The Front Page. - Copy 138 ( Remembrance Sunday in Dover)
14 November 2010
Despite the appaling weather this was the largest crowd that I personally have seen at this service outside Maison Dieu House. It poured down right from the moment the service began, and nobody flinched in the deluge. The service was conducted as ever by the excellent Rev David Ridley in a fine solemn style. According to wider reports the crowds have been much larger right across the country this year, and as the weather was bad almost everywhere this shows a huge increase in passionate support for our armed forces. Weather normally plays such a big part in outdoor events and should the weather have been a tad more blissful on sunday, the crowds would have been larger I'm sure. The Royal British Legion have sold more than 46million poppies this year which is an absolute record. In fact it appears to be the case that all the original stocks of poppies sold out completely.
The top picture shows our MP Charlie Elphicke, minus a coat of any description in the downpour, singing the hymns out loudly on the day, along with Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Town Clerk, and the gathered group of Dover Town Councillors alongside the Chairman of Dover District Council. The Councillors in red have previously spent time as Mayor of Dover. I think that's the case but one isnt an expert on the intricacies of protocol.
The next picture down shows the veterans of long standing as they prepare to lay their wreaths. Some very old men here indeed. Unfortunately I bumped awkwardly into a 92 year old veteran in my quest to get the shown photographs...he was okay but but I felt sorry that it happened...but yes all was okay. The standard bearers and the group of veterans immediately behind them are featured in the next picture down, as the rain continued on in bleak fashion.
The smaller pictures. On the left Cllrs Jan Tranter and Gordon Cowan place wreaths at the memorial. Both are former Mayors of Dover while the picture right shows some more of the veterans watching on as the wreaths are laid. The final picture is a longer distance and cropped shot of the crowd as they ponder silently the white cross.
Pictures and Words: Paul Boland
Remembrance Sunday pictures taken at the rain-soaked Service at Maison Dieu House, Dover...report below.
Despite the appaling weather this was the largest crowd that I personally have seen at this service outside Maison Dieu House. It poured down right from the moment the service began, and nobody flinched in the deluge. The service was conducted as ever by the excellent Rev David Ridley in a fine solemn style. According to wider reports the crowds have been much larger right across the country this year, and as the weather was bad almost everywhere this shows a huge increase in passionate support for our armed forces. Weather normally plays such a big part in outdoor events and should the weather have been a tad more blissful on sunday, the crowds would have been larger I'm sure. The Royal British Legion have sold more than 46million poppies this year which is an absolute record. In fact it appears to be the case that all the original stocks of poppies sold out completely.
The top picture shows our MP Charlie Elphicke, minus a coat of any description in the downpour, singing the hymns out loudly on the day, along with Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Town Clerk, and the gathered group of Dover Town Councillors alongside the Chairman of Dover District Council. The Councillors in red have previously spent time as Mayor of Dover. I think that's the case but one isnt an expert on the intricacies of protocol.
The next picture down shows the veterans of long standing as they prepare to lay their wreaths. Some very old men here indeed. Unfortunately I bumped awkwardly into a 92 year old veteran in my quest to get the shown photographs...he was okay but but I felt sorry that it happened...but yes all was okay. The standard bearers and the group of veterans immediately behind them are featured in the next picture down, as the rain continued on in bleak fashion.
The smaller pictures. On the left Cllrs Jan Tranter and Gordon Cowan place wreaths at the memorial. Both are former Mayors of Dover while the picture right shows some more of the veterans watching on as the wreaths are laid. The final picture is a longer distance and cropped shot of the crowd as they ponder silently the white cross.
Pictures and Words: Paul Boland