- 7 weeks ago
The launch of the Lincolnshire Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal has taken place at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby. Barry Robinson reports.
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00:00:00.
00:00:30Good morning. We're at the launch of the Lincolnshire Poppy Appeal programme this morning. I'm with Alan. Alan, give us a rundown of what's going to happen today, please.
00:00:52Okay, well, welcome everybody. We're at East Kirkley Aviation Centre for the launch of the Lincolnshire Poppy Appeal. We have them here every year. Fantastic backdrop, we've just joined Lancaster.
00:01:07We have a marching of the standards, the Musker, which is the Albert Hall. We also have cadets. And this year for the first time, we're having some veterans joined on at the end of the Musker.
00:01:19We then have a service, an actual remembrance. There's some opponents from youth, cadets and school children, etc. And then it all rounds out again with a march-off.
00:01:35They're not an easy thing to organise. I know there's a lot goes off behind the scenes. People just don't realise how much it takes to put one of these events on. No doubt you're going to verify that.
00:01:50To be honest, I think the last fortnight has been the most stressful time of my life. Yeah, it's just one thing after another. I work in the day, so every night for the past fortnight we've been trying to organise everything, get everybody in place for it.
00:02:05Unfortunately, this year our county chairman has been quite seriously ill, so even more falling on me. I don't mind. We do it for the corps, for the veterans. So hopefully it'll be all worthwhile in the end. But yeah, there is a lot, a lot of work involved in it.
00:02:23Yeah, so there you are. We're going to keep you informed during the day, so you'll see Alan on and off and on and off all throughout the day while it's going up. Hopefully this year we'll get the poppy drop as well from the plane, providing the weather's fine.
00:02:35So, Alan, best of luck, mate. I know it's going to take a lot of doing, sorting out today, but thank you.
00:02:41You're welcome. Thank you very much.
00:02:46Everybody, as you heard, my name is Gary Headland and it's been a great privilege to be linked to the Royal British Legion here in Lincolnshire for the last four and a half, five years or so as the county president.
00:02:59Now, I've got a few words of welcome and then we'll get into the formal event. I would also like to thank the Panton family for providing this facility for us. Please do really enjoy today's event.
00:03:17This is just fabulous. Somebody said to me earlier, does every county undertake poppy appeal in this way? And I said, no, no, they don't. Not every county is as fortunate as we are to have such an amazing facility.
00:03:32So, thank you to the family yet again. The eagle-eyed will have spotted that I am not John Johnson, our county chair. And I have a newfound respect for John this morning.
00:03:46I think when I look at how many moving parts there are in this event. Now, John couldn't be with us. He's recovering from very serious surgery. He's recovering quickly, I'm delighted to say.
00:04:00But today would have been too much, too cool and too long, an event for him. I was really proud, though, that he did turn up for the Standard Bearers competition two weeks ago, which I was representing him.
00:04:13But he was there anyway, keeping a watchful eye on me to make sure I didn't cock it up. But he was there and, you know, I was chatting with him and he wouldn't have missed it for the world.
00:04:2322 years he's been going to the Standard Bearers competition and it was an absolutely magnificent event. And it was just great to see him there recovering.
00:04:33He has been really jolly poorly. On the same vein, really, I wanted to acknowledge Dave Tyler, who has been an absolutely fabulous vice chair for this wonderful county of Lincolnshire.
00:04:49And Dave, very sadly, is also poorly and has stood down now as our vice chair, which is why you end up with yours truly speaking quite a lot at this event today and trying not to cock it up too much.
00:05:01You must keep an eye out for how many mistakes I make and you write them down and send John a note because that will inspire him to come back as quickly as possible.
00:05:13And I do know he's at home fretting about the fact that I've got a microphone in front of me and I promise not to let him down.
00:05:20So our thoughts are with John and with Dave. Wonderful, wonderful gentleman.
00:05:28I'd like to acknowledge Ray Scott, Alan Canham and all of the county committee who have really stepped up to the plate while the county chair and the county vice chair have been poorly.
00:05:42Ray is at another event today where they're doing poppy appeal launch and he's branch and Alan's been running around like mad this morning, getting everything ready in the finest traditions.
00:05:56But in the backdrop, they do a huge amount of work to keep the Royal British Legion in the county on track.
00:06:03So to both of them and to all of the committee who have picked up additional work, I'm sincerely grateful.
00:06:09I'd like to welcome Neil James, our Royal British Legion Membership Council representative here behind me.
00:06:15I can't look because the microphone only works one way.
00:06:19But Neil, we're delighted to see you and you'll get to speak to us later on about the background and history of poppy appeal launch and to launch this year's appeal.
00:06:28Also with sadness, I want to recognise the passing of our former chaplain, the canon John Thorold.
