The Royal British Legion is recognised as the national custodian of Remembrance.
Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday in November, is the day traditionally put aside to remember all those who have given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today.
Remembrance Sunday for 2022 is Sunday 13 November.
Every poppy makes a difference to the lives of our Armed Forces community.
Like so many things last year, the Poppy Appeal had to adapt to the threat of Covid-19.
With some people unable to leave their homes as they normally would to find a poppy, and with many of the charity’s collectors unable to carry out face to face collections, a range of new ways for people to show their support remotely was put in place.
From donating for poppies through the post for neighbours and local community, displaying a poppy in their window, donating online or undertaking a virtual Poppy run, there were many ways to support the Poppy Appeal from home in line with Covid-19 restrictions.
Is my poppy recyclable?
The most effective way to recycle our poppy is to return it to your local Sainsbury’s store after Remembrance Sunday.
Alternatively, the paper and plastic components that make up our poppy can be pulled apart and recycled through some local authority household recycling methods.
You could also wear an enamel poppy pin instead of a paper poppy, and there are a range of alternatives available from our Poppy Shop. You can then choose to make a donation to the Poppy Appeal every year.
We are committed to reducing the amount of single use plastic associated with our Poppy Appeal products. We have already implemented changes that will remove over 8 million items of single use plastic from our 2021 products and will continue to look at ways to further reduce the environmental impact of our Poppy Appeal products.
Remembrance 2022
Remembrance 2021
The 2013 Civic Remembrance Service and Parade
The Inquisitive Mind of a Child
Why are they selling poppies Mummy?
Selling poppies in town today
The poppies, child are flowers of love
For the men who marched away
But, why have they chosen a poppy, Mummy?
Why not a beautiful rose?
Because, my child, men fought and died
In the fields where the poppies grow
But why are the poppies so red, Mummy?
Why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood, my child
The blood our soldiers shed
The heart of the poppy is black Mummy
Why does it have to be black?
Black my child, is the symbol of grief
For the men who never came back
But, why Mummy, are you crying so?
Your tears are giving you pain
My tears are my fears for you my child
For the world is Forgetting Again*
The world maybe forgetting but Ilminster does not. Ilminster’s Civic Service of Remembrance was, as always, well attended. St Mary’s Church was full of townsfolk, veterans, members of the armed forces, Army and Air Cadets, St John Ambulance cadets, Scouts, Guides, Brownies and representatives from most organisations including Fire Service, Police, Lions, Rotary to name but a few. The pupils from Wadham, Swanmead, and Greenfylde also attended and laid wreaths.
The Service was led by the Revd Nigel Done and the address was given by the Revd Ken Fowler, chaplain to The Ilminster Branch of The Royal British Legion. After the Service the congregation gathered in the churchyard for the Act of Remembrance and the laying of 28 wreaths to accompany the 140 crosses planted beside the War Memorial in memory of local men who lost their lives in two World Wars. The Last Post and Reveille was played by Hannah Hall from the Chard Concert Brass Band.
Then veterans and organisations formed up behind the Stoke Sub Hamdon Band, under the command of Flt Lt Steve Penny ATC. Having provided the musical accompaniment for the hymns during the service, the Band led the parade down Silver Street and through the town to Greenfylde School. In Canal Way, Deputy Lieutenant Mr Peter Speke JP took the salute. He was accompanied at the saluting base by Col Paul Richardson, Commandant of Somerset ACF, Lt Cdr John Gunn RN from RNAS Yeovilton, the Rt Hon David Laws MP, and the Mayor Ilminster Ms Emma Taylor. Following the parade refreshments were provided by the Mitchell family in Greenfylde School Hall.
The Mayor thanked all those involved in the organisation and management of the service and parade from the church Stewards, squeezing everyone in, to the Ilminster Carnival Marshals for getting everyone through the streets safely. But her biggest thank you went to John Robson, past Chairman of the Ilminster branch of The Royal British Legion for organising the event for as she said “without your attention to detail and persistence in keeping us in line it it would not have been an event worthy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice”.
On Armistice Day more than thirty people gathered at the War Memorial and a number of teachers and children came out to the front of GreenfyldeSchool for a short Act of Remembrance following the two minute silence at 11am.
* This poem was included in the service sheet.
