Most people will know the Royal British Legion and the work it does. Remembrance Day is part of British life and a focal point for the UK’s largest Armed Forces charity. For many in Tameside, the Remembrance service has long followed a similar course, starting with the morning service at St Michael and All Angels Church. My wife and I enjoy both services, which many from the community attend, including local dignitaries and cadets. On completion, we process to the nearby memorial gardens to join the large crowd for a second service and the laying of wreaths at the base of the War Memorial; the Memorial itself is a Grade 2 listed building.
Many organisations are represented at the subsequent wreath-laying; individuals attending the service also lay their own wreaths at the foot of the memorial. Schools, workplaces, and many charitable organisations support the British Legion, which in turn supports serving personnel, veterans, and their families. The Poppy Appeal, which runs up to Remembrance Day, is widely supported. Around 60,000 volunteers help to fundraise, with approximately 32 million poppies and 135,000 wreaths distributed nationwide. This raises around £50 million, which is used to directly support those who served in the armed services.
This year, as usual, a number of individual Freemasons attended. Some were noticeable because of the dispensation in place for some years, which allows them to wear their collars. This visibility showed that the number of Freemasons attending has increased year on year, with 11 laying a wreath. This year the group was led by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro Wes Marchant. Freemasons’ engagement with organisations that support those who made sacrifices for their country is significant. The APGM is active in other organisations that support ex-servicemen, including SSAFA. WBro Ron Kershaw, who wore his collar over his St John’s Ambulance uniform, is an active member of the British Legion.
WBro Peter Cole, who initiated public participation as a Freemason 15 years ago, continues to represent Freemasons by wearing his collar at this event, along with Ron Kershaw. Peter and Ron also attended a second service at the Waterloo and Taunton War Memorial. The same architect, Percy Howard, designed both this Memorial and the one in the Memorial Gardens.
It is possible that some of the crowd at either event had previously bought a poppy from Ron or Wes when they were manning a Poppy Stall at Tesco.
