In the lead up to the weekend, 2nd Bath spent their GB evening making trinket boxes and felt poppies and 2nd Leytonstone n:vestigate members made a remembrance banner using apples to print the shapes of poppies.
1st Peters Hill GB members have been working hard learning about Remembrance Day and creating their own poppies. The poppies were displayed at their church over the weekend.
The group have been joining the large parade at Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge, alongside the Bristish Legion and other uniformed organisations for the last few years. However, this year they spent their Tuesday evening learning about the history of remembrance day too, creating poppies and taking part in a competition to write a message for the wreath. The winner added their message to the wreath and laid it at the cenotaph as part of the parade in Mary Stevens Park on Remembrance Sunday.
Team Leader Anne said ‘We’re always finding ways for our group to be part of the local community. We love empowering our young people and holding the competition for the wreath message was a perfect way to do this along with us having fun, remembering together and getting creative.’
1st Kexborough began their weekend on Saturday with an activity day and sleepover where they looked at the topic of remembrance and how the red and white poppies signify remembering and peace. The girls made lots of crafts and looked at what remembrance meant to them. They shared communion in the evening and played games around the theme of peace and remembering. The following morning, the girls walked to the local church and celebrated with the wider church family in a service of remembrance. The n:vestigate group attended a morning activity session where they also made crafts, planted a poppy and played games related to the theme of the weekend. They all took part in the 2 minutes silence at 11am.
1st Seahouses ventured out into the community to put up artwork in the windows of local shops ready for Remembrance Sunday
2nd Billericay joined their local parade and service on Sunday. 40 girls and leaders and one very proud team leader braved the cold and rain to join other uniformed organisations in paying their respects. 10th Derby and 1st Chapel-en-le-Frith also attended their local parades and services. Young people from both groups were chosen to lay wreaths on behalf of the groups.
1st Amesbury had a great turnout for their Remembrance Day parade with just under 40 GB Leaders and Girls’ in attendance. They were one of nearly two dozen different groups on the day. The groups parading included representatives from all three main services (Royal Air Force, Navy and Army), the Royal British Legion, Town Council, Girls’ Brigade, Explorer Scouts, Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides, Brownies, Rainbows, Local Schools, Women’s Institute, Police, Ambulance and Fire Service… amongst others! The young people ook part in a parade route of half a mile – what a huge achievement for their young n:vestigate members! The service folling the parade was attended by around 1000 people.
1st Amesbury member Pippa, aged 9, says ‘I see lots of my friends marching, and lots of people clapping as we walk past them. It is a very exciting day and I love being a part of it all. My Dad wears his medals and likes that I am involved in such an important parade.’
Richard Allen, Chairman of Amesbury Royal British Legion says, ‘1st Amesbury Girls’ Brigade was welcomed as an affiliate member of the Amesbury Royal British Legion earlier this year. They are the first youth group to be invited to join since 2011. We visit them regularly and really enjoy the interest and energy that they bring to Amesbury Town. The Girls’ Brigade has been in Amesbury for over 70 years and parades through the town every year for our annual Remembrance Sunday parade. Their respect and support for our organisation and their ever-present representation for young people in Amesbury is exemplary.’
1st Kings Hill also took part in their local parade with their biggest-ever turn out, but six members were missing from the local parade! They were let off since they were otherwise engaged in London, taking part in the London Cenotaph Parade.
Team Leader Karen took part and shared her thoughts on the fantastic opportunity.
‘Arriving in Horse Guards Parade and seeing all the veterans talking and telling their stories, we felt so lucky to be able to represent 1st Kings Hill and GB nationally in London on Remembrance Sunday. It’s not very often you get to be part of something so big.
‘From Horse Guards Parade, we marched through to Whitehall where we saw everyone get in position as were were the first column to form up.
‘There was a real buzz with everyone chatting until a gun was fired and Big Ben chimed at 11am. Everyone fell silent, it was so peaceful. After 2 minutes another gun was fired. We were then able to watch the wreath laying on the big screen, we saw each column of veterans march off and clapped them as they went. At 12.30pm, it was our turn to march past the cenotaph. Once you start to march it all happens so quickly, but to see so many wreaths laid and marching past some of our current serving forces was a privilege. As we were at the end of the parade, the band that had been playing as everyone marched past followed us back round to Horse Guards Parade which was amazing. Just before we turned back to fall out, we saw HRH Princess Anne who was taking the royal salute and she smiled at us which was nice.
‘We loved meeting other GB groups and talking about our GB memories. It was nice to speak to other organisations and hear where everyone had come from.
‘We may have caught the first train of the morning but every second of the day was worth it to be able to be part of the Remembrance Day Parade at the Cenotaph. Thank you for such an amazing and memorable day.’