00:06:39You will observe the black drapes on our county standard here today and that is a mark of respect for John who was an absolutely lovely, lovely man and it's very sad that we lost him.
00:06:54And then with great joy, I get to introduce our new chaplain, Father Christopher Hewitt.
00:07:00Now he's a man of considerable taste because he joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 16.
00:07:08Just looking at some veterans there to see what sort of reaction I get and it's the typical reaction.
00:07:14What a tribal bunch.
00:07:15The Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force, incredibly tribal.
00:07:21I've never met a more tribal group of human beings right up until the point that we go to war together and then we're a team and that's just profoundly incredible to observe.
00:07:34But yes, our new chaplain joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 16 and has a really interesting background.
00:07:41So interesting that I'm not going to read it all out to you today, but I am going to take a photograph with him and share his biography with you because it's well worth a read and we hope that he'll be with us for many years to come.
00:07:56To stand as we march in the standards.
00:07:59County Parade Marshal, please march on the Royal British Legion standards.
00:08:14Royal British Legion standards.
00:08:16I'm ready.
00:08:17Great march.
00:08:18March.
00:08:29We're going to be운데.
00:08:50We're going to give you an chirping Christina Weekora.
00:08:55Tina Day.
00:11:55County Parade Marshal, please march on the cadets.
00:16:25And you don't look a day over 70, sir.
00:17:29Thank you very much.
00:24:23And I'll say thank you.
00:24:26Thank you very much.
00:24:27And, after I need my women to to plutôtò γ General powers, I know our spalding branch
00:24:28went this year and I know they enjoyed it very much.
00:24:29But today is the 100-year anniversary of the Observer Corps, now of course the Royal Observer
00:24:33Corps of the day that the Corps was formed.
00:24:38So, again, I'd ask you to join me in a round of applause, please, for the Royal Observer Corps.
00:24:53Some of you might have heard me say this before in a different address, and forgive me for repeating it, but it's apposite.
00:25:01Life is moving so fast these days.
00:25:08Faster than it ever has before.
00:25:13But the really profound thought is that life will never be as slow again.
00:25:24Just let that land with you for a moment.
00:25:32Breathe.
00:25:35Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
00:25:37We're not very good at breathing.
00:25:40Well, we're here, aren't we?
00:25:41We're human beings and there's air going in our lungs, but we're not very good at it, actually.
00:25:45We shallow breathe, most of us.
00:25:47And the world is getting super-duper fast.
00:25:51Technology has provided incredible advances in our lives and challenges.
00:25:57Technology reduces our attention span.
00:26:01So, let's take a moment while we're together to just look around.
00:26:08It's so easy to come here and be part of this ceremony, but not look at where we are, but the wonderful things around us that cause us to think and reflect.
00:26:21There's no technology, there's no screen calling us, no pinging in our pockets, hopefully.
00:26:29Life's so fast, we should treasure these sorts of moments to just slow down a little bit.
00:26:35Slow down and reflect.
00:26:37I don't think we need to be sad.
00:26:42You know, we have remembrance coming up, of course.
00:26:46And I often pitch my address here wrong.
00:26:50And I was saying to Father Christopher earlier, I've got a slightly weird sense of humour.
00:26:54And I think that comes from having joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 17.
00:27:00So, it was an incredibly formative period for me, and I served for 23 years.
00:27:05Following which, I joined Norfolk Constabulary.
00:27:08So, I worked in another uniform service, this time as a civilian director of a police force,
00:27:15but nevertheless dealing with some pretty nasty stuff.
00:27:19And I have to be honest with you, the sense of humour comes from the experiences that I had in my time.
00:27:27And I think, you know, it helped me to hold it together at times.
00:27:31And it formed a bond that unless you've served, perhaps you can't quite understand.
00:27:37And it's so easily interpreted as being flippant or disrespectful.
00:27:44And I mean nothing of the sort.
00:27:46But I will try this time not to bring too much humour in.
00:27:52And I was bantering with Alan about, you know, in John's absence,
00:27:56I was going to bring in lots of dad jokes here today.
00:28:00And he begged me not to, begged me not to, and didn't include any in my breath.
00:28:07But actually, this isn't a sombre occasion.
00:28:11This is a wonderful occasion.
00:28:12We're about to launch into raising funds for other people to do good,
00:28:19to help those who are serving,
00:28:23the families of those who are serving, or those who have served.
00:28:26So, I don't want us to feel sombre today.
00:28:30You know, on Remembrance Sunday at the Cathedral,
00:28:33when laying the wreath for the Royal British Legion,
00:28:35I will be sombre.
00:28:37I will be sad.
00:28:37I will be reflecting on comrades that I lost during my service.
00:28:41But today, I want to feel joy.
00:28:45I want to recognise those who have served.
00:28:47And I want us to leave here really lifted up to go on and raise lots of money to help others.
