| Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by infoman at 06:54, 11th November 2021 |     |
Thursday 11 november departed penzance 05:05am heading for the capital.
A very small item on BBC spolight local news at 06:25 on thurdsay11 november maybe more on later local news bullietins
BBC1 local news is on at 13:30pm if you wanna set your recording device
Local news is available for 24 hours ONLY on the play again facility
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by PhilWakely at 09:43, 11th November 2021 | |
Thursday 11 november departed penzance 05:05am heading for the capital.
A very small item on BBC spolight local news at 06:25 on thurdsay11 november maybe more on later local news bullietins
BBC1 local news is on at 13:30pm if you wanna set your recording device
Local news is available for 24 hours ONLY on the play again facility
A very small item on BBC spolight local news at 06:25 on thurdsay11 november maybe more on later local news bullietins
BBC1 local news is on at 13:30pm if you wanna set your recording device
Local news is available for 24 hours ONLY on the play again facility
This is just one of several 'delivering' poppy wreaths to Paddington for 11am.
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by Clan Line at 09:50, 11th November 2021 | |
Taken at Liverpool Lime Street several years back
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by bobm at 17:05, 11th November 2021 | |
Seven trains ran to Paddington this morning bringing around 100 wreaths to be placed around the war memorial on Platform 1.
The scene at Swindon was repeated at scores of stations across the GWR network.
The train carrying the wreaths from Swindon had started from Taunton and picked up more tributes along the way.
In a 20 minute ceremony at Paddington GWR MD Mark Hopwood paid tribute to those from the original Great Western Railway who gave their lives in the two World Wars before Barbara McGregor from South Wales, the longest serving female in the Royal Navy, read the Act of Remembrance ahead of the two minute silence.
The event was streamed live on Facebook and GWR should be congratulated for organsing the event and the very moving ceremony.
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by infoman at 19:00, 11th November 2021 | |
ITV West reported from Bath Spa Station,approx 18:20pm
Available on ITV west plus one at 19:20pm
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by grahame at 17:31, 3rd November 2023 | |
GWR Press Release:
Royal Navy helicopter swoops in as Great Western Railway and The Veterans Charity join forces for latest Poppies to Paddington operation
GWR Remembrance service will mark 70 years since the end of the Korean War
Great Western Railway will take its support for integrated travel to new heights in its latest Poppies to Paddington operation – thanks to support from a Royal Navy helicopter.
Partnering with The Veterans Charity, the Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose will deploy a Merlin helicopter to carry poppy wreaths from their base to Plymouth on Monday ahead of the GWR Remembrance service on Friday 10 November.
With planned engineering work preventing trains from running between Penzance and Plymouth, it means the fourth Poppies to Paddington operation will still serve Cornwall.
Further strengthening this year’s integrated travel approach, Go South West has also kindly provided a bus to collect wreaths from stations through the region and carry them to Plymouth.
This year GWR is remembering 70 years since the end of the Korean War as it once again carries swathes of poppy wreaths from across the network to London Paddington for the special Remembrance service.
Six ‘Poppy’ trains are expected to collect more than 200 wreaths from GWR stations ahead of the service at Paddington’s iconic war memorial on Platform 1.
GWR will especially remember the 81,000-Armed Forces personnel who took part in the Korean conflict, particularly those of the Gloucester Regiment and the Royal Fusiliers, who were involved in some of the heaviest fighting.
GWR Remembrance service will mark 70 years since the end of the Korean War
Great Western Railway will take its support for integrated travel to new heights in its latest Poppies to Paddington operation – thanks to support from a Royal Navy helicopter.
Partnering with The Veterans Charity, the Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose will deploy a Merlin helicopter to carry poppy wreaths from their base to Plymouth on Monday ahead of the GWR Remembrance service on Friday 10 November.
With planned engineering work preventing trains from running between Penzance and Plymouth, it means the fourth Poppies to Paddington operation will still serve Cornwall.
Further strengthening this year’s integrated travel approach, Go South West has also kindly provided a bus to collect wreaths from stations through the region and carry them to Plymouth.
This year GWR is remembering 70 years since the end of the Korean War as it once again carries swathes of poppy wreaths from across the network to London Paddington for the special Remembrance service.
Six ‘Poppy’ trains are expected to collect more than 200 wreaths from GWR stations ahead of the service at Paddington’s iconic war memorial on Platform 1.
GWR will especially remember the 81,000-Armed Forces personnel who took part in the Korean conflict, particularly those of the Gloucester Regiment and the Royal Fusiliers, who were involved in some of the heaviest fighting.
