Richard Younger-Ross, Teignbridge MP, had a week of remembering

Teignbridge Lib Dem MP Richard Younger-Ross has been remembering this week, with Bonfire Night, a wedding anniversary and Remembrance Sunday

November 5th and 6th
This week has been one for remembrance; first of all we celebrated Guy Fawkes night which was on command of the King, James 1st who said ‘the people of England should have a great bonfire on the night of 5th November’.  Of course many of us recall the children’s rhyme:
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot,
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, guy, t’was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England’s overthrow.
By God’s mercy he was catch’d
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.
And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!

The plot was a Catholic conspiracy to blow up the House of Lords, and the King. Of course things are never that clear and there is good evidence to indicate that the plot was infiltrated and helped by Government spies who having foiled the plan, led a purge against any Catholic sympathisers. Having the sky lit up on the 5th of course is a very helpful reminder to me that November 6th is my wedding anniversary and on Friday we celebrated 27 years by eating out at the delightful Ode in Shaldon.

Remembrance Sunday, Teignmouth
The serious remembering however took place on Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, to pay tribute to all those who fell, were injured or survived in our forces since 1914. This year I started the day at the War Memorial in Teignmouth. A cold wind blew in from the sea but that did not deter a massive turnout to see the parade. Vince Fusco, the mayor, laid the first wreath on behalf of the town and I laid the second followed by the British Legion, other service associations and then organisations from the town, some 35 in all.

No Political Parties
The service here broke some new ground in not permitting any political party to be called forward to lay a wreath. The organisers had felt that party politics was beginning to creep into the service, an issue the National British Legion is very concerned about and I totally agree with them. As a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate I never laid a wreath, although I always attended the service. In being there I paid my respects to those who did not return and appreciation for all who served. I hope other Legions will follow Teignmouth’s lead.

Remembrance Day, Newton Abbot
Gathering in Courtenay Street in Newton Abbot, the parade marched to the War memorial at the end of Queen Street. My wife attended on my behalf and laid a wreath. Back in Teignmouth, after the parade I visited each of the three service clubs for a small coca cola, no ice, I was already cold enough!

Remembrance Day, Dawlish
I paid my second visit to the Dawlish British Legion in the afternoon. I had been over there on the Saturday night for their fundraising ‘poppy back’ which was great fun. At 2.45pm, as a guest of the Legion, I marched with them to the War Memorial by St Gregory’s church.  Again the parade was very well attended, indeed rather over crowded in the wall area that defines this place of remembrance. After the parade there followed a church service which was led by the new vicar Simon Croft. He gave an excellent sermon which was pitched to appeal to the large number of youngsters in the church as well as those of us who are not so young. Back at the British Legion Club, certificates and awards were made to long-standing members and others for their support in raising money for the work of the Legion.

The Work of the Legion
As a member of the Defence Select Committee, we look at the work of the MoD, not just the equipment they supply or lack of it, but also how they look after ex service people and those injured in body and mind, as well as the families of those who are killed and injured. The British Legion is not just a club where old soldiers drink; it is a welfare organisation that also cares for former soldiers and their families.  Each branch has a welfare officer who seeks to help those who may by having problems. The Legion does excellent work, which I know of locally but also nationally, as I have seen the evidence given to the Select Committee.

Remembrance Day, Shaldon
My final visit of the day was to Shaldon. No parade, just a church service with the remembrance of the fallen from Shaldon as part of the service. It is a lovely church with a fabulous organ which always gives an added depth to the service. After the service we gathered in the Victoria Hall for a cup of tea, a biscuit and a chat. But this is not the end of remembrance, for the work of the Legion along with other bodies who support service people and their families continues all year long.

Surgeries
Friday 13th November: Abbotskerswell Village Hall, 5.30pm – 6.15pm
Tuesday 17th November: Courtenay Centre, Kingsteignton Road,
Newton Abbot, 9.30am – 10.15am

See all of Richard Younger-Ross’s columns on the PRSD