00:28:54So, breathe and enjoy.
00:29:00If there are some Catholics in the audience here today,
00:29:03you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
00:29:05Because this year is the Jubilee year.
00:29:09And it's a Jubilee year of hope.
00:29:13And that was really the theme in my mind this morning.
00:29:17The Jubilee year of hope.
00:29:19Now, again, those that have heard me speak before will know that I work in the education sector.
00:29:26And I run colleges.
00:29:28My youngest students are 14 years of age.
00:29:32My oldest student is 76 years of age.
00:29:36And I have 25,000 students with me every year.
00:29:42And I hear quite a lot of criticism about the younger students.
00:29:46I have to say, and I'm going to myth-bust a bit today.
00:29:52I'm looking around this room.
00:29:55And actually, it's a real pleasure.
00:29:57At some of our events, I have to say, the average age is above mine.
00:30:05You know, the Standard Bearers competition, which was fabulous, by the way.
00:30:09I'd highly recommend it next year for those of you that haven't been.
00:30:13The quality of preparation and drill is immaculate.
00:30:19But the average age, we don't reach out into the younger generations.
00:30:24And what so often happens is we blame the younger generation.
00:30:29And as I've got older, I've picked up a bit of a tendency.
00:30:33It was harder in my day.
00:30:35You know, you were lucky.
00:30:36You know, I had to eat my rations with a rusty spoon.
00:30:40You know, you were lucky.
00:30:41You're lucky, you lot.
00:30:43Well, what I know from working in a company where the staff are five generations of staff.
00:30:50And I'll just go through those generations in a moment.
00:30:54And I'm lucky because I get insights that dispel those myths around, you know,
00:31:01you were a good generation, you were a bad generation.
00:31:05And so I have hope in this Jubilee year.
00:31:08I have great hope.
00:31:10We're going to listen to some poems from some young people who give their time to be part of cadet organisations.
00:31:17And who knows, in time, they might well go on to serve in the police or in the armed forces
00:31:22or any other of the Uniform Protective Services.
00:31:26But I have hope.
00:31:27I have hope, the Royal British Legion, that we are and will continue to reach out to the other generations.
00:31:35And that the worries that I've had since being County President,
00:31:39that we're not engaging with enough younger people, that they're unfounded.
00:31:44Now, there will be challenges.
00:31:45Of course there will.
00:31:46But it's our job to react to the changing nature of people and not be dismissive or rude about them.
00:31:54So I have hope.
00:31:57So, to the best of my knowledge, people have been segregated into different generations.
00:32:04There's the silent generation.
00:32:06And I'm looking, of course, at our wonderful veterans from the Second World War.
00:32:13And we're talking pre-1946.
00:32:17This is a generation who was shaped by duty and discipline.
00:32:21And they're known as the silent generation.
00:32:24We then had the baby boomers.
00:32:25There'll be some baby boomers in this room.
00:32:28These are those from 1946 to 1964.
00:32:34They value stability, loyalty, and legacy.
00:32:38Now, a lot of people would say they had it good.
00:32:40So, the baby boomers out there, you had it good.
00:32:44A good generation to be part of.
00:32:46There's Gen X.
00:32:47Now, I fall into Gen X.
00:32:491965 to 1980.
00:32:51I hope you're all ticking off where you are.
00:32:55We're independent.
00:32:58Pragmatic and delivery focused.
00:33:01Yes, that's what I see every morning when I look in the mirror.
00:33:06We have the millennials.
00:33:08We've all heard about the millennials, haven't we?
00:33:101981 to 1996.
00:33:12Purpose-driven, collaborative, growth-orientated.
00:33:17Where's the filofax?
00:33:20Followed by Gen Z.
00:33:23And I have to say, it kills me to say, Gen Z?
00:33:26How about Gen Z?
00:33:28But no, Gen Z, they're called.
00:33:31They're inclusive.
00:33:33Tech native.
00:33:34And they value transparency.
00:33:37And then, the latest generation, who actually do get quite a lot of bashing from older people.
00:33:46The Generation Alpha.
00:33:48Gen Alpha, they're known as.
00:33:50They're the emerging workforce.
00:33:53They're digital first.
00:33:54If you put a tape cassette and a pencil in front of them, they won't have the first idea what to do with it.
00:34:03And I know that as a fact, because there is an experiment running at the University of Liverpool, where they start by giving the undergraduates, or the learners, I should say, at that time, a tape cassette and a pencil, and they just cannot figure it out.
00:34:20I can't figure it out.
00:34:22Isn't that interesting?
00:34:27What's different?
00:34:28There's something.
00:34:30There are lots of things that are different in those communities.
00:34:33But people are people.
00:34:35And I spend time with people across all five of those generations.
00:34:39In fact, there are six.
00:34:41You will have spotted not five.
