Hello one and all. This is my review of this years events for Poppy Appeal 2017. As you are all aware this is for another year of 100 years since the events that changed us all. This year was a bit of a do on the Friday 11th at our local burial site for at Bilston. Here we have the lot starting with: Rorke’s Drift survivor, few survivors, and of course the many that didn’t make it across the channel. They are all important to those who survived because they died for our tomorrows. So let us know how things payed out today, after yesterday, for you.
We wanted to quarter to eleven o’clock for a trip across to the cemetery but, Andrew had been delayed with the church (Poppy stuff) and so we set off without him as I knew it would be a big thing if we missed a year so I found my way across the cemetery without any delay. I strolled past the Rorke’s Drift guy (he’d died in 1916) and quickly got over by the grandfathers grave and gave him my best attention. Not long after I made my way back towards the homestead. At about 11:30 there was a call from Andrew as he called in to see what was what. We both got over to see the grandad and the other relatives I’d forgotten earlier. We started off where I’d left off and made good time of getting back to granddad. All too soon we got time to pass the time of day and say our thanks for those who survived.
The next day was pretty much wasted with my trip to the works taking up all of my free time and I was glad to get back and find Emma and Adam(the Doctor) waiting patiently for the games for free. However,Sunday was the town spectacular.
Sunday morning showered and dressed and on my way to the Bilston cenotaph. I was pleased to see several police cars blocking the roads and wandered momentarily about how things would be next year if the government make its plans for allowing 100 years of cenotaph public. By my watch I was 15 minutes to the big deadline and there was already people asking how to get through to the other areas in cars and many more just turning away in disgust. I think it is the individual that ought to be considered illegal for wanting to drive past a church service but, then that’s just me .
I found myself surrounded by hundreds of people I have never seen before or am likely to never meet again until next year. A whole congregation of sad faces all directed at what the vicar is saying and how the older members of society pay their respects. It is pretty much a done thing that all the local children and business are present and I like that. I also like the widows, the tired old soldiers and many more. I don’t particularly like the mayor or mayoress of the local constituency, or the local MPs that are here to show the flag. They will probably soon be forgotten.
On the whole, it lasted for over 45 minutes, I was glad I’d turned up and did my bit.