David J. Rose

By djrose007

Wreath Laying for Remembrance Sunday

Since 2015 I have attended the Remembrance Sunday veterans parade at Whitehall, London. Since becoming the Gloucestershire County Representative, for the Royal British Legion Riders Branch, I decided that this year I would attend the local event at the Gloucester war memorial.
I was very pleasantly surprised to find a gathering of around 400 people there. The police had blocked the roads from traffic but they let myself, and a large group of scooter club riders, through the barrier so we could park in the Go Outdoors car park.
It was about a 45 minute ceremony, with standard bearers, Salvation Army band, a service, with two vicars, one was from St Barnabas Church the Rev Sarah Todd, and the Very Reverend Andrew Zhini who is the 39th Dean of Gloucester Cathedral. There were also military leaders from the ARRC (Allied Rapid Reaction Corps), a Major General no less! plus association representatives, council and political party leaders of Gloucester.
I found myself standing next to our new Labour MP. Despite being Labour he seemed a thoroughly nice chap! Our previous MP, Richard Graham, was in the crowd and it was a pleasure to spend a few minutes talking to him. He did so much for this city over the 14 years he was in office.
The photographs show me, saluting the Gloucester cenotaph after laying the Riders Branch wreath, which is the other photograph. 
The one of myself was screenshot from the live feed video of the service. It can be found at https://www.youtube.com/live/fnp-ySvy1sg?si=dOIk3mUzvsg26nK6
But the video doesn't start until almost 1:00:00 in. At 1:11:52 you can see me, from the waist down at the rear, holding the wreath behind me. And the ceremony itself at 1:16:45 with the procession of the dignitaries.
It was a solemn day and tomorrow I have a short service, for Armistice Day, at Eastgate Shopping Mall, in the City centre.

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