00:34:43There are all six of those generations, day in, day out.
00:34:46And the one key characteristic that I've observed and this body of research has observed is actually, the defining characteristic is attention to detail.
00:35:01Attention to detail.
00:35:02So let's just have a think about that.
00:35:03I'm speaking quite slowly today, deliberately, to see how long I can hold the gaze of people in the audience,
00:35:10to see how quickly they drop off for a nap or get interested in their phone or something.
00:35:18Because it is this focus of attention, how we capture people's imagination.
00:35:24And it has changed dramatically.
00:35:26So I don't know the data for the silent generation, but I suspect it was pretty good.
00:35:32You would read, reading profoundly important to us as human beings.
00:35:36You would read, and you would read newspapers, and you would listen to the radio.
00:35:45You wouldn't be doing this thing called doom scrolling.
00:35:49Now, I've just lost most of the audience, I suspect.
00:35:53Doom scrolling is this thing with a phone or a tablet where you sit there for hours of your time,
00:35:59scrolling, looking at other people's lives, rather than living your own on social media.
00:36:05And it's not great, in my opinion.
00:36:09So this notion of attention to detail is really interesting.
00:36:14So as a Gen X, proudly Gen X, looking at myself in the mirror every morning saying,
00:36:19yes, I'm one of those.
00:36:20I remember the analogue world.
00:36:23So I was born into the analogue world, and I remember computers coming in.
00:36:26And I've lived for most of my working life in a digital world.
00:36:30So I've spanned both of those starkly different periods in our life.
00:36:38And my attention span, according to deep empirical research,
00:36:45and I'm not making this up, I promise you.
00:36:46I do blag sometimes in the odd address, but not today.
00:36:49My attention span is three minutes.
00:36:55Because I had an analogue upbringing, and I've grown up in my professional working life in the digital world.
00:37:03So I'm different to other generations, those that came before me.
00:37:07The attention span of a Generation Z, that's not even the latest generation.
00:37:14Generation Z is 37 seconds.
00:37:25That frightened you, didn't it, on the front row there?
00:37:3037 seconds.
00:37:32What do I take away from that?
00:37:34Silent generation were good, my generation not so good, latest generation bad.
00:37:42Not at all.
00:37:44Just different.
00:37:46One of the things that makes me just profoundly proud to be British is tolerance and inclusion.
00:37:56And that's why I served, and I'm sure that's why many of the other veterans served,
00:38:00to live in this country with our values of tolerance and diplomacy and inclusion.
00:38:08When we demonise younger people for being different, we marginalise them.
00:38:14And I committed two years ago on this platform to doing more to engage with younger people.
00:38:20I made a pledge for those that were here, and I can see many familiar faces.
00:38:24I made a pledge that I would do everything I possibly could to raise the profile of the Royal British Legion with younger people.
00:38:30And that's exactly what I've done for the last two years since making that pledge.
00:38:37And I guess my closing thought is, looking around this room, there are many of us of a generation or above.
00:38:44And we need to make sure that this Royal British Legion continues to serve those veterans who are fighting today.
00:38:54And will go on fighting our wonderful country for years to come in the service of us, protecting us and protecting our families.
00:39:03And that requires us to change.
00:39:06We won't change the younger generation.
00:39:08We shouldn't attempt to.
00:39:09They are what they are.
00:39:11They're wonderful.
00:39:11But our job, I think, as the Gen Xs in the room, the baby boomers and the silent generation, our job is to adapt to the younger people.
00:39:23And on that note, I'd like to commend all of those who are serving in the cadets here today.
00:39:30You look really smart.
00:39:31You brought a great smile to my face here today.
00:39:35It's wonderful to see you here.
00:39:36I hope you will go on to serve your country in one of the Uniform Protective Services.
00:39:42And despite the little bit of banter I started with earlier on about the Royal Air Force, because I have an obvious bias,
00:39:51I don't care which of the Uniform Protective Services you go into, the Royal Navy, the British Army, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Marines,
00:40:02or indeed any of the civilian Uniform Protective Services, the police, the fire service, the prison service, the ambulance service, etc.
00:40:12They all do wonderful things, and they all provide wonderful careers for all of you.
00:40:18So that wasn't five minutes.
00:40:20It wasn't even close to five minutes.
00:40:23You can all tell John, I really don't mind, the county chairman, that Gary went on and on and on in his absence,
00:40:30because he wasn't here tutting at me, and get on with it, Headland.
00:40:34But do tell him, because that will encourage him to come back faster.
00:40:39Thank you very much for your attention.
00:40:51I'm now delighted that we're going to have an interlude, a musical interlude,
00:40:56and we have Stephen Ingham and the Swine's Head Silver Band,
00:41:00and they're going to play for us for about 20 to 25 minutes, Stephen, I think that's right.
00:41:05Thank you ever so much for being here with us today.
