In this centenary year of the start of the First World War, there is a lot of talk about the poppy, but are more people wearing poppies? Or is it only people on the telly who wear a poppy?
My own experience is that there are fewer people wearing a poppy this year. Partly because, it seems, there has been a lack of poppy 'sellers' in Guildford and Godalming, especially mid-week. I'm sure the war veterans will be at Waitrose this weekend, standing in the cold, wearing their medals with pride, and plenty of shoppers will stop and buy a paper poppy. I have seen the Poppy Appeal boxes in the bank and at the farm shop. I have seen many HGVs proudly displaying their poppies. And many High Streets have poppies on their lamp posts. But when it comes to actually wearing one, not many it seems. Oh, everyone at the Act of Remembrance on Sunday will have found a poppy for their lapel. We will stand shoulder to shoulder at the Village War Memorial, and reflect quietly. Then, each will go back to their families, warm homes, Sunday lunch, and forget about it for another year.
My earliest memory of Armistice Day is standing on parade as a schoolgirl in Durban, squinting up at the Cenotaph, in the hot summer sun. I didn't get to lay a wreath, but watched in solemnity, as old people like granny and grandpa shuffled up to the steps to lay their wreaths, step back and salute smartly. What an important lesson for me.
In fact, that simple act has stayed with me, and I have always been drawn to the Remembrance Day service, perhaps even more poignant and beautiful than the Christmas services. I think it resonates with others too, judging by the number of people who attend the service and the Act of Remembrance afterwards.
I wonder if the time has come to stop selling the paper poppy, in favour of something a bit more wearable? For a few years now, I have had a very pretty enamel poppy brooch. I bought it online from The Poppy Shop, with profits going to the Royal British Legion. Our Village has a Poppy Appeal, and we make our donation to this, proud of the Village contribution. My brooch looks lovely on the lapel, I am proud to wear it, and have had many compliments. I recently purchased a small pin (£2.99) for Dr B too. It is easier for him to pin to his suit lapel, and doesn't get in the way of his stethoscope. We both wear our poppies from 1st November for 2 weeks.
This year, we were very pleased to purchase two of the ceramic poppies from the Tower of London Remembers 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red'. Like many others, we have stood, mesmerised by the sheer scale of the installation, and been moved by the sea of red. There has been a suggestion in the village that all those who have bought one of the ceramic poppies could place them at the War Memorial. I don't know how many will come back to the village, but we would be very happy to do this.
As for the suggestion to extend the installation a little longer and delay sending the poppies on to those of us who have bought them, I agree. I'm sure that the Historic Royal Palaces charity will make the right decision.
#PoppyAppeal