Bedworth Armistice Day Parade 2009

Armistice day is always when the people of Bedworth hold their remembrance day parade.  This year I have had the honour of laying the wreath in Bedworth and it was nice to see so many British National Party members in the crowd.

There were many who were nearly in tears when the families and friends of members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers recently deceased laid their wreaths.

The poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ was read by a young local scout Matthew Hayhurst.  This young gentleman had to stand on a box to read into the microphone but the passion with which he read the piece was remarkable.  Very well done Matthew!

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

Bedworth normally has a fly past by an old Dakota aircraft and a poppy drop is performed as it flies over the town.  Unfortunately word reached us that the cloud cover was too low today for the fly past to take place.

It is heartening to see the young people in both the crowds that lined the streets of Bedworth, many deep in places, and in the parade itself.  It may be a weekday but all of the cadet forces were very well represented as were Scouts, Guides and several other community groups.

Once the march past was completed we spoke to a few local people before rejoining the civic party for a quick cup of tea in Bedworth Civic Hall.  The main reason that we went back in though was not the civic reception upstairs.  The Ex-Serviceman's Band which was one of the two which marched and played in the parade plays for free to members of the public for about half an hour on the main stage in the Civic Hall.