00:41:09Over to you.
00:41:26If the people could come up and collect, that would be wonderful,
00:41:44and thank you for handing them out for us, Gemma.
00:41:48So the first award is the Stella Willing Rose Bowl.
00:41:52This award is presented to a Poppy Appeal organiser without a branch.
00:41:57The winner of the award this year is Marilyn Jones.
00:42:10I'll keep talking while she's coming to join us.
00:42:13Marilyn has organised the Poppy Appeal in the Cleethorpe area for many years,
00:42:18without the help of a branch.
00:42:19It is a large area and includes a very busy supermarket.
00:42:23In recent years, sorry to cut you off clapping, but there's quite a bit more to read.
00:42:35In recent years, Marilyn has not been in the best of health,
00:42:39doesn't have the use of a car, relies on public transport and her trusty shopping trolley
00:42:44to deliver tins and poppies.
00:42:47Marilyn is now struggling and has unfortunately now had to step down from delivering to this area,
00:42:54but in the true spirit of service, not self,
00:42:58she has agreed to take on the less strenuous role at Waltham,
00:43:02where she will have branch members to help with her duties.
00:43:07Marilyn won this award several years ago,
00:43:09but to recognise her dedication to the Poppy Appeal,
00:43:12it has been decided that for the first time,
00:43:15it will be awarded to the same person twice.
00:43:18Congratulations, Marilyn.
00:43:19APPLAUSE
00:43:20Well done.
00:43:36Congratulations.
00:43:38OK, the second award.
00:43:42I'll carry on while they're just sorting that out.
00:43:48So the Shepherd is the Shepherd Poppy Trophy.
00:43:51This award is presented to individuals in a branch
00:43:54who have performed above expectations.
00:43:58Winners this year are a mother and daughter team,
00:44:01Lynn McKinnon and Laura Booten from the Grantham branch.
00:44:06Taken over as PAOs from the legendary Grace and John,
00:44:10who retired after 50 years,
00:44:12they had big boots to fill.
00:44:14In their first year,
00:44:16they have taken on the role with enthusiasm
00:44:17and done an amazing job,
00:44:20embracing new ways to deliver the Poppy Appeal in Grantham,
00:44:24while significantly increasing donations.
00:44:27We look forward to seeing them increase the appeal further
00:44:30as their confidence grows
00:44:31and they introduce more new initiatives over the next 50 years.
00:44:37I think that's a challenge there.
00:44:39Well done, Lynn and Laura.
00:44:42APPLAUSE
00:44:43You've collected all of them.
00:44:46Yes, I'm not them.
00:44:47No.
00:44:51I understand there's an event going on in Grantham,
00:44:54which is why they couldn't be here with us today,
00:44:56but do pass on our best wishes, won't you?
00:44:58Thank you and congratulations.
00:45:01The third award is the Jill Reimer Cup,
00:45:04awarded to an individual for exceptional service to the Poppy Appeal.
00:45:09The winner this year is Jonathan Darrington-Slegg
00:45:13of the Sleaford and District branch.
00:45:16Jonathan took on the role of Poppy Appeal organiser in 2020.
00:45:20Since that time, he has not only increased the donations for Sleaford,
00:45:24but has also incorporated other areas such as Heckington and Wellborn,
00:45:29who would otherwise not have access to poppies in the remembrance period.
00:45:34Jonathan is super organised and very professional in his role,
00:45:38but does so quietly and with minimum fuss.
00:45:43He is a great example of a dedicated, selfless volunteer
00:45:47that deserves the recognition of this award.
00:45:50Congratulations, Jonathan.
00:45:52I did a bit of a spoiler alert earlier on, didn't I?
00:46:18So normally that would be the end of the awards,
00:46:20but this year, Lincolnshire has seen an outstanding achievement in the county
00:46:25and it's important that we recognise it.
00:46:29Skegness has seen a community all work together on an extraordinary project.
00:46:35Last year, it was the Poppy Art and the Clock Tower,
00:46:38which was in itself a remarkable achievement.
00:46:41But this year, it got bigger and better
00:46:44with the Clock Tower and the Altitude 44 Poppy installation.
00:46:48No doubt the project was driven by Scott Turner,
00:46:53sorry, Tracey Turner.
00:46:55There's an in-joke there, which I don't yet know,
00:46:58but I'm going to find out.
00:47:00Some of you may have heard of her and she's just joined us here.
00:47:03But it's the branch and the whole community
00:47:06who pulled together to make it work.
00:47:08The project has gained nationwide publicity
00:47:11and a whole new band of supporters
00:47:13from the schools, the cadets, mums and dads
00:47:16and anyone up to 100 years old.
00:47:19Sales of wool have rocketed
00:47:21and we are now a county of knitters.