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by Mark A at 08:48, 4th November 2023 | |
Useful exercise for GWR as it will put the company in mind of the good practice of also maintaining, year round, a reliable service for the travelling public at the extremities of their routes.
Poor old Hereford doesn't get a poppy train or even a connecting bus, mind. Also, given Dartmouth's naval history, the Carmarthen train should set out from Pembroke and the Paignton service should really be waved off from Kingswear...
Mark
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by Phantom at 15:23, 6th November 2023 | |
Any indication when and where these services will be stopping ?
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by grahame at 15:31, 6th November 2023 | |
Any indication when and where these services will be stopping ?
I snipped the original press release - if you follow the link at the top of this thread, you'll be able scroll down to a full list.
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by bobm at 16:13, 11th November 2024 | |
For the fifth year GWR has staged its Poppies to Paddington event.
Wreaths from 90 stations were loaded onto ten trains, including the Night Riviera sleeper from Penzance. At Swindon the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire was joined by the town's two MPs, the Mayor, a representative of the TransWilts CIC and other dignitaries to present their tributes on a service to London Paddington.
Once in London the wreaths were joined by hundreds of others from across the GWR network.
After they had been laid out around the memorial on platform 1 at Paddington a short service around the 11am silence was held. The usual station hubbub seemed to quieten during the silence.
More from GWR here - https://news.gwr.com/news/poppies-to-paddington-special-d-day-tribute-to-form-impressive-backdrop-for-remembrance-day-service
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:52, 11th November 2024 | |
Thanks for posting that, bobm.
Here are some more images from that event, provided in the GWR press release:
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by bobm at 16:56, 11th November 2024 | |
On a similar theme, after leaving Paddington I found a memorial in Hyde Park to animals who had played their part in conflicts around the world. It is near Marble Arch and I was unaware of it until now.
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by broadgage at 18:04, 11th November 2024 | |
Whilst human life is arguably of greater importance, we should not forget the many animals that have given their lives in conflicts.
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:17, 11th November 2024 | |
No, indeed. Many horses, and dogs, were used as 'beasts of burden', and often suffered injuries and death.
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by bobm at 20:56, 11th November 2024 | |
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by broadgage at 04:10, 31st January 2025 | |
No, indeed. Many horses, and dogs, were used as 'beasts of burden', and often suffered injuries and death. 
Dogs in particular had the merit of being able to work without a human handler. Dogs were used to carry rations and ammunition to the front line.
In the first war, dogs were used to run telegraph cables between trenches. The dog wore a harness with a roll of insulated wire that unrolled as the animal ran along. By the second war, radio had largely displaced telegraphs.
Dogs have been used by Ukrainian forces in the present war, to convey rations and messages to forward positions. Cats have fed not only themselves but also the owners by killing rabbits. Cats have allegedly been used to retrieve shot birds, as is more commonly done by dogs.
| Re: Poppies to Paddington - a tradition on the railways, for Remembrance Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:18, 11th November 2026 | |
I have taken a pragmatic view (and I can, because I'm an admin
) and I've now merged several previous topics on the Coffee Shop forum here.They all refer specifically to the conveyance of poppies by train from across the West to Paddington, for inclusion in the Remembrance ceremonies there, and associated commemorations.
I'm sure we here on this forum would like to show our respect to those who served, suffered and indeed many died.
An update, from the BBC:
Remembering the fallen from Penzance to Paddington
Margot Billinge is the daughter of Harry Billinge, a D-Day veteran from St Austell
Veterans, serving military personnel and wreath bearers joined an Armistice Day railway journey from Cornwall to London as part of Remembrance commemorations.
The Poppies to Paddington train stopped at stations along the way - following in the footsteps of thousands of soldiers who made the journey on their way to the front line.
The service was one of a number of trains carrying wreaths to the war memorial at Paddington's Platform One.
One passenger was Margot Billinge, daughter of Harry Billinge MBE, a D-Day veteran from St Austell, who said: "The first poppy train in 2020 my dad put the wreath on the train... I now have the privilege of doing that for him."
At stations along the route from Penzance to London, people presented poppy wreaths
The wreath-laying also marks the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Billinge said she had stood next to her father, who died in 2022, "every Remembrance Day for as long as I can remember". She added: "It was very important to him. He'd say 'I'm no hero, all the heroes are dead and I'll never forget them' - and that's what I'll be thinking of, that's what he would say if he was here."
This year's journey - carrying wreaths made by veterans, community groups and schools - follows the biggest update to World War One casualty records in more than 80 years.
It led to the recognition of thousands of forgotten soldiers from pre-partition India who served and died - their names have now been added to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's casualty database.
