Remembrance Sunday 2011

As an ex-servicewoman and service wife, Remembrance is always a very important time for me.  During the past thirty years, I have assisted in the organisation at the Royal Albert Hall as well as participated in Cenotaph Parade. But this year, attending the Festival of Remembrance and laying the Women’s Section wreath at the Cenotaph as your National Chairman, was an honour like no other. Of all the years I have participated in the march past, never before have I remembered such a glorious day where the sun shined! Horseguards Parade started early to fill up with ex-servicemen and women together with various charity representatives and civilian organisations, literally in their thousands. Throughout the ceremony and parade, Massed Bands of the Guards Division and the Pipes and Drums of the Scots Guards played music from Men of Harlech, Flowers of the Forest, Nimrod and many more. The feeling in the beautiful morning sunshine, as every minute, with every colour of beret representing our armed services, and ex-service men and women stood in their designated columns, was building with pride. We watched as all reached their positions in Whitehall in the build-up to the Armistice Service and Parade.

At the first stoke of Big Ben at 11am, we heard the gun of The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. We all stood in deep silence. At 11:02, the guns again marked the end of the Silence. The Last Post as then sounded by the Buglers of the Royal Marines. We all stood to attention as HM The Queen laid her wreath, followed by other members of the Royal Family who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces. This was followed by the wreaths being laid by Prime Minister and other Heads of Government and the Opposition, High Commissioners and representatives of the Civilian Services. A service was conducted by the Dean of the Chapels Royal and the Bishop of London. After the Blessing the Rouse was sounded by the Trumpeters of Royal Air Force. The National Anthem was played by the Massed Bands. The Royal Family then retired with Minsters and Commonwealth dignitaries, together with other ex- service organisations and wreath bearers. This was the signal for Col. Beattie to hand the wreath to my keeping on behalf of the Women’s Section and march to the Cenotaph to lay the Women’s Section wreath.

Following on from the ceremony in Whitehall, I went to Horseguards Parade together with the RBL Officers for the Salute which was taken by HRH The Prince of Wales and Lt. General Sir John Kiszely KCB MC, National President of the Royal British Legion. This year there seemed so many more men and women on parade and seeing them all march past wearing their poppies with pride is a moment I’ll never forget.

Thank you all for bestowing upon me this absolute honour.

Wendy Bromwich JP