts and their families.

I found my self faced with nearly a thousand pound repair bill on my nine year old power chair and the war pension does not stretch that far. I take Endal for his walks three times a day over the South downs and my old wheelchair kept breaking down and had become so unreliable and in fact on one occasion I was left stranded for a couple of hours till help arrived.
In desperation I contacted the British legion on the Monday and asked for help, on the very next day I was visited by the welfare representative, on the Wednesday I was being measured up by an Occupational therapist for a new power chair and on Thursday I was visited by the manual wheelchair fitter.

The speed at which the RBL have moved to get me back on the move is breathtaking and really does show that they very reactive to those in desperate need.

Every day in the press one reads of the casualties and fatalities being suffered by our servicemen and women. The effect on families and the injured can be catastrophic and the RBL through the poppy appeal can relieve so much suffering and hardship. Every penny that comes in to the poppy appeal makes such a real difference so please.... please support this year's appeal.

From my own personnel experience the public's support can make the difference to those struggling to survive to enable them to have a real a quality of life.

Allen (and Endal)

Left to right

TS Avenger cadet Ellie Green,Leading Stores Accountant (LSA) Ian Simpson Royal Navy, Allen Parton and Endal, Waitrose store manager Craig Lancaster, RBL welfare officer Jim Warwick, Operator Mechanic (OM) William Johnston Royal Navy and Cadet Chloe Meredith

What remembrance means to me

My grandfather died in WW2, and my daughter joined the forces last year. I use Remembrance Day as an opportunity to think back, about him, and forward, for her. It’s means as much today as it ever did, perhaps even more so.

Public support for Poppy Appeal

As a new Community Fundraiser for The Royal British Legion in Birmingham, I wanted to comment on how supportive the members and the general public have been in supporting The Poppy Appeal.

Our Mobile Display Unit has been in place in front of The Council House, Victoria Square all week. The amount of praise for the huge display of poppies not only on the lamp posts but on the buildings along Broad Street and up to Victoria Square has been amazing. One man I spoke to today had one of the newspaper cuttings from the recent publicity in his hand and was on his way to see the Building poppies for himself!

People of all faiths have been purchasing a poppy from us and some, if they didn't recognise our Appeal have been keen to learn, asking questions and reading our material.

I am very encouraged that The Poppy Appeal in Birmingham will go from strength to strength in the coming years.

Sue

Poppy collecting for Remembrance

This year's Poppy Appeal has been one of the busiest I've known! We've had all the stars from Coronation Street to Oldham Athletic and Manchester City supporting us and it has been wonderful. All of our volunteers are doing a wonderful job and we're being presented with full tins on a regular basis! I think that people are beginning to realise that this money is not only for our old soldiers, but also the lads (and ladies!) in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is nice to see so many young people supporting us as well. TRBL have been exposed to the younger generation and they are grabbing at us with eager hands! My friend has just come back from Iraq and Afghanistan and he did not know about the support that we are able to give him... he does now!


Rochelle, Poppy Appeal Organiser, Manchester

Iraq

My brother’s out in Iraq at the moment and it means a lot to me and my family, to see everyone get together and think about people like him

Getting younger people involved

On Saturday 4th November, 63 students from the University of Nottingham came to Lincoln to carry out a Street Poppy Collection for some 5 hours. During this time they collected an amazing £4614.33. Two days later the RBL in Lincolnshire received the following unsolicited e-mail from a local care home manager:

"I was in Lincoln on Saturday 5th November and I could not move more than 10 - 15 yards without seeing a poppy seller. What I thought was really good was that they were all young people, dressed in fashionable clothes, which reached out to the younger generation. I have never seen so many young ones with poppies on their clothes and purchasing poppies. As the sellers approached the young ones they all contributed. There were young men in suits, which was lovely to see. I personally believe that if the poppy sellers had been people of my generation there would not not have been the same response. Well done.

Johnny did tell me how much was raised so once again well done. What a brilliant way to get the younger generation involved.

Regards

Hazel Carelton
Home Manager - Holmleigh Care Home"

A Pittance of Time - Celebrating Remembrance overseas

Have a look at this video tribute to Remembrance from Canada

If you can't see the video here, follow this link to install the Flash player or click below

http://www.videorambler.com/2006/08/pittance-of-time-by-terry-kelly.html

I always buy a poppy and stop to observe the two minute silence

It’s tradition, and important to keep things like that going