Reflecting on Remembrance Day: On behalf of Timsbury Royal British Legion Branch I would like to say a big thank you to all those who turned out on a rather gloomy and wet Sunday morning, making it the largest crowd for our Remembrance Service.

Rev. Martin Blewett conducted the service along with our Branch Chairman Mr Barry Sewell. Mr Christopher Fiddes, the Standard Bearer, carried out the “Act of Homage” along with another great performance from our bugler Mr John Hare.

I would also like to thank all the veterans and representatives from the various organisations who attended and laid wreaths. I was also very proud to have my daughter Mrs Tanya Iles, a Royal Air Force veteran and my grandson Air Specialist 1 (AS1) Ryan Fiddes, on parade this year laying wreaths on behalf of the Royal Air Force Regiment. Ryan has only been in the RAF a year working as a Supplier on 27 Squadron, Helicopters at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. Ryan is the first grandchild from my family to join the Royal Air Force, keeping up a long family tradition, doing an excellent job and very smart.

Following the Remembrance Service at the Memorial we made our way to St Mary’s Church for a combined Church Service of Timsbury Churches, which was conducted by The Rev Martin Blewett, Mrs Margaret West, Tabor Independent Church, Mrs Wendy Venn South Road Methodist Church and Rev Dr Julian Davies. Curate, Timsbury Benefice. Roll of Honour and Readings by Mr Barry Sewell, Royal British Legion Branch Chairman, and Mr Kenneth Bradley, Timsbury Parish Council. Mr Christopher Fiddes dipped the Standard for the Royal Salute during the National Anthem, at the end of the Service.

Poppy Appeal: Thank you to all my volunteers who went out on many a cold and wet evening collecting for the Poppy Appeal. Also a big thank you to L/Cpl Cadet Oscar Mallon, who collected door to door with his mum Sharon, also with me on a Saturday morning looking very smart in his Cadet Uniform collecting outside the Timsbury Co-Op. Oscar is a member of the Combined Cadet Force at Writhlington School, excellent job Oscar.

Mr Chris Fiddes, Timsbury Royal British Legion Branch, Standard Bearer and Poppy Appeal Organiser