00:47:24The publicity for the Poppy Appeal is immeasurable,
00:47:28but it is the effect on members of the community
00:47:30that have really benefited from the project.
00:47:33Last weekend, when the installation was opened,
00:47:36it was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire,
00:47:40the Director General of the Royal British Legion
00:47:42and the County Standard Bearer.
00:47:45And it was a great tribute
00:47:46to all of the hard work of everyone involved.
00:47:50And on top of this, or maybe because of this,
00:47:53donations have more than doubled
00:47:54in the Skegness Poppy Appeal.
00:47:57Now, I was really disappointed
00:47:59not to be able to get there last weekend,
00:48:02but I felt like I was there
00:48:03because I was tracking it all over social media
00:48:06and it looked utterly extraordinary.
00:48:11So we're delighted to present this certificate
00:48:13of outstanding achievement to the Skegness branch.
00:48:22Well done.
00:48:23Congratulations.
00:48:24You're really enjoyed, by the way.
00:48:26That was it.
00:48:27I don't know what it is.
00:48:28I'm really looking forward now
00:48:33to hearing about the in-joke
00:48:35because I don't know what it is
00:48:37and it's killing me.
00:48:39Right.
00:48:39At this stage,
00:48:40I'm going to invite three young people
00:48:43to come and read some poems.
00:48:45And they are
00:48:46Corporal Watson of Three Company Army Cadets.
00:48:50Number two, or second up,
00:48:52is Flight Sergeant Thomas Shaw,
00:48:54the sixth form head boy
00:48:56at Skegness Academy
00:48:57and then Riley Coles
00:48:59of Skegness Police Cadet
00:49:01and they're going to read some poems for us.
00:49:03Please join me in a round of applause.
00:49:13Good morning.
00:49:15My name is Corporal Watson
00:49:16and I'd like to start by saying
00:49:17thank you all for coming today.
00:49:19I'm currently a member
00:49:20of the Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force
00:49:22and I'm here today
00:49:23to speak to you all
00:49:24about the importance of the poppy
00:49:25and those who are serving
00:49:28or have served in the armed forces.
00:49:31The poppy is not just a flower
00:49:33but a symbol of commitment,
00:49:35bravery, respect and loyalty
00:49:37that was shown by everyone
00:49:39that has served in battles
00:49:40for our country.
00:49:41Not only does the poppy
00:49:42honour those who are still in the forces
00:49:44but keeps memory alive
00:49:45of those that we have lost.
00:49:47As a cadet,
00:49:48every year we honour
00:49:49these individuals
00:49:50by attending events
00:49:51such as the poppy launch,
00:49:53poppy selling
00:49:53and also the main remembrance event
00:49:55in our area.
00:49:56As part of the act of remembrance,
00:49:58us cadets spend time
00:49:59focusing on drill,
00:50:00making sure our uniform
00:50:01is at a pristine standard
00:50:02and much more.
00:50:04This is a little way
00:50:05that we as an organisation
00:50:06can pay our respects
00:50:08to those who are still
00:50:09in the uniformed surfaces
00:50:10and those who have fallen in battle.
00:50:12Thank you for listening.
00:50:18Hi everyone.
00:50:23I am Flight Sergeant Tom Storr
00:50:24from 1073 Air Cadet Squadron.
00:50:27Thank you guys.
00:50:27I am going to be reading
00:50:28a poem today.
00:50:29It's called
00:50:30We Remember So The Sacrifice
00:50:32Isn't In Vain.
00:50:33Okay then.
00:50:34Remember those who died
00:50:35to remind us
00:50:36of what we've got.
00:50:38Those who laid their lives down,
00:50:39brave in every thought.
00:50:41Those who cried and wets
00:50:42at the sound
00:50:43of that warning shot.
00:50:44Those who stood to shield
00:50:45the ones that they loved a lot.
00:50:48To recall the past
00:50:49so we don't repeat mistakes.
00:50:51No more should perish
00:50:52as the sky with bullets shakes.
00:50:54The silence falls,
00:50:55a host upon the air.
00:50:57We live to remember.
00:50:58We live because they're not there.
00:51:00We remember those who died
00:51:01to remind us of what we've got.
00:51:03We honour them,
00:51:04eternally,
00:51:05alive in every thought.
00:51:07Through sweat and blood,
00:51:09the hero stood in line
00:51:10with a sacrifice etched in memory,
00:51:12forever divine.
00:51:14We remember
00:51:14those who perished
00:51:15at the echo of the shot.
00:51:17Those who shielded others,
00:51:18giving all that they've got.
00:51:21The world seems silent,
00:51:23heavy with the cost,
00:51:24but we remember
00:51:25so their legacy's not lost.
00:51:27If one word
00:51:28could hold the pain
00:51:29and brutality,
00:51:31it would be hope,
00:51:32our shared reality.
