A ceremony was organised by the Royal British Legion to dedicate plaques to the Burma Star Association the Royal Berkshire Regiment, Royal Artillery, Royal Naval Association and the Royal Air force Association at Shaw Cemetery on 27 June to mark the beginning of the newly instated Veterans Week. This was to celebrate the contributions and sacrifice of the armed forces veterans to serve the country in past conflicts. The forces Chaplin Keri Eynon dedicated the six plaques which had been placed in the Cemetery. I gave a short speech in which I acknowledged the veterans valuable service in the many conflicts around the world since the Second World War. A copy of my speech can be found below this below.
It was a very moving ceremony with the standards of the three services flying and a great number of veterans present. I stood with the Royal British Legion president Colonel Michael Westroppe and I was very proud to have been part of this ceremony of dedication.
There was a short service held at the War Memorial on Wednesday 27 June at which the Reverend Keri Eynon officiated. I had the honour of laying the first wreath on behalf of the town.
The formal ceremony to conclude veteran’s week was the Veteran’s parade and church service in St Nicolas Church on 1 July. Town councillors and I, robed up with the Macebearers, processed into the Market Place and a contingent of veterans with their standard bearers marched past. This was followed by a church service in St Nicolas church. The service was conducted by the reverend David Stone with the Reverend Keri Eynon leading the prayers. A moving aspect was the congregation singing Amazing Grace to the accompaniment of the bag pipes by Pipe Major Jim Motherwell. It was pleasing to note a good turnout of both Councillors and Veterans at church and was a fitting conclusion to veterans week.
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