The service to commemorate the recent award of a new medal for valour and bravery, The Arctic Star, was held in remembrance and thanksgiving for the men who fought in the treacherous Arctic Convoys of WWII, and was hosted by David Burrowes MP, Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate.  It was was held at 2.45pm on 16 November at Enfield's Memorial (outside the Civic Centre) dedicated to those who sailed on the convoys.  The memorial is situated outside the Civic Centre.

Enfield is very fortunate to have several of the surviving heroes of the Arctic convoys still living in their community and possess one of the only dedicated Memorials to the Arctic Convoys in the whole of the country.   David Burrowes MP, was one of the lead campaigners for the Arctic Star to be created, alongside many veterans and others across the UK.  At the service he read he read out a poem 'Ode to the Convoy Signalmen and Telegraphists' written by F W C (Duke) Thomson, seen below at image 6 wearing, black cap).
 
Veterans, now only a few hundred strong throughout the country, are aged in their late eighties and nineties and were joined at the event by families, together with other local MPs, councillors and representatives of Enfield military organisations. 

The Right Reverend Michael J Ward CJ. OSJ (Friern Barnet's chaplin) laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal British Legion.

Arctic convoy Award Presentation March 2014 - Leslie Claydon

Click on images below to enlarge -
(Images 1-4 by kind permission of Rev M.J Ward and 5-11 by kind permission of Elizabeth Thomson)