00:51:33We live today
00:51:34because they gave their all.
00:51:36They faced the fire
00:51:37so that the future
00:51:38wouldn't fall.
00:51:40We stand here,
00:51:41we look around and see,
00:51:42we're only free
00:51:43because they died
00:51:44for you and me.
00:51:45They remain in our hearts,
00:51:47their memory never fades.
00:51:49Hope is the irony
00:51:49that war itself invades.
00:51:52Through bloodshed and sorrow,
00:51:53hope still found its way.
00:51:55We're grateful we live
00:51:55that time still ticks each day.
00:51:58We're grateful we move forward,
00:51:59that our lives persist,
00:52:01carried by the hope
00:52:02their shoulders did resist.
00:52:04The world still spins,
00:52:05and we are still grateful.
00:52:07The fact is,
00:52:07we lived on it.
00:52:08We lived because
00:52:09we were given that chance.
00:52:11The imprint of war
00:52:12remains frozen in our history
00:52:13so that we can create
00:52:15the same old misery.
00:52:27My name is Riley Coles,
00:52:29part of Lincoln Skegness
00:52:31Police Cadets.
00:52:33This is a poem
00:52:34I have written
00:52:34called Crimson Whispers.
00:52:35A field of fire,
00:52:38a scarlet spray,
00:52:39against the gentle green of day.
00:52:42With paper-thin
00:52:43and fragile grace,
00:52:45they rise and claim
00:52:46their transient space.
00:52:48No heavy scent,
00:52:49no thorny vine,
00:52:51just simple beauty,
00:52:52so divine.
00:52:54They sway and dance
00:52:55on slender stems,
00:52:57like silent-whispered requiems.
00:53:00A ghost of red
00:53:01on a summer's breeze,
00:53:03that settles minds
00:53:04and puts at ease.
00:53:06The rest is thought
00:53:07of days long past,
00:53:08and memories
00:53:09that were built to last.
00:53:11Not born of battle,
00:53:13earth or pain,
00:53:14but nourished
00:53:15by earth and rain.
00:53:17A wild and simple,
00:53:19hopeful sign
00:53:19of life's persistent,
00:53:22sweet design.
00:53:23The fragile heart,
00:53:25the bold, bright show,
00:53:27the crimson whisper,
00:53:28soft and low.
00:53:38Would you please stand?
00:53:48They shall grow not old, as we let our left grow old.
00:54:14Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
00:54:20At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
00:54:28We will remember them.
00:54:44We will remember them.
00:55:05We will remember them.
00:55:20We will remember them.
00:55:35We will remember them.
00:55:50We will remember them.
00:56:05We will remember them.
00:56:20We will remember them.
00:56:35We will remember them.
00:56:50We will remember them.
00:57:05They will remember them.
00:57:07They will remember them.
00:58:15When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.
00:59:01Lord, we thank you for this moment of gathering, for the spirit of remembrance that brings us
00:59:12together in gratitude and unity.
00:59:14We remember once again before you all who have served our nation in times of conflict and peace,
00:59:23those who gave their lives, those who bear the scars of war, and those who continue to
00:59:29serve with courage and devotion.
00:59:31We pray for his majesty, the king, and for the royal family, for all who serve under the crown, in the armed forces, in public services, and in our communities.
00:59:47Grant them wisdom, strength, and compassion in all they do.
00:59:54We pray for our country and the commonwealth of nations, that they may be a family of peoples bound together in friendship and mutual respect, working for justice, freedom, and peace throughout our world.
01:00:12And we pray for our poppy appeal here in Lincolnshire, and all it represents that through our remembrance and generosity, those who have served, and those who still bear the
01:00:23cost of service, and the cost of service, may find comfort, support, and renewed hope.
01:00:30And finally, a blessing.
01:00:32And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you, each and every one of you, and remain with you always.
01:00:43Amen.
01:00:44Thank you, Father.
01:00:52Now it gives me great pleasure to introduce Neil James, who is East Midlands Membership Council representative, and he's going to talk to us a little bit about poppy appeal, and formally open the poppy appeal here in Lincolnshire this afternoon.
01:01:13Neil, if you didn't know, is also a volunteer, and what a busy volunteer.
01:01:20I've been tracking him on LinkedIn, the social media platform for the last few weeks, and he is burning through the miles, I have to say.
01:01:28He's everywhere.
01:01:29He's everywhere.
01:01:30He was with us two weeks ago for the standard bearers competition, and is with us here again today, for which we're absolutely delighted, and I believe you're also in Skegness.
01:01:41So, a busy chap, and I'm really looking forward to hearing what he's got to say.
01:01:46Neil, thank you ever so much for being with us today.
01:01:48Thank you, Gareth, for that introduction.
01:01:58Hello, everyone.
01:02:01Every November, we see millions of small red poppies appear on coats, jackets, and uniforms across the world.
