Today is a double day of remembrance for us… it is Remembrance Sunday and also our 12th wedding anniversary!
I always find Remembrance Sunday and the commemorations, whether we attend in person or watch the coverage from the Cenotaph in London on the telly, really moving… before I met Pete, working for the Winged Fellowship (which became Vitalise and then Re-Vitalise), it was always a day that was marked out of respect as many of our “guests” were elderly. Even as a child / teenager, at Sunday running club (Dartford Harriers – up the Hoops!), when it got to 11am on Remembrance Sunday, we always stopped what we were doing for the two minutes silence wherever we were…
Ooo, we just seen Billy Hughes (and maybe Eamon Loftus?) on the telly in the parade – it was a bit quick but we always look out for anyone we know – & the Royal Green Jackets were mentioned! 😄 I wonder how many others watching the TV coverage just shouted “There’s Billy!” 🤣🤣
When I was at school, I remember doing a project on the 2nd world war and spending a lot of time with my Nan who had been an Air Raid Warden in West London… I think it was probably then that I learnt about her first husband (my Mum’s Dad – my Grandad) being killed in action in 1943 in Sicily. I believe that he died, together with a number of his comrades, when his gunning placement was hit… he was 30 years old 😢 and my Mum would have just had her 1st birthday about 3 weeks before – how sad… I was so glad to be able to visit “Grandad’s” war grave, that was very moving too… just one grave amongst so many. We were able to place a poppy wreath there, along with crosses with all the family names on – people who would not have been here (including me!) if my Grandad and Nan had not had my Mum… talk about a “sliding door” moment… Thanks Grandad Love & Nan Brindley (my Nan subsequently re-married although my Mum always maintained “Love” as her maiden name until she married my Dad…)
We visited Sicily and my Grandad’s war grave at the
Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily – he died just 6 days after the start of the Allied Forces campaign in Sicily
The War Graves Commission (https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/2000407/syracuse-war-cemetery-sicily/) gives the following information about the campaign in Sicily: “On 10 July 1943, following the successful conclusion of the North African campaign in mid May, a combined allied force of 160,000 commonwealth and American troops invaded Sicily as a prelude to the assault on mainland Italy. The Italians, who would shortly make peace with the Allies and re-enter the war on their side, offered little determined resistance but German opposition was vigorous and stubborn. The campaign in Sicily came to an end on 17 August when the two allied forces came together at Messina, but failed to cut off the retreating Axis lines.
Commonwealth forces made their landings in the south-east corner of the island between Pachino and Syracuse, and the majority of those buried in Syracuse War Cemetery died during those landings or in the early stages of the campaign…
Syracuse War Cemetery contains 1,059 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 134 of them unidentified…” When we were there, we made sure we placed a poppy on some of the “unknown” soldier graves too. 😢
We also remember Pete’s Dad, John Collins, who served in the armed forces (mostly the army but, prior to this, a short stint in the Merchant & Royal Navy plus, for some unknown reason, the Norwegian Navy too!) and, of course, all those that served with Pete during his 24 years service in the British Army.
Here’s a pic of Pete & me at the Remembrance Sunday parade in Skipton last year… Pete with all his medals! My hero 🤣🤣🤣💪
Happy Remembrance Day to all those who served, those celebrating / marching in Sunderland / London or elsewhere around the country and, of course, those who are no longer with us, some of whom died in action and others as veterans… we will remember… love to all of you!
When we decided to get married, we didn’t deliberately choose Remembrance weekend… I think we actually realised it some time after we had booked our venue! To be honest, the only reason we chose the 10th November 2012, was because we thought it would be easy to remember being 10-11-12!!
Anyway, we were both glad that it was Remembrance once we realised and that so many of Pete’s army mates were able to attend, giving up their usual Remembrance weekend… I remember we had poppies on the tables and encouraged everyone to join us at the war memorial in Pateley Bridge, the following morning at 11am… my word, I remember I had a hangover from hell that day but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one 🥴😆
Some of my favourite pics from our big day! We didn’t have an official photographer but collected pics others took on the day!
Top Right – A pic including some special people no longer with us… “Ginger” Dixon (our best man) & my lovely Dad – another reason for remembrance 😊
Bottom left – me, hubby & my favourite brother in law John – see if you can work out who’s who! 🤣🤣🤣 A clue, I’m the one with the boobs – hehehe! 🤣
Being a November baby, I like many will think that Valentine’s has a lot to answer for! There certainly seems to be a lot of birthdays around this time – so Happy Birthday to my friends and ex-colleagues Tammie Leighton (today!) & Mel Speak (8th).
Have a lovely day everyone and don’t forget, for our tomorrow they gave their today… so make the most of it and be grateful every day for what you have… Peace & love all xxx
All the gubbins… 
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