From a parachute jump, to a bikers’ rally and run round Lydiard Park, the community has
united to pay its respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Together with traditional Remembrance services at venues like the Swindon Cenotaph, Radnor Street Cemetery and Wroughton, people have again shown their respect for the fallen and given their support to the British Legion’s Poppy Appeal...

 

NEW and experimental ways to pay respects to the fallen have marked Remembrance Day weekend this year.

On Saturday, the Royal British Legion hosted more than 700 runners for their second annual Run2Remember event at Lydiard Park.

The tribute opened with a stirring performance from the Military Wives Choir and a parachute jump from 1,111 feet by four members of Jump For Heroes.

Leah Harris, direct marketing manager for the Royal British Legion, said: “We are really delighted by the response. There has been huge public support for this event in both years, and it is fantastic to see so many people coming out to support the armed forces community.

“We are hoping to raise £50,000 for the poppy appeal, compared to £30,000 raised last year. We have got a lot more people here than last year, so hopefully we can do it.”

Alastair Macartney, team leader of Jump for Heroes, said: “Four of us jumped into the arena and dropped 30,000 poppies from 1,111 feet in the air under canopy.

“People understand the British Legion helps the older generation, but it is also for the younger people and the Afghan generation. By doing crazy stuff like this we make people more aware of the range of what they do. It is sometimes even harder for families left behind, so we do all this for them as well.”

Basil Miles, 76, of Great Somerford, was running the longest distance he had attempted since joining Slinn All Stars running group.

“Unfortunately you get more and more unfit with age,” he said. “I do a 5k run here every Saturday morning, but this will be my longest distance.

“I am quite pleased with myself for being able to get round.

“My wife was in the army for six years with the TA and Royal Signals. My uncle was also captured at Dunkirk. I think the work the Legion does is fantastic and worthy of our support.”

On Sunday morning, a contingent of bikers set off from Swindon to join up with thousands of others from around the country to form a giant poppy ring around the M25.

Organiser Vince Bowers said: “I was expecting to ride up on my own. I put out an invite to a few people to meet up before, but soon it was on every forum and all over social media. I am overwhelmed with the turnout. After observing the two-minute silence at Reading, we should meet up with a few hundred more.”

Steve Stone, 48, of Melksham, who served in the infantry for 12 years before being injured in a Warrior tank incident, said: “I have heard they got in touch with Google Earth to take a picture of us from the sky when the circle has been formed.

“They are going to send us off in three second intervals so we can all join up. ”

Shane Mackie, 29, of Pinehurst, went along with the Swindon bikers.

“I have been in Afghanistan myself, catering for the military, and I wanted to come out to support the troops and say thank you,” he said.