01:02:09They're simple, yet carry enormous meaning.
01:02:13They remind us of bravery, sacrifice, and the cost of peace.
01:02:20But how did this delicate little flower come to mean so much?
01:02:27Today, I'd like to take on a short journey through the evolution of the poppy for remembrance,
01:02:33from the battlefields of World War I to the symbol we know today.
01:02:40Our story begins in the Western Front during the First World War.
01:02:45After some of the most brutal fighting, places like Ypres and Nasson, the land was left devastated.
01:02:53The soil was churned up by the shells, littered with debris, and soaked with chemicals and blood.
01:03:00It seemed lifeless.
01:03:03And yet, in the spring of 1915, something remarkable happened.
01:03:09Bright red poppies began to bloom across the ruined fields.
01:03:14They were the first flowers to return to the battle-scarred landscape.
01:03:19The seeds of paferberroes are under Latin.
01:03:24The common-filled poppy had been lying dormant beneath the soil, waiting for the earth to be disturbed.
01:03:33To many soldiers, those red petals became a symbol of both the blood that had been shed and the persistence of life itself.
01:03:44One soldier in particular was deeply moved by what he saw, Lieutenant Colonel John McRae.
01:03:55A Canadian army doctor and poet, he had just lost his closest friend in battle.
01:04:01In May 1915, sitting near a makeshift cemetery in Flanders, he noticed the poppies growing among the graves.
01:04:09And there he wrote that famous poem that would change the world of how we remember going forward.
01:04:16In Flanders fields, a poppies blow between the crosses, row on row.
01:04:25McRae's poem spread quickly through the newspapers and letters back home.
01:04:30It gave people words for their grief and a symbol of remembrance.
01:04:35From that moment, the poppy became tied forever to memory, sacrifice and hope.
01:04:43Across the Atlantic, one woman read McRae's poem and was deeply moved.
01:04:49Her name was Moina Michael, an American teacher working for the YMCA in New York.
01:04:56In 1918, she vowed that she would always wear a red poppy in honour of those who died in the war.
01:05:05She began making poppies herself and sold them to raise money for returning soldiers.
01:05:12Her idea caught on quickly and she inspired others, including a French woman named Madame Anna Guerin,
01:05:21who organised widows and orphans in France to make poppies as a way to earn income and support the victims.
01:05:30These women's efforts turned the poppy from a poetic image into a real wearable symbol of remembrance and compassion.
01:05:38In 1921, Anna brought her idea to Britain, where the newly formed British Legion was looking for ways to support ex-servicemen and their families.
01:05:50That year, the first official poppy appeal was launched.
01:05:56Millions of poppies were sold and funds raised went directly to help their veterans and their loved ones.
01:06:03The response was extraordinary, so much so that the British Legion adopted a poppy as its emblem of remembrance.
01:06:13That first poppy appeal in 1921 raised £106,000, which is the equivalent today of around about £4.5 million.
01:06:26And the tradition quickly spread throughout the world.
01:06:30In Canada, the first National Poppy Day was also held in 1921.
01:06:35In Australia and New Zealand, the poppy became part of Anzac Day commemorations.
01:06:40In France, the blue blue flower became their national symbol of remembrance.
01:06:47So by the mid-1920s to the late 20s, wearing the poppy in November had become international gesture.
01:06:55A way for millions to say, we remember.
01:06:59The first remembered poppies were made from silk, then later from paper.
01:07:05In 1922, the poppy factory was established in Richmond, England, to meet the growing demand.
01:07:12There, disabled ex-servicemen were employed to hand-make poppies, giving them not just work, but purpose and pride.
01:07:22Now, over the decades, the poppy design has evolved.
01:07:28From the simple hand-cut papers of petals, to sturdier plastic-backed versions,
01:07:33and most recently the fully recyclable poppies, made without any plastic at all.
01:07:40Showing handmade poppies on the altitude structure.
01:07:45So what?
01:07:46Because it captures something timeless.
01:07:51That the idea from destruction is to remember.
01:07:54That small reference.
01:07:56Thank you, Neil, for that really useful reminder of why we do what we do,
01:08:11and the history behind our work.
01:08:15That was wonderful to hear.
01:08:16And thank you, perhaps more importantly, for all the work you do
01:08:19on behalf of all of the branches and counties all year round.
01:08:23Thank you very much indeed.
01:08:24So we're now going to do the all-important raffle.
01:08:28And...
01:08:30ul-
01:09:32All your attention.
01:09:36Quick, go.
01:11:37My eyes shut, all against, my eyes shut.
01:12:07My eyes shut, all against, my eyes shut.
01:12:13I'm not a person too.
01:12:19No, my homem I heard anything wrong?
01:12:24My eyes shut.
01:12:28Oh, my God.
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