Councillor Gemma Rolstone, Lord Mayor of Exeter, met the train as it passed through. She said it was a "chance to remember and honour those who have served and sacrificed for our country".
"It's really vital that we continue to recognise their service and ensure that future generations understand the significance and importance of that as well." She said she was "incredibly honoured" to represent Exeter.
Councillor Gemma Rolstone, Lord Mayor of Exeter, was also among those to meet the train and present a wreath
Trevor Brooks, resident naval officer at Falmouth docks, said he had met the service to represent the Royal Navy. The former serving officer said: "It's a mark of respect that we can get up and put that effort in to remember those who went before us."
Gary Vitta, a former Royal Marine, attended on behalf of the Royal Airforce cadets and to receive poppy wreaths on board. "Being a former serviceman and currently still in uniform, remembering the members of the past is a great honour," he said.
The train stopped at Exeter among other Devon and Cornwall stations on its way to Paddington
Devon-based writer Michael Morpurgo, the former Children's Laureate and War Horse author after whom GWR named a train last year, was also on board.
At Paddington the train was welcomed by an honour guard, followed by a two-minute silence and wreath-laying ceremony.
Now an annual event, the first journey took place in 2020 as a way to commemorate the anniversary within the confines of social distancing.
Keith Yandell from the Veterans Charity said the scheme was born as a plan for "one wreath on one train" - but GWR had instead offered nine trains to travel from regions across the UK.
"It's grown from there to the point where we had Queen Camilla attending for the service last year," he said. "It's fantastic - from such a small start in 2019 it's grown to be almost a national event now."
Margot Billinge is the daughter of Harry Billinge, a D-Day veteran from St Austell
Veterans, serving military personnel and wreath bearers joined an Armistice Day railway journey from Cornwall to London as part of Remembrance commemorations.
The Poppies to Paddington train stopped at stations along the way - following in the footsteps of thousands of soldiers who made the journey on their way to the front line.
The service was one of a number of trains carrying wreaths to the war memorial at Paddington's Platform One.
One passenger was Margot Billinge, daughter of Harry Billinge MBE, a D-Day veteran from St Austell, who said: "The first poppy train in 2020 my dad put the wreath on the train... I now have the privilege of doing that for him."
At stations along the route from Penzance to London, people presented poppy wreaths
The wreath-laying also marks the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Billinge said she had stood next to her father, who died in 2022, "every Remembrance Day for as long as I can remember". She added: "It was very important to him. He'd say 'I'm no hero, all the heroes are dead and I'll never forget them' - and that's what I'll be thinking of, that's what he would say if he was here."
This year's journey - carrying wreaths made by veterans, community groups and schools - follows the biggest update to World War One casualty records in more than 80 years.
It led to the recognition of thousands of forgotten soldiers from pre-partition India who served and died - their names have now been added to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's casualty database.
Councillor Gemma Rolstone, Lord Mayor of Exeter, met the train as it passed through. She said it was a "chance to remember and honour those who have served and sacrificed for our country".
"It's really vital that we continue to recognise their service and ensure that future generations understand the significance and importance of that as well." She said she was "incredibly honoured" to represent Exeter.
Councillor Gemma Rolstone, Lord Mayor of Exeter, was also among those to meet the train and present a wreath
Trevor Brooks, resident naval officer at Falmouth docks, said he had met the service to represent the Royal Navy. The former serving officer said: "It's a mark of respect that we can get up and put that effort in to remember those who went before us."
Gary Vitta, a former Royal Marine, attended on behalf of the Royal Airforce cadets and to receive poppy wreaths on board. "Being a former serviceman and currently still in uniform, remembering the members of the past is a great honour," he said.
The train stopped at Exeter among other Devon and Cornwall stations on its way to Paddington
Devon-based writer Michael Morpurgo, the former Children's Laureate and War Horse author after whom GWR named a train last year, was also on board.
At Paddington the train was welcomed by an honour guard, followed by a two-minute silence and wreath-laying ceremony.
Now an annual event, the first journey took place in 2020 as a way to commemorate the anniversary within the confines of social distancing.
Keith Yandell from the Veterans Charity said the scheme was born as a plan for "one wreath on one train" - but GWR had instead offered nine trains to travel from regions across the UK.
"It's grown from there to the point where we had Queen Camilla attending for the service last year," he said. "It's fantastic - from such a small start in 2019 it's grown to be almost a national event now."
There are several other BBC articles relating to this theme - too numerous for me to list them all here. Please do look at your local area news items, if you have an interest.
CfN.
